opinions and suggestions on my yet to be built site

[rmedek]

Hello everyone,

This isn't really a site review, more like a "hmmmmm, maybe you should do this" kinda thread.

As most of you know, I'm a drummer by trade and I have a very sick addiction to building websites. It's been great because during the slow months of drumming the website work picks up, and vice versa. My previous website was one of the first I had ever coded, so it's time to retool it to reflect my dual occupation, I'm thinking.

Although I'm not really much of a "blogger" I do like to keep updates and such-- and know virtually no php or mysql-- so I went with a Movable Type backend. Still learning that. I'm guessing my site will end up being tied to the MT layout unless I come up with something really out there for a design.

My big question is: Should I work on just ONE site, tying both drums and web together, making different categories for posts, and different pages for each resume/portfolio? Or perhaps one "entrance" page, where you get to choose what you came to see (drums or web), and then go to a completely different site for each one?

Both have benefits/drawbacks... I'm curious to hear opinions on what's easier to navigate, more entertaining to read, more "hireable," etc... I've tried asking my musician friends for opinions and they all agreed that I should have a huge Flash splash screen with their song playing in the background. Ok, then.

Also, I'm really just open to any crazy ideas you guys might have...

[chilipie]

Like Andrew (Jalenack), I've gone from having my site with web design stuff and blog on the same page, to having the blog on a subdomain away from my 'folio etc. If you're going to be all nicey-nice in your blog, there's nothing wrong with having it all together. However, I don't write for my blog the same as I would to prospective clients, so I thought it makes sense to separate them.

If I were you, I'd... erm... tell me to sod off and do what you think best :D .

[rmedek]

If I were you, I'd... erm... tell me to sod off and do what you think best :D .
Ha... no way man.

I don't think I'll be doing much "blogging" per se... Just occasional updates to a portfolio or a tour diary. Maybe a few posts here and there. If there's any blogging to be done, I'd feel comfortable tying in business with my personality as it never was a problem when I had the strictly drumming site.

I'm kinda worried that if I keep everything on one site I'll water down both objectives-- but if I split it up it gets annoying and redundant to search through two versions of the site to find what you need.

Hmmmm... any other opinions?

[harbingerOTV]

After spending a bored Saturday afternoon over at myspace.com, I say go with the splash screen with the auto start music. My god, they should make a script where embeded players buffer then pause. Opening 4 pages at once and all four having music on them. grrr

Okay, back to the topic at hand.

A central entrance page would be nice to try out. Maybe something sort of like you did on lostbarrioartists.com. The entrance being a general contents page with the usual links on it. Maybe above and below it links to your other two intrests. Or run it vertically so you could make a general info blog on there as well.

*sidenote
I don't know much about php either, but it seems reasonable enough that you could also make a blog on all 3 pages and use MT to control where each entry went. Sort of like naming frames.

[JamieR]

I was thinking about splitting my site around. The main part of my site is about aircraft and stuff, as my site is dedicated to my interests. However, I dont know when I will finish my site - I want to do it, but I dont have the time:mad:

Jamie.

[rmedek]

A central entrance page would be nice to try out. Maybe something sort of like you did on lostbarrioartists.com. The entrance being a general contents page with the usual links on it. Maybe above and below it links to your other two intrests. Or run it vertically so you could make a general info blog on there as well.

*sidenote
I don't know much about php either, but it seems reasonable enough that you could also make a blog on all 3 pages and use MT to control where each entry went. Sort of like naming frames.
That's a great idea... I've been spending some time trying to find imagery that can somehow tie the two interests together. I like the general contents page, then a little more in-depth links later, rather than split the two sites completely apart. Might work.

The tricky thing now is I changed to WordPress, simply because I don't know any php/mysql and I figure it's a great way to learn. It might be awhile before anything's done, but I appreciate the insight...

However, I dont know when I will finish my site - I want to do it, but I dont have the time
Tell me about it :D

[mindlessLemming]

The tricky thing now is I changed to WordPress, simply because I don't know any php/mysql and I figure it's a great way to learn.

Good choice -- the latest version of WP (1.5) is freakin' awesome and can now do static pages and a few other things that used to keep it beneath MT on the features list :thumbsup:

Personally, I'd say split them up. I'm about to do the same on my site -- I'm removing my folio entirely (it was only there to get me a day job ;)) and I'm going to start using the blog on a weekly-if-not-daily basis.
The problem with having a blog and folkio on the same site is that every time you go to make an entry you'll get caught up in "how does this affect my professional image?"; which I why I rarely post more than once per month.

Also, if I come to your site as a muso looking to hire a drummer, I couldn't care less about your web skills. If I think I'm going to get info about your drumming and a blog about web dev pops up I'll be confused to say the least...

+2cents :)

[rmedek]

Good choice -- the latest version of WP (1.5) is freakin' awesome and can now do static pages and a few other things that used to keep it beneath MT on the features list :thumbsup:
Yep. The big attraction to MT, other than the ease of use, was that I could admin multiple blogs from the same source (although I'm going to treat it more as a CMS than a blogger, per se), but WP's static pages seem to handle the same objective just fine.

Personally, I'd say split them up. I'm about to do the same on my site -- I'm removing my folio entirely (it was only there to get me a day job ;)) and I'm going to start using the blog on a weekly-if-not-daily basis.
The problem with having a blog and folkio on the same site is that every time you go to make an entry you'll get caught up in "how does this affect my professional image?"; which I why I rarely post more than once per month.
True... again, I'm thinking a common ground entrance page is the way to go but I'm having trouble thinking of something that ties the two together-- at least on that one page-- visually. BTW, you need to start writing, I enjoy reading your site. :)

The funny thing for me is back when I updated my drumming site regularly, the more personal I got with my posts, the more work I got. I don't know if it was coincedence, or if they appreciated my personality, but I think overall it'll be a more personal reflection rather than a strictly "resume" site.

Thanks for the insight. Also, just let it be known I'm extremely jealous that I didn't come up with that signature first. :D