[linux-audio-dev] Re: image problem [was Re: [Alsa-devel] help for a levelmeter]

[Patrick Shirkey]

 >> That said, I think Patrick is right to start thinking about this now.

Thanks.

 >I think he's completely right - I'm not sure about this bank account
 >thing but I do think that now is the time to be demoing, talking up and
 >generally approaching people and companies about Linux music software.
 >I wrote us up (and mentioned a few other apps) in the latest edition of
 >Linux User - John at mstation.org has been very kind so far as well.
 >Now is the right time to be talking to people and getting the 
 >"products" out there. If it works - why not tell people about it?


The reason I believe we need to have various bank accounts are because 
we cannot afford to waste money on excessive service charges and not 
everyone has access to credit cards. If we have the accounts in the 
right countries then people can just donate cash.

 From a professional perspective we need to show our prospective clients 
that we have sound financial thinking. It's mostly a subconscious need 
that consumers have. They want to know that the money they are investing 
is being given to people/companies/organisations who use it. Most people 
don't really care how it is used although we have the moral 
justification on our side too.

This is from the Sound on Sound advertising package.

"The main target market of Sound On Sound is the professional
and semi-professional musician who is the kind of person that will have
the spending ability to purchase a large range of products from
synthesizers to samplers, mixing desks to microphones, multitracks to
monitors, effects to expanders and computer hardware and software.
They are not time wasters who do not know their profession - they are
serious and mature individuals working with a reasonable budget."

If we want to appeal to this audience we need to prove to them that they 
are investing in professional audio. We need to wine them and dine them 
(metaphorically). If they look into our commmunity and say these are 
just amateur geeks who have made some interesting things happen it won't 
work. If we take the intiative and lead them into our world they will 
come at it from the perspective that we are professionals who have 
created a very credible concept that we are proud of and want them to 
enjoy using.

They will ask "What kind of cash have we invested" and if we come back 
with "Ahh, well we don't actually have a scope on the financial side of 
our open community." They are just going to look around for a while and 
leave.

If we can show them that not only are we mathematics and logics wizards 
but that we also have solid business sense then they are going to stick 
around and see what we have to offer. A lot of them will probably invest 
just to test the waters or to keep up with the play.

I want to see an advertising campaign happen that will educate and 
encourage the mass of potential user to take the step. I also want to 
make sure that we have covered our asses when they finally walk in 
through the doors.

It's a choice between being amatuer enthusiasts or professionals.

If we come across as professionals people won't give a toss about 
geekyness.





-- 
Patrick Shirkey - Boost Hardware Ltd.
For the discerning hardware connoisseur
Http://www.boosthardware.com
Http://www.djcj.org - The Linux Audio Users guide
========================================

"Um...symbol_get and symbol_put... They're
kindof like does anyone remember like get_symbol
and put_symbol I think we used to have..."
- Rusty Russell in his talk on the module subsystem