Please ensure more customization via CSS file access (like menu pictures for instance, so we could change the color of menu bars, integrate personal design ect.) as soon as possible!
Please ensure more customization via CSS file access (like menu pictures for instance, so we could change the color of menu bars, integrate personal design ect.) as soon as possible!
Tried it on but I don't care for how the design goes through the photos, if you got rid of that it would be cooler (in my opinion). Can't wait until you have the customization feature working so people can express themselves as they see it.
Okay. I usually skip on the complaining but this new template is a little irritating. This is fresh, and new, with a very cool background. The background makes it look like an original instead of a template. It's clean and well thought out.... Kinda. Did you guys notice that about 4 inches down on the left side the frame doesn't match up. Maybe its the pic I choose for the header or something. But more irritating than that is the design over our photos! It looks like scribbles. It's covers up the picture and looks very amateur. We were so close on this one. I really was excited about it. But the those little details make it unusable. I'll have to use something I like less in order to keep the quality of design.
seriously please stop waisting time on these templates. hire another developer or two so we can make our own designs or alter the existing ones. I'm not saying it's bad. it's just that this is the same looking template over and over. different colors and patterns, but the layout is the same. Come on guys it's almost 2010...make it happen
personally I think the whole staff at bandzoogle is doing a great job. Everyone needs to understand what this company was made for, Building a professional band website for people with no web design skills. Just because you don't like a certain template doesn't mean that someone else won't. One that you think is horrible the next viewer might love it. Also if you know much about web design you should know that what they are in the works of doing is a complicated process. They are trying to get those features and keep it so that newbies can still do it.
Cool - Hey is there any way to upload calendar events from a database file? It would be very helpful if this functionality was integrated into the events calendars. Thanks!
Now isn't that just like muso's they want a million dollar service for 14 dollars a month. Sometimes that self centred thing was designed for musicians wasn't it.
Well it amuses me!
Well done Bandzoogle, anyone who whines and whinges should be charged double!
It's not about a template. It's about all of them. They don't look good enough today. I don't care about web design principles what so ever. I want to have a good looking website. That's all. I'm not whining. I've been stuck with the same templates for three years now. And they keep coming.
I have to agree with Jacob Lee. I think some of us forget what BZ is and what it isn't. We get incredible levels of functionality for what, 20 bucks a month? I've had other websites that have charged set up fees, higher monthly fees, and additional charges for every new function added. I spent $500 once just to set up a site template that had no customization whatsoever.
Frankly, I'm amazed BZ has done all they have done in my 2 years here without raising the fees. Maybe they should. Perhaps offer levels of subscription so those of us who want more will pay for it. I would.
I don't mean to "dis" anyone, just pointing out that BZ offers us a whole bunch for so very little. Let's keep offering ideas and suggestions. BZ has shown remarkable class and incredible customer service in their responses and in the number of suggestions they have implimented... once again, at no additional cost.
Just my 2 cents worth... which is worth exactly 2 cents. Thanks to BZ and the BZ community.
I am definitely with the guys supporting BZ.... you guys are amazing... sure there are some things that I would change in a perfect world, but honestly... for $20??? I have had bands before that paid over $1000 dollars to have a crappy looking site put up, and then we had to pay the guy $150 if we wanted to change ANYTHING on the site, even just to add recent show photos. Granted, this was all pre-myspace and flickr, but after having been through this several times with different bands... having a manageable website with all the back-end tools is worth it's weight in gold!!!
I LOOOOVE BANDZOOGLE. Let me be clear about that. I think these guys do an excellent job. The customer service here is better than any I've seen, including other non-web based businesses.
However in regard to the comments about "remembering what Bandzoogle is and isn't" The templates are part of the package. They ARE what Bandzoogle does because that is what Bandzoogle offered. They are not a side note or a bonus. The comment about how much we pay a month gets tossed around a lot too. Again Bandzoogle makes the price for what they offer and they offer quality templates as part of their package. This all added with the fact they constantly ask for our feed back leads me believe that complaints ( in respect ) are welcome.
