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Last edited by Nickdfresh; 03-21-2010, 07:13 PM. -
How Dare You.
Get Your Own Beer,Bitch.
First Roth Army Kiwi To See Van Halen Live 6/16/2012 Phoenix Arizona.Comment
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Some are wondering how the redesign could take 2 years to complete. My designer and I were not involved for 2 years. If you are interested in the real timeline read on. This is going to be a painfully boring post. You might want to grab a beer or something.
In early Jan 2009 Sarge emailed about problems with the site design. He hired a guy from India named "Miner" for a couple hundred bucks. They were communicating via a password protected forum. Chris wasn't happy with the designs or the direction. He asked if I would get involved on his behalf. I agreed. Sarge gave me his password to Miner's forum. I started giving Miner specific design instructions that Chris and I talked about. While there were improvements, Miner wasn't getting it right. Chris asked me to help him look for a new designer. This was the end of Jan 2009.
In early Feb 2009 my friend Melton (yeah, funny name) expressed interest. Melton had done design work for me before and I have known him for years. We discussed the project, I showed him the site, and we brainstormed about the creative direction. Chris liked where we were headed and asked Melton for an estimate. Melton cut his rates in half as a favor to me and sent an estimate to Chris that was for design only. Chris, Melton and I agreed that since Miner had already been paid, he should do the final production. On 2/24/09 Chris sent Melton $682.50 via billpay. This is the day that Melton was officially on the clock.
I started working on the logo and pulling together the site assets (stock imagery, etc). It was also around this time that my work schedule became outrageous. For those of that don't know, I pretty much have two full time jobs. I am the General Manager and a partner in a sports supplement business. My best friend and I have two stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are currently working towards opening a third location. I also am a consultant and am part of a small practice with a few friends. At the time, we had partnered with a larger practice and closed a project with a tech client from Silicon Valley. Our team was under contract and against tight deadlines. For the next 5 months, I worked 7 days a week putting in between 12 & 14 hours per day between the two jobs. I was burned to the fucking core and didn't have much time for the Army project. I managed to get the site assets to Melton and finish up the logo before things got out of control. On 3/14/09, we sent Chris the logo for approval. He asked for some minor changes. On 3/16/09 he received a revised version that was approved. We were all really happy with it.
Melton started to move forward with the site design without much involvement from me. Both him and Chris knew I was hammered with work. I told Melton to keep me posted. Chris checked back in for a status update on 4/19/09. Melton was close but still had a few more revisions to make. At this time Melton's schedule got away from him. People were being laid off at his office and he had to pick up much of the design department the slack. He was taking work home and working weekends. Chris asked if Melton could finish the design by the end of May. Melton said he would try.
On 6/2/09 I sent Chris the new design. He was really happy with it. He did ask for some revisions. After a few rounds of edits, Chris was sent the final version on 6/23/09. He loved it and approved it. With my consulting project winding down, I had time a little time and tried to move things forward. On 7/8/09 I sent Chris an email letting him know he needed to talk to Melton directly about production. Sarge was heading to London for two weeks and asked me to have Melton communicate directly with Miner. On 8/4/09 Chris emailed me looking for an update. I informed him that Melton had produced EPS files of the new Roth Army logo (for a Speadshirt t-shirt store) but had not yet talked to Miner about production. Melton had spoke to me about needing additional compensation for the production of the site. I told Melton to contact Chris and work that out with him. Melton knew to call me if he had questions during production .At that point, I was ramping up for another project and assumed that Melton, Chris, and Miner would communicate and finish things up. I was wrong. It was during this time that the project drifted.
Around Thanksgiving 2009 Chris called me to check in on the project. He hadn't heard from Melton. I sent Melton a very direct email saying that Chris has been patient and he needs things wrapped up ASAP. I CC'd Chris on that email. I also called Melton. Turns out his work situation had gotten worse, he had to fly to the east coast because his mother was having health problems, was freaked out about being laid off, and was in the process of moving into a new house not knowing if he would still have a job. Things were melting down in his life. He emailed Chris on 11/28/09, sent along additional files (JPG versions of the design), apologized and reminded Chris that he had already sent Photoshop layer files for Miner. He told Chris to reach out if he or Miner had any questions during production.
