I am a life long Elvis fan. Never in my life I dreamt to become an editor of this website. To be honest, I just became an internet user at the time this site was started. But hey, I fell in love with one of the owners and slowly but surely I got my own tasks over here. One of the things I am most proud of, is the ‘day by day’ section. It took me six months to fill the database with all the material. Of course I am not responsible for the technics behind it.
Back then I used to write an occasionally review, but I must admit: my knowledge about release dates, concert dates and recording dates is not good enough to give the visitors an objective opinion. I am just a fan, enjoying Elvis voice, music and (sorry folks) his looks! So in my reviews I can only give my personal experience while listening to a CD or watching a DVD (and lately I noticed that a personal opinion is not always appreciated).
Now after more than 10 years of Elvisnews, the site has grown so big, that it is more work than one can imagine! I know some of the visitors got some warnings by my hand, but I always try to be as principal as I possibly can. As a mother of three, I know the meaning of being consequent. Keeping an eye on the reactions on this site is one of my tasks. This means I have to read them all, 24/7! Small offenses I edit, while greater abuse will get a warning. Well... I am sure you all know the drill by now ;-)
Creatively we used to come together every month, to brainstorm about new things. The reaction possibility at ‘song of the day’ was one of my ideas. I did not think beforehand about all the extra work: me and my big mouth. But since we run the site between the two of us, we talk about it almost every day. What can we improve? What should we change?
Maybe you already noticed some of the (little) changes, maybe not. I am not gonna tell you what change I made when I took over the news search. I will tell you this: it needs a big commitment every day, to keep up with it all, as much as we can. Behind the scenes we work at least four/five hours a day on this website each! And we still have to keep in mind that we have a social life beside running this site.
Right now there is sitting someone next to me, working on some big change! For you all, it will be ‘just a possibility extra’ overhere, but for me it means doing the remaining mostly by myself. And since I am married to this guy, it also means late nights ;-)
The other night we were drinking a glass of wine, and of course there was still some ‘work to do’. A new CD came in, so we had to listen to it carefully and write a review again. We have very different taste when it comes to Elvis’ music, what means it was almost dawn again when we turned to bed.
When, very rarely, we decide to go out for the evening, we both turn on our pc’s after arriving at home, because there might be something worth mentioning, or something to be edited. We haven’t experienced going on a holiday since we run it together: January and August will be out of the question from now on.
Sometimes it is hard to read the harsh comments over here; often someone needs to state that the reviewer is not an Elvis fan at all! Maybe I am too sensative, maybe I am too naieve, but those kind of remarks can make me cry. We spent every free second working on this website. It is not our job; it is just a hobby! We have to pay for the webspace, so I think we are entitled to run this site as we like.
Since January we lost one editor, but the work increased. When I ask someone to write a review of his own, promisses are made, but never fullfilled! The answer often is: I will do that when I can find the time. Strangely, that seems not to apply for us; it is expected! Which is okay of course! But please, keep in mind that it is just a hobby, and that hobby is the result of our deep and intense love of Elvis.
Yes we are critical, yes we don’t like every thing with his name on it. Rubberducks, remixes, impersonators and so called tribute artists and the 1000th rerelease are not our piece of cake.
Try to imagine what you would write about the releases, day in, day out!
For now, I am counting the days for the big thing that will be changed overhere. I am sure some of you won’t like it, some of you will love it like I do, but no matter what you think of it: keep in mind all the hours of work necessary to complete it! Anyway: we can’t please you all!