I don't use bandzoogle because they're cheap. I use them because they are good. It's not like going to Burger King and being upset at my crappy burger. Bandzoogle offers a professional grade product, at a price they determined. When that product is sub- par or broken we should tell them about it. It's not personal it's business.
I LOOOOVE BANDZOOGLE. Let me be clear about that. I think these guys do an excellent job. The customer service here is better than any I've seen, including other non-web based businesses.
However in regard to the comments about "remembering what Bandzoogle is and isn't" The templates are part of the package. They ARE what Bandzoogle does because that is what Bandzoogle offered. They are not a side note or a bonus. The comment about how much we pay a month gets tossed around a lot too. Again Bandzoogle makes the price for what they offer and they offer quality templates as part of their package. This all added with the fact they constantly ask for our feed back leads me believe that complaints ( in respect ) are welcome.
I don't use bandzoogle because they're cheap. I use them because they are good. It's not like going to Burger King and being upset at my crappy burger. Bandzoogle offers a professional grade product, at a price they determined. When that product is sub- par or broken we should tell them about it. It's not personal it's business.
I like the template concept...but do agree they all have similar layouts.
Would be so much better to be able to use our own artwork for backgrounds. I find it a problem as others in my own industry in this country (competitors) can have exactly the same backgrounds and this is not good when it comes to working within the same industry and having the same industry contacts.
We need our own unique identity. Making our own designs would be a much better option.
Hey folks, we totally appreciate all your praise AND criticisms. We are definitely not perfect, so hearing what you want helps us work on making Bandzoogle better.
Custom designs have been our priority for the last year. That's why we did that huge internal update a while back. Dave's been working on it full time since then. More news is coming soon on this soon, so stay tuned!
It's not about a template. It's about all of them. They don't look good enough today. I don't care about web design principles what so ever. I want to have a good looking website. That's all. I'm not whining. I've been stuck with the same templates for three years now. And they keep coming.
Sounds like whining to me, is 14 dollars a lot in Hungary? if it is let us know, I'll get the British government to send some food parcels
I agree with Pandagod and the others who said most of the templates look the same. There is nothing new about this. There are some very slight revisions to previous templates (and I have to be honest -- this is based on the worst of the templates) There is nothing "cool" about it.
I'm not a band but good design is good design. A website is a website. This is a slight modification to quite a few of BZ's existing templates.
It would serve a greater purpose to create the ability for us to modify existing templates (as we have been promised for some time) that to keep re-issuing the same old thing.
Jumping and Pandagod; yes, there are a few common themes with our templates. They have a header image at the top with your artist name, and in general, buttons that run horizontally underneath it. They are also around 800 pixels wide. So, yes, a lot of our current designs look the "same" in this sense.
Why did we do this? Well, 800 pixels wide fits 80% of visitor screens. Having horizontal navigation with a header image on top is a nice, clean way to present a site. Visitors understand it, and it is easy to navigate. Our goal is to make sites that WORK. Sites that fans can navigate. Sure you can make a flash site with buttons that fly around. Does that make it "better"? We don't think so. Fans want CONTENT and easy access to it. Bandzoogle sites are clean, simple vessels for your content.
If you take a look at our sample sites page: , I think it is a stretch to say that all these designs look the same. They do have a header image on top, and are 800 pixels wide. Other than that... what are you seeing that is the same?
Regarding the comment that this template isn't "cool"... cool is subjective. You may not like a template with scribbled line art as a theme. You know what? Around 200 members do, and they are using it now. Our goal is to make a diverse range of designs. We didn't have one with doodles, now we do. So, for us, this is a good step.
As we have said in other threads, we are releasing a custom design system within weeks. If you don't like our designs, you will be free to create your own.
