The Ark

Whatever floats your boat...

For those of you who don't know, Ning will cease to be a free hosting service on July 20th.

In order to maintain a Ninglet, if you have one, you'll have to pay about $3 a month to do so and even then, you won't be able to upload videos.

Here's a summary of the three plans they're offering >>> Ning Pricing

I've been so busy, I haven't had much time to explore our options as a teeny weeny video-sharing site, but here are the facts:

1. I've been paying $20 a month to keep the Ark ad-free. That's always been my choice based on my desire to have a home-base that is free of clutter, which is why I never accepted anyone's help to pay for it, even though many have offered (thank you so much for that).

2. To maintain the site as it is, it'll no longer be a choice to pay $20 a month and we'd have lots more flexibility with regard to the features (not much, though- just with regard to the design and functionality).
The bad news, HOWEVER, is that we'll no longer be able to upload videos directly to the site. We'll only be able to EMBED. This, to me, is a big deal. We won't lose existing content, it'll all still be here, but we just won't be able to add new content unless it's a video embed from another site.

3. Lastly, In order to still be able to upload to the site, the monthly fee would jump to $50 or there's an option to save %17 by paying the yearly fee of $500. That's a lot. I definitely won't be able to afford that.

I'm giving you guys a few days to respond here and give your thoughts before I let you know what my plan of action is. I may not be able to afford $50 a month, but I could pay one month just to buy us some time to decide on what to do.

Please let me know what you think, even if you've not been active for some time. The more ideas we have, the better.

Thanks Arkians!
-Syd

Views: 37

Comment by AnnelidaFilms on July 11, 2010 at 6:24pm
Vimeo is already helping entire Ning accounts get out of Dodge with Amazee Migrator. See http://vimeo.com/12974600 and then Amazee.com/migrate ... "free of any charge, now and forever."
Comment by SydTheSkeptic on July 11, 2010 at 6:34pm
Jim, thanks!!

I started a group over there, just to see what we're capable of doing.

Please join it and let's test the waters there.

http://vimeo.com/groups/ark
Comment by SydTheSkeptic on July 11, 2010 at 6:43pm
Holy bejeezus, Jim!!! Amazee is exactly what we may need!!

Without losing any content here, Amazee's going to replicate everything and bring it over to Vimeo!!!! That is exactly what I was hoping I could find. I'm going to go ahead and do it and then present the Amazee site as another option.
Comment by SydTheSkeptic on July 11, 2010 at 6:44pm
I'm glad I waited to do the vlog...
Comment by AnnelidaFilms on July 11, 2010 at 6:45pm
Hi Syd - apparently I need a more formal invitation than the gracious one you just posted here. My Vimeo account name is, get this: AnnelidaFilms (imagine, it wasn't taken!).
Comment by SydTheSkeptic on July 11, 2010 at 6:47pm
Thanks- it's invite-only at the moment. I'll go get ya.
Comment by JustAnotherUserName on July 11, 2010 at 7:15pm
Add me..add me...add me! JustAnotherUserName (shocking, I know...)
Comment by CoZzMiX on July 11, 2010 at 7:16pm
and meee! Dont forget meee!
Comment by JustAnotherUserName on July 11, 2010 at 7:26pm
Fellow Arkians..we can do this at another site such as Vimeo. We can have our own group, but no no one has responsibility for the whole enchilada. Running a site such as this is a HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.

I KNOW how much responsibility Syd bears--I always feel guilt because I don't step up to take some of it away!! If we raise $500 this year, then there's NEXT year. It's an ongoing process. Annually.

Rather than close it down, we can gently migrate it elsewhere. Truth is, there are precious few of us that participate to the extent that we did at LV. I got this little thrill of excitement when I visited Vimeo. Those awesome filmmakers such as Syd, Peter, Bruce, Amy, Sara (sorry if I left anyone out)...they would get SO MUCH stimulation from a site such as Vimeo. And feedback! How many positive comments can we have from the same 5 people?!

I LOVE the concept of the Ark. You know I do. I've been here since moment one. But we did this because LV--the way we knew it--ended. It was stated to be a "stopgap" from the start. But to go to the trouble to produce a video to get 12 views? No motivation there :-( Even if we raise the $500, I hate to say it, but we're all exhibitionists to a certain extent, right? Otherwise we wouldn't do it. At least we'd have audience there. One of my greatest joys at LV was my little following. Many of you had MASSIVE followings, so I know you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, it was the World Cup finals today and I had people over and I've had 3 vodka drinks, so I'm rambling. But I would like to see us move to Vimeo, keep our core group intact, and leave the Ark open enough to direct people there. It's not like they're pounding on our doors to get in here and I honestly think we'd attract some of the "oldies but goodies" on a site such as Vimeo.

Syd...do invite me to your new group!!
Comment by photo2010 on July 11, 2010 at 7:49pm
just joined Vimeo, photo2010 be me :)

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