Needs to change!

I Wasn't sure where to post this but I'd appreciate staff feedback (Not only habboxlive staff)

OK Well I was speaking to a few members & Listeners and we all agree the standard of DJ's needs to improve.
I Believe It comes down to the application process in which DJ's are either rejected or get a 2week trial based on their application. In my personal opinion it needs to change back to what other fansites do. I know it will make more work for Habboxlive management & Head DJ's but I believe the listener base will improve as a result.
And also the average listener time although It's on the increase will go up as well.

I'm not trying to criticize Jess or any Management in this post but I Can't see how you can base an application only on a voice-clip as DJ'ing is both about having a confident voice but more importantly about using Sam Broadcaster. I'm not saying I'm a perfect DJ who doesn't make mistakes but the quality of some DJ's is frankly disappointing at the minute.

So what I'm getting at is that Habboxlive Management need to base their decision whether to pass an applicant on both their application (Voice-clip) And their ability to use Sam Broadcaster (10min trial). If this is done the quality of DJ's on habboxlive will improve and listeners will appreciate it. This needs to be done sooner rather than later as the quality of some DJ's are giving habbox are bad name.


Justin

There are sometimes trials on a trial server where people can trial on there so we actually hear what they are like on air, we could possibly say if we got 40 applications we choose the best 10 (depending on how many staff we need at the time) then give them a 10 minute trial on a seperate server, maybe?

We actually do trials now, but it's impossible to trial everyone. I know you say this would help us loads and everything and we've heard it from many others before you but it's a lot of work. It takes a lot of time and effort on radio managements' part, especially jess because she usually listens to EVERYONE, but we definitely can't trial 40 applicants on the radio. maybe best 10 or even 20 but certainly not all of them. i know jess has been trialing possible dj's more recently and it's been helping but you can't exactly put limits on how 'good' a dj is or any type of 'expectations' really. everyone is different. thank you for your ideas though, they are appreciated :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesOYES

There are sometimes trials on a trial server where people can trial on there so we actually hear what they are like on air, we could possibly say if we got 40 applications we choose the best 10 (depending on how many staff we need at the time) then give them a 10 minute trial on a seperate server, maybe?

---

Yeh It's basically what I'm saying. Anyone who Management feel are good enough for a 2week trial should have a quick 10min trial on a trial server to test their DJ'ing abilities.

To be honest and I really don't want to offend any DJs here - DJing on a Habbo fansite is not a skill that's gifted to people, I think that 80% of people could probably DJ successfully however they will not be able to do this without support and feedback helping them become a better DJ.

Over the past month HabboxLive has increased the amount of feedback sent to staff and I believe that over 60% of HxL DJs recieved detailed feedback PMs about their work. I personally believe the standard of HabboxLive DJs has improved and the listener rise reflects this, I think hiring people based upon whether they have a good voice for DJing is a good idea as anybody can learn to use SAM broadcaster and anybody can improve their use of SAM with the correct help.

Jess will happily do trials on a test server if she needs good DJs fast however I think giving people the opportunity to DJ for 2 weeks is a much more accurate representation of whether they are good staff or not, for instance say a trialist goes on air for the first time and their show is absolutely dire, they've clearly never used SAM before and have no idea - they are sent feedback from Management and Senior DJs support them on MSN - at the end of the 2 week trial there has been a clear improvement in their DJing - these are the sort of people we want on our teams, those capable of listening to feedback and improving. Jess has been involved in HxL longer than any other person at Habbox and Jess has been responsible for hiring some of the best DJs this site has ever seen, Jess is also bloody good at getting rid of staff that aren't up to her standards however she's also fair in the process.

I don't personally think anything needs changing, the trialists I've heard over the past month have been quite good and those that haven't been so good have recieved PMs immediately and I know a couple that have improved dramatically since their first show. Everybody deserves a chance, someone may have the potential to be a very good DJ yet have not used SAM before therefore their 10 minute trial could be bad and they could be turned down, when really this wouldn't be an accurate represenation of their potential.

I sort of see what you mean but this is how it is - We hear how they sound and if they have a "radio friendly" sort of voice. If they sound good then they get a trial, whether they are the best DJ in the world or not, we give feedback and help them improve their DJing skills. It's hardly fair to write someone off from getting a trial just because they aren't the best at first. Everyone improves with a little feedback and that's what the head DJs are there for to help them improve by issuing help/advice and a feedback PM every month.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesOYES

There are sometimes trials on a trial server where people can trial on there so we actually hear what they are like on air, we could possibly say if we got 40 applications we choose the best 10 (depending on how many staff we need at the time) then give them a 10 minute trial on a seperate server, maybe?

---

Sounds good. I think someone else brought this up a while ago and I chipped in saying a trial server could be used to take the best few applicants, but it got rejected because it would take "too much time".

However if Jess & the Head DJs are willing to devote an hour or 2 every weekend to doing this it should be fine.

I totally agree with you that some DJs aren't up to scratch. The thing that made me want to be Habbox staff was not only the fact that it was (when I was a listener) by far the best site (and still is), but the WOW factor the DJs had. They were so professional, so amazing, and I looked up to them. They were willing to help other people get started in DJing and they were like real radio presenters.

Now...I don't know, maybe it's because I know how the radio works, or whatever, but I just don't get that feeling from some of the DJs.

If, as James has said, we got (example) 50 applications. Take the best 15, trial them for 5-10 minutes each on a private server. Then put the best 6-7 on a 2 week trial.