Its an excellent service, don't ever doubt what you have achieved. Christ, Eric Martin thinks its good enough, my mate Mick Tucker from Tank who is currenty working with Doogie White from Rainbow thinks its good enough. Your too polite, but thats why we love Americans, they're polite people. Unlike us brits, personally if they whine and whinge, they can go spend a couple of quid, or we'll invade their country and take it off em!
Chris wrote:
Jumping and Pandagod; yes, there are a few common themes with our templates. They have a header image at the top with your artist name, and in general, buttons that run horizontally underneath it. They are also around 800 pixels wide. So, yes, a lot of our current designs look the "same" in this sense.
Why did we do this? Well, 800 pixels wide fits 80% of visitor screens. Having horizontal navigation with a header image on top is a nice, clean way to present a site. Visitors understand it, and it is easy to navigate. Our goal is to make sites that WORK. Sites that fans can navigate. Sure you can make a flash site with buttons that fly around. Does that make it "better"? We don't think so. Fans want CONTENT and easy access to it. Bandzoogle sites are clean, simple vessels for your content.
If you take a look at our sample sites page: , I think it is a stretch to say that all these designs look the same. They do have a header image on top, and are 800 pixels wide. Other than that... what are you seeing that is the same?
Regarding the comment that this template isn't "cool"... cool is subjective. You may not like a template with scribbled line art as a theme. You know what? Around 200 members do, and they are using it now. Our goal is to make a diverse range of designs. We didn't have one with doodles, now we do. So, for us, this is a good step.
As we have said in other threads, we are releasing a custom design system within weeks. If you don't like our designs, you will be free to create your own.
we need more interactive templetes for our fans... something like therealbws.com has would be perfect if we could have sites like that it would be GREAT for marketing...
I have created and currently manage five Bandzoogle sites. I love the functionality, ease of use, simplicity. But....we're looking for a different solution because of the dated look of the templates. If CSS is the solution for us, please let me know. We don't have background in CSS, but are willing to learn if it can keep us with Bandzoogle. For those of you using CSS, please post your site URLs so I can see how they differ from the templates. Thank you.
One of the things that I love about Bandzoogle is that they offer us a variety of "standard setting" templates with a variety of styles (looks) that WE ARE FREE TO MESS WITH! I know nothing about CSS and all that, but I did manage to customize my look with a little googling for info and some hit and miss plays. Sure, there is more I would like to do customization wise, but we all know that this is coming! I'm happy- I'll wait. You cannot find a better service for the price, or a better team with the service. Anyone who complains about what their $20 or so(Cdn)gets them here should go back to MySpace for free, mess around with html until their heads explode and see how far complaining gets them there. Love you Bandzoogle!
That sounds a bit off. You should think a bit about what you just said.
LiesofSmiles wrote:
pandagod wrote:
It's not about a template. It's about all of them. They don't look good enough today. I don't care about web design principles what so ever. I want to have a good looking website. That's all. I'm not whining. I've been stuck with the same templates for three years now. And they keep coming.
Sounds like whining to me, is 14 dollars a lot in Hungary? if it is let us know, I'll get the British government to send some food parcels
I will mate, and you should think about insulting people who are doing their best to give you a decent service, hey your not going to make me feel guilty with that "we're a third world country bullshit and its wrong to make jokes about food parcels" are you! Sorry I forgot how sensitive musicians are! Hey I know, write a song about it!
pandagod wrote:
That sounds a bit off. You should think a bit about what you just said.
LiesofSmiles wrote:
pandagod wrote:
It's not about a template. It's about all of them. They don't look good enough today. I don't care about web design principles what so ever. I want to have a good looking website. That's all. I'm not whining. I've been stuck with the same templates for three years now. And they keep coming.
Sounds like whining to me, is 14 dollars a lot in Hungary? if it is let us know, I'll get the British government to send some food parcels
we don't "right" songs in third world countries. our elders pass it on to the next generation around the fire. now go get a haircut!
