Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com

Subject: Folklore: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: momnopp
Date: 30 Mar 05 - 04:27 PM

In spite of the existence of this thread from 1999, I thought today's news warranted a brand new one.

I have it on excellent authority (namely a couple of friends who are guides for other topics on About.com) that the position for a "guide" on the topic of FOLK MUSIC (yes, you read that right) is currently open. In fact, here is the list of topics for which they are currently accepting applications.

My understanding is that they are looking for someone who writes excellent REVIEWS and that this position is linked to what could become a rather lucrative site. Hey, you knew that someday all that knowledge about folk music would pay off, didn't you?

If I weren't so dad-gum overwhelmed with the other 4700 projects in my life, I'd consider applying for this one. Barring that, I know that the expertise, writing ability and sheer chutzpah floating around on this [glorious] forum are bound to produce a few gems - some of whom might actually even apply for the position!

If you can't even wait to find out more and you just want to apply RIGHT NOW, here's the link to fill out an on-line application.

Good luck! Also, if you'd like some more specific information about how to give them what they're looking for in a guide, PM me and I can put you in touch with folks "in-the-know".

Peace,

JudyO/momnopp

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: Cool Beans
Date: 31 Mar 05 - 12:50 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'd never heard of about.com but I clicked onto the site, found a topic available that I am well qualified to expound upon (it isn't folk music) and I've already applied.

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: momnopp
Date: 01 Apr 05 - 11:20 PM

Hey, Cool Beans -

I'm so pleased that you found something valuable as a result of this post. Best of luck to you!

Peace,

JudyO/momnopp

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: open mike
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 10:16 PM

i believe Hugh Blumenfeld used to monitor the folk site there.
and he did an excellant job only to be axed. he also has a site
called Ballad Tree....http://www.balladtree.com/
and one called Fenario...http://www.mp3.com/fenario
whcih may not be available any more as i think mp3 is no longer..
see these sites for more info...
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/graham.gurrin/fot/issue86.htm
http://www.wheatstone.co.uk/EFClinks.htm

I should hope that if they are re-instating that site they
give Hugh first opetion to host it, as he did for years,
until the decided to pre-empt the site and change it from
http://folkmusic.about.com/ to http://blues.about.com/
you will find that if you try to go to folk music site
you will automatically get shunted to the blues site now.

i was quite dissapointed when about dot com cancelled the
folk music site, and i feel like they owe Hugh an apology.

I subscribed to their list for years. i am glad they have
decided that folk music deserves a site again. good luck to them.

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: open mike
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 10:29 PM

here are Hugh's links, including a mudcat link, labelled Digital Trad.

http://www.balladtree.com/links/songs.htm

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: GUEST,Hugh Blumenfeld
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 01:24 AM

Hi all,

Laurel cued me to this thread and I thought I'd say hi.

I enjoyed doing the folk music site at About.com from 1999-2001 when, yes, I was unceremoniously axed with about 300 other guides when the internet bubble burst. There were always labor issues among the guides, who got paid by page views (resulting in lots of tricks to make readers click) and got bonuses in what became worthless stock options. I had one very fine editor who got canned a few months before me. I can't say I'd recommend them as an employer.

I have to admit I never really tried to make the site lucrative, though I suspect that if I'd concentrated on Dylan, Baez, Peter Paul & Mary, and the Chad Mitchell Trio instead of contemporary songwriters, I could have made a small fortune. Putting up lots of trivia contests and silly reader polls (Vote for your favorite Dylan album cover!!) also used to generate lots of traffic for other guides. The closest I ever got was trying to write a series of articles on the 60's, tracing folk music's evolution from traditional songs to rock by the end of the decade. I think I finished 2 of the 4 projected articles.

Anyway, About.com did allow me to keep all the content I'd written for the site and it's up at www.balladtree.com, pretty much intact. It's been hosted gratis by Don Shorock and his son Tom since 2002. Unfortunately I've moved on and haven't been able to keep it up to date - just a few added/changed links from time to time. Now if anyone wants to inherit that....

Cheers to you all,

Hugh Blumenfeld
[e-mail]
http://www.hughblumenfeld.com

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: open mike
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 01:34 AM

wow! congratulations, Hugh...second year of medical school!
no wonder you have not had time to fiddle around with web
pages etc so much lately!
Hugh Blumenfeld's web page
thanks for stopping by !

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: momnopp
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 11:37 PM

Laurel, Hugh and others - this is very cool! Thanks for ferreting out the history on this; it's good to have the background.

I love seeing all the wonderful things that come out of the connections made here.

Peace,

JudyO/momnopp

Subject: RE: Be a Folk Music Guide for About.com
From: momnopp
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 05:11 PM

refreshing

Subject: RE: Be a Music Guide for About.com
From: momnopp
Date: 09 May 05 - 03:54 PM

"Folk music" is no longer listed (so I presume they have enough candidates or have found someone) but under types of music, these are still on the list [see my original post at the top]:
-Classic Rock
-R & B
-Top 40 / Pop
-World Music
-Digital Music (MP3s, Music Download Services, etc)

Other non-music topics span a wide variety of things, including:
-Fiction Writing
-Fly Fishing
-Freelance Writers
-Health Insurance
-Horses
-Manhattan
-Martial Arts
-Mexican Cuisine

Have a go and good luck to those pursuing any of these positions.

Peace,

JudyO/momnopp