On 12/29/09 Chris asked Melton if he would do the production. Miner was having trouble. Chris wanted to know what Melton what charge for this. With the two of them communicating again, there was nothing more for me to do. That was the last I had heard from either of them for awhile. When I heard Roth Army members claimed I had "stole" from Sarge because the site still wasn't done, I sent an email to Melton and Sarge on 3/15/10 to find out what was going on. Melton had lined up a developer to do the job and had sent Chris an estimate to finish the site. As of this writing, Melton has not heard anything back from Chris. That is where things stand at the moment.
A few things I want to point out: no money was ever given to me. Melton was paid directly by Chris. I put time and effort into this free of charge. I purchased all stock imagery for the project and worked on developing the logo on my own dime. I never asked for a cent and never received any money. I wanted to help Chris and fix some of the damage I had caused being a piece of fucking shit Webmaster. Instead, I helped create another clusterfuck.
If I had a crystal ball knowing how busy both Melton and I would have ended up being, I never would have involved either of us with the site design. There were some major breakdowns in communication and points where I should have pushed things harder and been more involved. From the day Melton was paid (2/24/09) to the day he delivered the last revised design files (12/28/09) it took a little over 9 months to fulfill his obligation. I take responsibility for much of that delay. Far too long, but not the 2 years people assume we were involved. Hopefully when Sarge gets in contact with either me, Mark, Melton, or whomever, we can figure out what to do next and see if we can't get this back on track.
That is all for me; sorry if I have bored you to tears. My brain is fucking fried from spending over 4 hours going through old emails. You guys deserve an accurate explanation of what happened and why. I just wanted to give you all an idea of what really went down.
Mezro...and now I am going to unwind...by clubbing my balls into tartare with a hammer...Last edited by Mezro; 03-21-2010, 08:24 PM.Got me a date with a shaved Asian. I know, I know; I think it's fucked!Comment
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Thanks for the update Mez.
True, life can get very on short notice. You took on a lot of work, dude. Props.
The sample you posted earlier looks killer. I'm sure the "new" look for the Army will be worth the wait.
Keep us abreast!
Trolls take heed...
LOG OUT & FUCK OFF!!!Comment
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So in a nutshell, the design is ready for production, Melton found a developer to do it, gave an estimate to Sarge, but Sarge hasn't responded.... Is that more or less the current status Mez ??
While there's not much for us peons to do at the very moment with the design's production, what we CAN do is start making plans for a central and secure repository for donations to assist in getting that production finalized....
Personally, I'm not 100% sure, would a Paypal account be the best way to do that ??Eat Us And Smile - The Originals
"I have a very belligerent enthusiasm or an enthusiastic belligerence. I’m an intellectual slut." - David Lee Roth
"We are part of the, not just the culture, but the geography. Van Halen music goes along with like fries with the burger." - David Lee RothComment
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Thanks Jimi. Yeah man, life turns into chaos quickly. When production rolls around, if we need anything else Photoshop related, would you be able to help out?
Mezro...because I suck at Photoshop...I just punch my laptop and throw it to the floor when it comes to dealing with layers...Got me a date with a shaved Asian. I know, I know; I think it's fucked!Comment
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Yeap...that is where we are at VA. Melton's guy is ready to produce if Sarge is cool with the estimate. The other option is we find someone else and get a different estimate.
Not sure about that either. I guess we find what Sarge wants to do and go from there.
Mezro...I will kick some money in to get production moving...it is the least I can do...Got me a date with a shaved Asian. I know, I know; I think it's fucked!Comment
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Mezro and The RA ..
My dog is ready again, here how it go...There is no doubt Mez that you had things to do, and there is no doubt (after the last few days posts are concerned) you trully care for this site and it's peeps. I was around when the deletions happened, but as you know not a "Mod Room Guy" and thought whatever is best for the site..? I was out of the loop as to knowing what was best....I still am.
To the point:
But, I also within this thread ain't Bs'n about my access to one of the largest commercial photography studios in KC, with large format cameras offering 384 and 216 megapixles respectively, with full photoshop capabilities and also a web design company. I realize most of the hard work has been done any other work needed I can help.
And these guys are friends of mine.
I am quite sure there are some talened MFers here at The RA. I have seen hints of greatness in the creativity department... but if needs are not met somewhere.... in you all's quest, Kansas City will come thru.
Mutha on Roths!Comment
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Got me a date with a shaved Asian. I know, I know; I think it's fucked!Comment
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I will make a couple call monday am and post a answer to you via PM by the afternoon.Comment
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Eh, "we" need to stop making plans for anything until we've heard from Sarge, dudes...Comment
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