LiesofSmiles wrote:
I will mate, and you should think about insulting people who are doing their best to give you a decent service, hey your not going to make me feel guilty with that "we're a third world country bullshit and its wrong to make jokes about food parcels" are you! Sorry I forgot how sensitive musicians are! Hey I know, right a song about it!
pandagod wrote:
That sounds a bit off. You should think a bit about what you just said.
LiesofSmiles wrote:
pandagod wrote:
It's not about a template. It's about all of them. They don't look good enough today. I don't care about web design principles what so ever. I want to have a good looking website. That's all. I'm not whining. I've been stuck with the same templates for three years now. And they keep coming.
Sounds like whining to me, is 14 dollars a lot in Hungary? if it is let us know, I'll get the British government to send some food parcels
Cascadia: We'll have a point and click template building system done in the next few weeks, so you won't need CSS to make something custom.
Yo Chris that would be dope... So point and click template building system what does that consist of? Does this mean sky is the limit? or what are the limitations??
Please ensure more customization via CSS file access (like menu pictures for instance, so we could change the color of menu bars, integrate personal design ect.) as soon as possible!
we need 2 get serious with the designs... bandzoogle could be the #1 place in the world for indie artist if the designs were more interactive for our fans.. I will agree Bandzoogle trys to do the right thing for the artist/labels on the network however lets build this network into the best network ever put together.. WE NEED BETTER DESIGN TEMPLETES PERIOD... IF WE GET SOMETHING LIKE THEREALBWS.COM that would be perfect.. I understand it takes time to create change but we really need it now...
In all seriousness, I have been using Bandzoogle for a while now and it does appear that all the templates are a bit samey. The only reason we've signed up is the great back end of email, mailing lists and site traffic.
However with Google Analytics I think we found that answer. I found a site www.fourfour.com which is very similar to BZ but doing much better templates.
BZ - you should look at that site for fresh ideas!
That's not bad. Except the audio player stops whenever you navigate from the current page.
shallowandthedeep wrote:
In all seriousness, I have been using Bandzoogle for a while now and it does appear that all the templates are a bit samey. The only reason we've signed up is the great back end of email, mailing lists and site traffic.
However with Google Analytics I think we found that answer. I found a site www.fourfour.com which is very similar to BZ but doing much better templates.
BZ - you should look at that site for fresh ideas!
shallowandthedeep: We did check out fourfour; our template system, launching in a couple weeks, is considerably more flexible than theirs. One thing to note; the sample sites they are showing you were clearly made by professional designers -- they aren't "templates". Our system will let you make a professional result without having to pay a designer.
Hi Chris, I sent out an email over 40 minutes ago and it still hasn't gone out to my mailing list. The last time I sent an email through you guys and it didn't go within 10 minutes it took over 24 hours to get out to my mailing list. I didn't complain then because I thought it was just a strange fluke but I do not want this to happen again. It defeats the purpose of paying to use bandzoogle. Please see that my email goes out right away. I tried to find a phone number to call but I couldn't find one anywhere so sorry to post here but I need this email to go through soon.I emailed but got an automated response. Please get back to me, thank you. -Clare
Actually I had clicked "send now". But thank you Chris for clicking send now again but it still didn't send out for another 8 hours to some people on my mailing list (they said they hadn't gotten it until the next day, the day of the show, so I had them forward the email to see when exactly it was time stamped and some were stamped 1am the next morning when I had sent it around 5pm the previous day).
. amonthofsundays wrote:
ClareMeans wrote:
Please see that my email goes out right away.
lol now demands are being made, when all it takes is a little going over your own work and control panel.
Please ensure more customization via CSS file access (like menu pictures for instance, so we could change the color of menu bars, integrate personal design ect.) as soon as possible!
Dear Bandzoogle graphic artist extrodinaire! Love they current template selection - would it be possible to include some star field / outerspace themed templates???
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