i see tastyfresh going the direction of myspace.



not really



Mike brings up a point that I think has kinda been a common thing with new members. So, allow me to state the following facts about Tastyfresh to all new members.

Tastyfresh.com is not a huge corporation.
Tastyfresh.com is owned by one person, Dave Richards.
Tastyfresh.com does not make any substantial amount of money on ad banners and T-shirts. If anything, Dave is paying out of pocket to finance the site.
Tastyfresh.com content (Articles, reviews, podcast, etc) is facilitated by volunteers.
Tastyfresh.com forum moderators are all volunteers.
Tastyfresh.com is essentially a small website with a big reputation that far exceeds it's ability to function as an operator of national level events.
Tastyfresh.com is hugely fueled by it's members desire to see it grow.

I can sum all this up with this: Everytime you do an event in your area, Contact Dave and see if it would be good for your event and for Tastyfresh to label your event as a Tastyfresh function. I personally see a great value in this. If all the small events we put on had the Tastyfresh logo somewhere on the flyers, indicating that Tastyfresh is backing this event (not monitarily, just in support), than that will be a tremendous "thank you" to all that Dave has been working so hard on. It would drive in more new members.

I also think that if we really want Tastyfresh to do national level events, we should start chipping in financially and save up for that as a "membership goal". We would raise the money, we would plan the event, and we would facilitate whatever was needed to make it happen...taking as much pressure off Dave as possible.

So, where would I like to see Tastyfresh in 5 years? I'd like it to be a major reference for DJ's and producers who also happen to have faith in Christ, with complete profile pages containing links to thier websites. (Yes I know that is what I have been trying to accomplish with Assembly Of Groove, but honestly that makes more sense here. TF should be that database that we all have been trying to compile in our various ways.) I'd like TF to function a lot like Beatport, offering top Christian producers tracks for sale. I'd like TF to be salt and light to the secular crowd so much to the point that they check this site as regularly as they check other dance sites for current, topical information relating to tracks and events.

These are things that are not outrageous. Things are things that can happen, we just can't expect Dave to do it all by himself. He just has to allow us to do it for him.

And that... is SLOWLY what I'm working toward now.

I agree with Chris on those points, cheers Chris.

I think Tastyfresh has and always will be about networking, educating and facilitating

Whatever else it does will be above and beyond its call of duty. (I can hear some anthemic trance in my head now...

What I think tastyfresh should be heading towards in the next 5 years...

More encouragement and support for all DJ's and Producers and clubbers irrespective of their faith and walk. It would be great to have DJ's and such like from all backgrounds and faiths coming here to find solstice from the sometimes overbearing and destructive secular scene.

A facility to host DJ mixes, tracks, photos, flyers, interviews, reports, videos ect....

I would like more open forum discussions, I know this is contentious issue but If we need to have space to be honest with each other. Some people may come to tasty as a kind of refuse as they need help with drugs or other forms of addiction, I think... why not?
There is a lot of people on here who have enough wisdom and experience to at least offer some form of written support if nothing else. We have all had varying experiences and we need to carry on being brothers and sisters in Christ, supporting one another and being encouraging, without this we won't grow, and if we don't grow then this site won't grown with us

Peace

  Oh man, I am glad you brought that up Dave, I haver actually been thinking about something like that for awhile now. I would (Lord willing) would like to throw a Christian Rave or build a Christian Club or @ least be involved one way or another in something like that here in California. It would be a great alternative to other events that are always happening on the weekend. I have some other ideas, I have to really think of first b4 I can say anymore about that. I think since the podcast thing is happening, which is awesome, would be cool to have a Record Label (Tastyfresh) for Christian Artist's from the DJ to the Producer. Chris your most definately right on that, good point, Dave is and has been putting his money into TF, and I accommodate him for still keeping it alive.      

I think it would be great if tastyfresh was much more interactive. I like the way image-line re-designed the flstudio site (http://www.flstudio.com). Immediately when you go to the site, you see everyone that's interacting in the chat rooms, forum, etc.

It would be great if we had a chat room, all events for today posted, and most recent forum discussions right on the first page. It's great that there's already a podcast button. It would be nice to have an alternative listening option also if someone doesn't have itunes on their computer. It would also be nice to have a map somewhere that allows you to select your location and know exactly where the groove fellowships are and what's going on there. And if it won't take up too much time and money, make the forums like http://www.kvraudio.com

I also completely agree with everything Chris said.

lol See, their message boards are so amazing and popular they can barely contain it 

They have the best message boards I've seen anywhere. It's mostly the "members area" (your personal profile) that makes them very effective. It allows you to bookmark any page and go back to it. You can also watch a section and it also lists every single place you've posted with a clickable link for later reference. The forums themselves are also compact and easy to scroll through. At the end of every topic that you're reading, there is a "quick reply" option. Also, under every user's name there is a list of links that allow you to immediately go to their website, pm them, view their profile, mute them, etc. You just gotta try it when the server isn't overwhelmed. I think you'll see why I like them so much.

*sigh* just when we get used to it it changes! By the way, when is the redesign coming?

One thought - I would love to see some people who have been and are serious leaders in our scene write more frequently in the zine.  It's not much trouble, to give back and inspire the next generation.  (I meant to send out some letters awhile back, to ask around, but been held back here with things for a bit... think I should be online a bit more now.)

We are the body of Christ and this is our meeting place... why shouldn't we all be involved in some level?  People who have been around here for awhile (over 2 years?) should ask themselves, what can they give to the worldwide body of Christ here at TF, and how can we help the cause of Christ grow more, by what we may have to give?  Something that doesn't cost us more than we can bear, something that might turn our one little seed of faith into 100- or 1000-fold return for His Kingdom, within our lifetime?  Even newer people here (3 months?) might come up with some ideas if they really asked themselves what they might be able to contribute in the TF community.  Just a thought... the Kingdom of God is a participatory experience, and that is where you really learn and grow, when you step out in faith.

It crossed my mind that we have some things here that the world really needs... role models... family... real love and truth... let's put our best foot forward, take ourselves as seriously as anyone else out there, and get ourselves and our messages out there.  Supporting each other.

peace & love,
Shana