We've been collecting your thoughts and suggestions via the Reader's Poll for a while now.  Some of the same things come up quite often, so I figured I'd publically comment on them for you:

1) Why don't you have more news and information on James?

Well, if you'd take a look at the One Fan "mission statement" on the main page, you would see that I don't see that as being the purpose of this site.  When a friend and I first started One Fan back in the summer of 1997, we wanted to create a supplement to what was already out there for public consumption - notably Stutter, and the fanzines A Change of Scenery and A Sound Investment.  All of these publications have loads of information, gig reviews, discographies, lyrics, etc.  There are links to Stutter all over this site as well as mailing addresses for both fanzines.  We don't think repetition is a good thing, and as a result we prefer to hand over any news to Laurie at Stutter and to keep this site to it's original purpose - a mode of expression for the fans about what it is they love so much about the band, James.

2) Why isn't this site updated very often anymore?

Well, this comes down to two reasons.  One, I have recently moved into a house where I no longer have internet access nor the ability to pay for internet access.  What this means is that I have to go down to the computing lab at the university in order to do anything related to the internet.  The geocities email account is being forwarded to a foreign address (which is why you're getting weird replies) in order to be able check the mail for this webpage at all, and in order to update the page I have to download everything, carry it home, update it, carry it back to campus, upload it and then check to make certain it works.  It's very time consuming and hence it's easier to do a lot at once, instead of making small, regular updates like I used to do.  Second, this site is based around FAN SUBMISSIONS, which means stories, photos and items of interest sent into us by YOU.  If you don't send me anything, then I have nothing new to add to the site.

3) Why aren't there more photos/downloadable photos?

Well, I put up photos as I have them, and where they are appropriate.  When I get a photo pass to take pictures at a gig I have usually been required to sign a form which keeps me from distributing photographs.  Hence, I'd rather you didn't download them and pass them around.  I don't like it when my work turns up on other people's websites, particularly when I can get in trouble for it.  And recently, I simply haven't been able to take any photos at gigs because I don't have a small enough camera with a zoom lens (easy to sneak past security) so I can get decent shots at arena shows, and the press company has not been particularly forthcoming with press passes in recent months.

4) I'd like to look at actual James lyrics, why don't you have them in your Lyrics Archive?

Well, the lyrics archive was meant to be funny.  If you want to find the lyrics you can go to the real lyrics archive on the Stutter site.  There's really no need for me to reproduce what is already completed elsewhere.

5) Can you put up a section of song meanings and interpretations?

Why, actually, this is a great idea.  I've started work on it, but could use some input.  Frankly, I feel that the beauty of James songs is that they are open to interpretation, but there are stories behind some of the songs, and it's always nice to know what other people think of songs that may have several different meanings.

6) How come you don't have any music clips?

Well, aside from the obvious copyright violations involved, again, this is not an information site.  There are clips of every James song available to you on Stutter.

7) Why should I bother contributing?

What many of you may not realize is that the band look to the websites and the fanzines to get an honest reaction to what they are doing.  If they don't get any feedback, then how will they honestly know what we want or think?  Did anyone notice the set changes on the recent tour?  This came, oddly enough, after a barrage of complaints on the mailing lists, in the fanzines, on the webpages, and from fans directly to the band.  They are listening.

Also, in order to maintain this website that you visit, it takes HOURS and HOURS of work and maintenance.  Neither myself nor anyone else involved here is a professional web designer, we are all either students or working stiffs and spend 8-12 hours a day pursuing other interests before coming home to work on this in our spare time.  We find the time.  And we still manage to follow the band on tour, maintain healthy relationships, and put on cracking aftershow parties!  It's hard to constantly come up with new ideas for the website, particularly in times when the band aren't very active, and as a result we have to rely on help from the people who regularly enjoy this website. Think of fanzines and fan run websites as public broadcasting where instead of asking you for a TV licensing fee or for a cash donation, we're asking for you to take 5 minutes to send us a submission. Throw us a bone, why don't you?

8) Sorry I haven't contributed, but I just don't have time.

OK, I get this excuse constantly and frankly, I don't buy it.  If you have the time to look at this website and stop and fill in the poll, to look up lyrics and song interpretations and to email your friends, then you have the time to send me a submission.  I'm not asking for the great twentieth century novel, I'd just like to hear your thoughts.  How did you get into James?  What is your favorite James song and why?  What is the most moved you've ever been by a James song?  Are you frustrated by not seeing them live or not knowing anyone else who likes them?  Did you fall in love to a James song or album? What role do your James albums play in your everyday life? It only takes a minute.  And if you're still not going to contribute, at least be honest with me and say "I can't be arsed, I'd rather just enjoy the fruits of your labour and not put in any effort of my own." 

9) How about a history of the band according to One Fan Clapping?

Well, there actually is one of these on the website already. Try looking at A James Lullaby.

