This article has been one of the hardest to write for me. The reason it’s incredibly tough to write is because I’m not a quitter, I really don’t like to give up on things.
So why now?
Well it’s actually quite a simple reason, dollars. Basically I’m With The Band is costing too much to run on a weekly basis and the return is no where near enough to keep the website going.
Currently the website costs about $15 a week to keep up and running, this includes the hosting, postage of CDs and assorted things to my reviewers, and phone calls to organise photo and review access to events we cover.
This doesn’t sound like much at all, but please note that it doesn’t include time!
Time is an important, and expensive thing, these days and I’m With The Band has grown to the point that it actually requires someone to work on it almost full time, ie. 30+ hours per week. Up until now I’ve just been putting the hard work in and trying to grow I’m With The Band to the point where the advertising revenue would be enough to employ someone. For a while the numbers were growing in terms of daily hits and page views (we’re currently receiving around 50,000 hits per month) but the advertising dollars from Google Adsense and our affiliate advertising never amounted to more than $7 a week.
To run the website and to hire someone to work full time I’ve worked out that it will cost me around $500 a week, that leaves me $493.00 out of pocket per week! OUCH!
So where to now?
Well I will continue to keep the website up and running until mid-June continuing to publish the reviews and press releases that I receive in the hope that someone will come along and dump some dollars in my lap, a corporate sponsor perhaps? Failing that I’m With The Band will stop publishing new articles and will remain as it is until the hosting runs out early next year.
If any businesses are reading this and would like to talk about getting involved with I’m With The Band as a sponsor then send me an email (mathew.packer@gmail.com).
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
awww snap dude
wish i could help. im heaps unemployed and shit.
so i have a heap of time on my hands
Its such a shame to see such a great site having to fold. Matt I dont know any way of helping, other than my photography or time to assist with the website.
Drop me an email.
Cheers
Rossco
I understand dude. I have seen the amount of blood sweat and tears you have poured into the site and seen it grow to the beast that it is now.
I understand how much of a kick in the guts it is to put so much effort in and listen to people say how great it is followed by zero support or backup. Promoters have backed the site whole heartedly especially the guys at Ruffneck who promote Groovin the Moo by giving us access to all their gigs, and 50,000 people back the site each month by coming along and checking it out, yet other businesses involved in the newcastle music scene are full of empty promises.
I hope that someonewill really get behind the site as it will be a great loss to see it go. Come on Newcastle! This is your site, unlike the Knights its a proven winner, back it and help keep it going.