Hi folks,
Thanks for the posts.
Let me add a few things. I love what I do - I love this site and this music with a passion. I built this site up from nothing. I didn't even know how to build a website back in 1996, but I started small and I built a site that continued to keep growing in size and the numbers of people visiting.
Even today that continues to grow - last week I hit a 1 day hits total record - over 26,000.
5 years ago I had the face the decision on whether to close the site and concentrate on my day job, or take the risk and do this full time. I took the risk and have been running this site full time since then, as my family's sole income.
So alongside being a passion, the site is also a business. But this business is tough and when you are faced with sponsors that are 5 months late paying (I have one such instance) and a few others that drop out whenever they feel like it and come back whenever they feel like it...well, it creates challenges.
The reason I have been flipping out more often lately (including about 5 minutes ago...) is due to the increasing pressures of the day to day business side of this game.
Basically it is crunch time. It's not only this excess bandwidth bill which added to my misery yesterday. I did my quarterly taxes (which are now overdue) and basically I'm in a hole substantially bigger than the sum stated above and I must drop all work on my plate in order to spend a day figuring out just how to get out of this hole, so I am not faced with the prospect of not being able to run the site full time any more.
I have maybe 3 months max to work this out and get back on track....
I'm not normally this forthright with the inner workings of the day to day crap, but what the hell, eh?
I am very appreciative of the posts within this tread and any offers of support.
What I prefer is to give something back to those that care enough about the site to help. Donations are awesome and truly appreciated, but I also like to provide something.
Here are a few options to consider:
1 - Joining MR-X. $35 for 12 months and all files updated each week are downloadable and to keep/burn/play with. I'll see what I can do about adding some more Journey related stuff soon.
Details:
http://www.melodicrock.com/mr-x-intro.html
2 - Purchase the MelodiRock.com CD compilation. Vol 1 and 2 sold out - but Volume 3 still available for $19 (which includes worldwide shipping cost).
Details:
http://www.melodicrock.com/cd/
3 - Donation - My paypal address is -
ajm@melodicrock.com
Mailing address also for those without Paypal - GPO Box 1770, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia.
I'd much prefer it is the business side of things took care of itself, with banner ads, sponsors and CD stores taking care of the necessary income, but truth be told...there just isn't a lot of money in this scene and I'm not the only one struggling.
This all said and done - thanks for reading and understanding - hopefully I can hash out a plan to get back to square one ASAP.