10) Why don't you arrange special chat times and a place so James fans from around the world can speak to each other about the band?

We've done this one as well. There was a chat room set up off the J.I.M. site during the James Night festivities on December 12 and it was publicized here, on Stutter, on the J.I.M. site, on the chatboard and on 2 different JAMES mailing lists. Very few of you turned up. We've also posted in our news section about an IRC channel and nobody goes there either. The chatrooms on Stutter and on the James (Band) site are nearly always empty, even when people specify times to be there. It simply doesn't work. Sorry.

11) A chat board would be a really good idea so we can all bond.

There is a chatboard on the James (Band) site as well as information about a Tim Booth mailing list. Stutter has information about the Stutter mailing list for discussion of James as well as an archive of all back posts. I don't really want to be redundant and I'd rather not fragment the fans into groups, so I use these resources myself instead of starting new ones.

12) When are you going to bring us news of a U.S. tour?!?

Unfortunately, James have been dropped by their record label, but are actively looking for a new record deal. Right now, however, there are no plans for a North American release of Millionaires or a North American tour, sorry.

I would like to make a suggestion. The record company thinks that James no longer have a North American fanbase, which we all know is wrong. The more the North Americans write to One Fan and to the fanzines, and make it clear where they are located, the more Mercury Records will come to realize that James have fans outside of Europe. Write something about how much you want James to tour the States. Send in letters of complaint to both Change of Scenery and Sound Investment for them to print. The editors of the fanzines and myself will do our very best to make sure the band and their management see it.

13) I'd like to see more band interviews on this site.

Umm, so would I. Don't know what else to say in response to this other than the band have been very busy with the music press recently, and when I go through official channels it's really down to them having 5 minutes left over at the end of a busy day of press. The only other option is to accost them coming and going from the tourbus, which is a bit rude and I'd rather not do it. One or the other of the fanzines usually manages an interview coinciding with a tour or album release, so BUY THOSE FANZINES!

14) I noticed that you were listed in the official tour program during the arena tour, does that mean this is an official site?

Well, I've been meaning to ask the management that myself ;). Actually, no, it doesn't mean anything except maybe I haven't scared them off entirely. I am beaming with pride at our inclusion.

15) I got this comment on a poll, I thought it was amusing: I don't know what you do for a living, but it would be great if the site became more credible and arranged real interviews with the band. I know that you have been doing this to a certain extent, but accept this, the internet will become just as popular for music journalism as say, the NME. One Fan Clapping has achieved a great status within the small world of James internet sites, but imagine if this was recognised by the music industry, or at least the part associated with the promotion of James. It's all a tall order I know, but there is always the scope for change and to move in new directions. Things must evolve, they cannot afford to stagnate if they wish to succeed. Having said all that, even if the site does stay the same - it'll still be the one to look up for up-to-date-on-the-ball info. I hope that that was constructive enough. - It's got to be worth a thought.

I'm not sure this wasn't meant for Stutter. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, but I'm just a lowly graduate student (not in computers either), not a professional web designer. I've stretched myself to the limits of my programming knowledge on this site, as sad as that is to say. While I agree that music journalism will turn more and more to the internet, just as everything else, the purpose of this website is far from becoming part of the music press or music industry. I love James and I wanted to make a website about it. That's all and nothing more. This site is not intended to propel me into a career writing for the NME or doing PR work for bands. I'm quite happy carrying on as is, so long as people are still interested in this site and so long as I continue to get enough contributions to make it worthwhile. As far as One Fan being credible, I'd say we're about as credible as we're going to get, considering the contents of this site. The band like us enough to have listed us in their tour program, and I can't really ask for much more "official" recognition than that (except maybe free stuff, backstage passes, press passes, travel expenses, beer, drugs, sexual favours, etc...hmm....).

16) Can't you make the site a bit more interactive?

I'm not really sure what's meant here. If you mean flashy, then no, I can't. For starters, Geocities won't let me run scripts unless I pay for a different type of account which I can't afford to do. Plus I wouldn't know where to begin and don't have time to learn at the moment. If you mean interactive in terms of viewer participation, I wish you'd tell me how to achieve that. The entire site is based around fan submissions. I'll put up anything about James that you choose to send me. Just nobody seems to be sending anything anymore....

17) Why do you have pictures of people who just want their photos on the site?

Erm, it's a FAN site for the fans by the fans. If we can't put up pictures of James fans then what can we do? There's only so many photos of Tim looking sincere, singing, wearing an ugly brown jumper or a cowboy hat that I can stomach. All of the fan photos do have a theme of outrageous devotion to the greatest band ever. I don't just stick up pictures indiscriminately. Far from stopping putting them up, I'd love to have hundreds more. So send those photos of yourselves along!!

Well, those are the questions and comments I've been getting recently, and my responses. If you have any other questions about the site or about JAMES, send them along and I'll try and answer them as best I can.

Thanks for your support!

Justhipper
[email protected]