Honestly, I feel a bit weird about this. I run this site because I love to. I love basketball, love the Lakers, love to talk about them, love to write about them, and love to engage with the community of posters here at FB&G. I would not continue to pour time and resources into the site if I didn’t love it. I would do it for free. In fact, for many years I basically have.
However, I am also realistic. Over the years I have placed ads on the site as you can see right over there on the right hand sidebar. These ads help with things like paying for the hosting of the site, for domain renewals, for league pass to help me watch the team and its opponents, etc, etc. The revenue gained from the ads mostly cover these things. Sometimes they don’t. This is how things go and I am understanding of that. That said, there are things I would like to do with the site. These things require more time and more resources.
I would never turn FB&G into a subscription based site, it should be free and I want it to forever be free. That will never change. Ever. That said, I am reaching out to ask for contributions to help me continue to run the site in the ways I have been and, hopefully, even better. I would like to do a redesign. I would like to work with other artists to produce things that appear in the posts and, maybe, things others might want to buy. Ultimately, I would love to make the site ad free.
If you would like to contribute to help me achieve these goals, I have started a contributions page through Patreon. You can pledge as little as a dollar a month to me to help keep FB&G going and, maybe one day, profitable. Again, I feel weird asking for help this way. But I have determined that it would really help me stress a bit less about the running of the site if I took these steps.
I hope you can and will contribute. But if you won’t or can’t, don’t worry I understand completely. The site will remain here and I will continue to provide you with the best writing and analysis I can. Thanks to all of you for your continued support and engagement here at Forum Blue & Gold.
Darius
jlawsonswi says
Anytime anyone has to ask it feels weird. Believe it or not, many sites and such always have something up for contributions by fans. In the future, I’d say leave a donation option up on the page. Just leave a note stating it’s purpose, for the continued support, ability to further add and enhance content, or shift to a different webhost that promises a faster, more robust system, etc. At that point you’re no longer asking, you’re simply giving people the option as a means of showing their appreciation for the work you’re doing.
azzemoto says
If I contribute could you do something about the annoying way that one has to log into thru Livefyre to post a comment? The way that is was (6 months ago?) the log in was very simple. Now it seems to me that it is different w Livefyre. I am up to my nose w user ids and passwords. On top of my personal ones for banking, cc’s (too many), insurance, quickbooks, adp, etc having to know another one for pleasure seems taunting to me.
I have tried to email you before on this subject but have received no reply. I think the low “posting” traffic has a lot to do with this Livefyre system. Maybe its just me.
Anyway, I would contribute since your site is where I go to get all my laker news.
Darius Soriano says
azzemoto Long story short, the livefyre commenting system will be going away. That said, the implementation of this system has cut down on the amount of spam and imitator posters by nearly 100%. But, again, it will be going away. Likely within the next couple of months.
david__h says
darius: maybe too much work is involved but ever thought of fb& t-shirts??
glad to make contributions.
Go lakers
Vasheed says
jlawsonswi
Welcome to NPR! I actually donated my old car to my local NPR radio station last month after years of hearing the requests for donations.
JuanJ says
david__h
Dang! I´d have to own one, tha´s for sure!
JuanJ says
Hi Darius,
As I¨m far away down here in Patagonia, I´m wondering how to contribute – I´d very much like to – without the means of a credit card. Is there another way?
Thanks D, for all you do here. As a fan who´s been far from L.A. for too long now (11 years), Forum Blue & Gold is a home away from home – this is no exaggeration, amigo. Yours, Rey´s, D. Murphy´s and Irwin´s, et al., pieces are not only a direct line to what´s happening out at Staples, and El Segundo for that matter, but also offer keen insight into the workings of a professional bball team.
The commenters on this site are an added bonus as well; rr, mindcrime, Renato, Big City, CraigW, Fern, Robert, can´t leave out KO(!), chearn, from Hawaii – david h, and others whom I´ve not mentioned, all add seasoning to what you and the writers cook up here.
Hope I can help.
Go Lakers!
_ Robert _ says
Darius: Is there an option for sporadic/one time contributions as opposed to monthly regular contributions? It was not apparent on the contribution site. This is more efficient for some contributors and it could help you get the money faster (as opposed to a couple of bucks per month).
A Horse With No Name says
Darius Soriano azzemoto
I would like to make a donation. But not a recurring one. Is there a way? Please advise. As for Livefyre, I’m sorry to hear that is going to be scrapped. It’s improved the site by leaps and bounds.
Kareemez says
JuanJ david__h There used to be shirts years ago, if my memory serves me well.
Darius Soriano says
For those asking, I do not believe there is a way to make a one time donation. A way around that may be to make a recurring donation, then after the 1st one is processed, opt out. That said, I do not know how that works and you would want to make sure opting out is easy. Thanks to everyone who wishes to help. I truly do appreciate it.
Darius Soriano says
Yes, there used to be shirts. This is one thing I am looking into bringing back. But I would want to hire a graphic designer to come up with some looks I like. Haha.
david__h says
Darius Soriano
merchandising is the name of the game. caps should also be on your mind. get it? are you listening jim buss?
jlawsonswi says
azzemoto I just log in through my google account. Most things allow you to log in from a facebook, google, or other account.
jlawsonswi says
Darius Soriano Set your site up for Paypal donations. This would make it easy for one time donations as well.
WesleyNakamura says
I’m in for $15/month.
ryanfu430 says
Have been visiting the site for several years now, just rarely posted. Glad I could help contribute to the site!