Review: scottyjams.com

scottdizzle · 12-18-2007, 12:19 PM

Here's the site: www.scottyjams.com
It's for showcasing my music projects cause I figured why not?

I found this base layout from here:
http://www.freecsstemplates.org/preview/frozenage

But I ripped it apart into my own layout. I think it's beautiful.

DotSauce · 12-19-2007, 12:44 PM

I love the look... excellent layout, seems very user friendly and easy to navigate.

I don't like the marquee... that's soo 1999

Is the header image with the yellow lights permanent? It is very fuzzy and I can't really even tell what it is.

The main nav bar at the top is nice, may I suggest you try a more advanced a:hover effect like a background color instead of a simple underline.

Cheers and best of luck.

Atom · 12-19-2007, 01:32 PM

Do you play all the instruments and do all the vocals?

Atom · 12-19-2007, 01:54 PM

If so, I think that communicating this fact straight away, in some fashion, on the music files pages would be a plus. This fact I think is important, as many people don't seem to prefer jazz, whereas, and as is the case for me, they might stick around to simply observe the mechanics of your talent, which can be satisfying in itself.

(off topic: one of my favorite jazz musicians is Walter Trout.)

Atom · 12-19-2007, 02:47 PM

oops, sorry, Walter Trout is blues, I get jazz and blues mixed up easily, I don't know why. : /

zeruel · 12-20-2007, 12:03 AM

Whoah! cool! I like the design... Simple and organized...

EmpJoy · 12-20-2007, 10:36 AM

nice clean design. Though adding in the pic golfing seems a little out of place since all the others related to music.

djosephs · 12-24-2007, 01:05 PM

Clean layout... a couple comments:
1. i think you could shrink the header nav bar a couple pixels in height - even be half
2. i know a lot of people think the marquee is old and out of date but i think you did a nice job. it doesn't stand out but it will catch a users eye. i like it.
3. i saw a price of $0.00 on the site... my suggestion (probably not a simple change but...) would be to replace $0.00 with FREE where ever it pops up. probably a change on the back-end. I think FREE will just stand out.

Overall clean site, good layout and great logo

scottdizzle · 12-24-2007, 05:22 PM

Hey guys thanks for all the kind words and great suggestions, I appreciate it a lot. The holidays have slowed down my time to check this forum! I'm just now getting back. I was really nervous putting this up..

Anyway, yeah just a little side hobby I've had since I was 12.. I should probably write that somewhere. I don't know why I never made a website for it a long time ago.. but I'm glad I waited cause I know way more about design and stuff now then I used to. I do play and sing everything.. but I'm always stuck in an apartment so singing loud or practicing much is almost impossible.. so that's why I have a lot of songs without vocals. Plus, I just really enjoy a good groove once in a while. No words necessary. I love blues too... but I don't know who Walter Trout is. I've probably heard him. I kinda consider blues and jazz to be in the same field together. Most my inspiration these days comes from www.smoothjazz.com

So, marquee in or out?

Quote:

3. i saw a price of $0.00 on the site... my suggestion (probably not a simple change but...) would be to replace $0.00 with FREE where ever it pops up. probably a change on the back-end. I think FREE will just stand out.

You're right, plus I think FREE probably sounds like better marketing.. while looking much less generic. lol that first song on my site is so stupid.. i was too tired to finish the song the rest of the way, so that's what I did.

Atom · 12-24-2007, 07:13 PM

I'm not sure what the best songs are because I haven't heard a lot of them yet so I just picked out a couple ..

here is Walter Trout.

http://www.atomsplace.com/atoms_pics... The Blues.mp3

http://www.atomsplace.com/atoms_pics...The Monkey.mp3

Enjoy.

djosephs · 12-24-2007, 07:57 PM

i vote marquee in... i like it even if it is old school.

Atom · 12-24-2007, 08:06 PM

Oh right, the marquee. Well it gets the message across but I personally find it a bit annoying some days, some days not. I was thinking maybe some text directly above the top of the column of files. BTW that still doesn't reveal that you play all the instruments and do all the vocals. Like just some obvious text above the first row of files that says all instruments and vocals played and sung by Scotty .. etc.

Atom · 12-24-2007, 08:20 PM

I think you mentioned playing since age 12 and all that on the "about" page but I was specifically looking for information to let me know whether you are playing all the parts of these songs, and couldn't find it anywhere.

Atom · 12-24-2007, 08:32 PM

Well I see my post #12 is kinda weird. Sorry about that, I may have misinterpreted something somewhere. Too much Christmas cheer apparently. lol

Myers · 12-28-2007, 10:50 AM

Great logo, excellent photo albums. Very SEO friendly and user friendly. Great work and I hope it goes very well for you and your work

scottdizzle · 02-01-2008, 09:16 AM

Thanks guys.. I've been so preoccupied with things lately I've had trouble finding time to get to the forum. I do agree with you Atmon I should write somewhere that it's all by one person.

Haha, that was funny about the Christmas cheer.. I know what you mean

I don't think anyone has bought a song yet lol so it isn't going toooo well. I should advertise it a little.

speedy23 · 02-14-2008, 05:09 AM

clean design, good logo, i hope you get good traffic, good luck

oldstocks · 03-22-2008, 06:48 PM

I always recommend putting an Addthis button on a page for the chance of becoming viral.