That's what will improve the standard. You can't judge a DJ by a voice clip, you can judge their voice. It's like judging a musician on their instrument. Sure they can have an amazing, beautiful, expensive instrument, but if they don't know how to play it, they're not going to be good.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conservative,

Sounds good. I think someone else brought this up a while ago and I chipped in saying a trial server could be used to take the best few applicants, but it got rejected because it would take "too much time".

However if Jess & the Head DJs are willing to devote an hour or 2 every weekend to doing this it should be fine.

I totally agree with you that some DJs aren't up to scratch. The thing that made me want to be Habbox staff was not only the fact that it was (when I was a listener) by far the best site (and still is), but the WOW factor the DJs had. They were so professional, so amazing, and I looked up to them. They were willing to help other people get started in DJing and they were like real radio presenters.

Now...I don't know, maybe it's because I know how the radio works, or whatever, but I just don't get that feeling from some of the DJs.

If, as James has said, we got (example) 50 applications. Take the best 15, trial them for 5-10 minutes each on a private server. Then put the best 6-7 on a 2 week trial.

That's what will improve the standard. You can't judge a DJ by a voice clip, you can judge their voice. It's like judging a musician on their instrument. Sure they can have an amazing, beautiful, expensive instrument, but if they don't know how to play it, they're not going to be good.

---

Like I said we can give them a 10 minute trial server and if they aren't the best then don't give them a trial. We've had some DJs that weren't so good before their trial and then become some of the best DJs on habboxlive based on feedback given to them!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dinasaw

Like I said we can give them a 10 minute trial server and if they aren't the best then don't give them a trial. We've had some DJs that weren't so good before their trial and then become some of the best DJs on habboxlive based on feedback given to them!

---

If they're not the best, tell them how to improve for next time? I re-applied 6 TIMES before getting into HxL. If Oli wants people who will listen to feedback and take criticism, the best way of having them is having these trials, then if they fail, they can take feedback from the trial, then go away, get some experience, and come back.

Nearly every other site I know does this in one form or another, and it really helps the standard of the radio.

If someone wants to know why they didn't get accepted then they can PM Jess to get some feedback on their application that's always been the case :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conservative,

If they're not the best, tell them how to improve for next time? I re-applied 6 TIMES before getting into HxL. If Oli wants people who will listen to feedback and take criticism, the best way of having them is having these trials, then if they fail, they can take feedback from the trial, then go away, get some experience, and come back.

Nearly every other site I know does this in one form or another, and it really helps the standard of the radio.

---

I think the fact Habbox offers the chance for DJs to get training to be a better DJ is what puts it ahead of other fansites, no other fansites radio is more successful than HxL therefore it's not really an issue. I've always believed in learning from mistakes and it is in my eyes that without mistakes it's a lot harder to learn. If Habbox hires awful DJs who show no sign of improvement they last 5 minutes here, 90% of HxL shows I listen to (and when I'm at uni I have HabboxLive on my headphones 80% of the time I am online, before anybody says Gen Management dont listen to HxL) are of a standard that I believe is acceptable for Habbox.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dinasaw

If someone wants to know why they didn't get accepted then they can PM Jess to get some feedback on their application that's always been the case :P

---

It's not publicized enough then, because I have never seen that anywhere. But as I said - the 5-10 trials are hardly time consuming and it improve the standard of radio immensely. If you can;t use SAM, you can't be a good DJ. Sure it's not that hard to learn, but surely you want someone with experience than a complete noob having no idea what they're doing on air?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conservative,

It's not publicized enough then, because I have never seen that anywhere. But as I said - the 5-10 trials are hardly time consuming and it improve the standard of radio immensely. If you can;t use SAM, you can't be a good DJ. Sure it's not that hard to learn, but surely you want someone with experience than a complete noob having no idea what they're doing on air?

---

Not really hard to get used to know how to use SAM broadcaster, many DJs join using winamp and as you know it's not allowed and find it easy to convert over to SAM broadcaster :P Saying if you can't use SAM you can't be a good DJ is just silly though because they can they just need to learn how to use it. Every feedback PM i've sent i've got a reply saying that they agree with everything I said to them and tend to take it on board.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dinasaw

Not really hard to get used to know how to use SAM broadcaster, many DJs join using winamp and as you know it's not allowed and find it easy to convert over to SAM broadcaster :P Saying if you can't use SAM you can't be a good DJ is just silly though because they can they just need to learn how to use it. Every feedback PM i've sent i've got a reply saying that they agree with everything I said to them and tend to take it on board.

---

Yeah, you can learn, but someone who can't use SAM NOW, can't be a good DJ NOW. I just think Lethal brought up a good point, and James is backing it.

A 10 minute radio trial is NOT too much too ask. If the DJ has a good voice, but can't use SAM, maybe give them the 2 week trial? But it's just to see how good they really are.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dinasaw

Like I said we can give them a 10 minute trial server and if they aren't the best then don't give them a trial. We've had some DJs that weren't so good before their trial and then become some of the best DJs on habboxlive based on feedback given to them!

---

It's all about improvement I agree with you there but Habboxlive is the most popualar fan-site of habbo and DJ's on other sites wish they DJ'ed here.
And Well Habboxlives approach to applicants is if your application isn't good (Voice-clip) then you don't get a trial. What I'm saying is management need to be more stricter in the quality of DJ's from their applications. I know I might get flamed or w/e! Habbox live is the site DJ's aim to DJ on and Well if you do base it on a 10min trial then the one's who pass will be of good quality and well the one's who fail can DJ on a smaller fansite until their experience is good enough to apply again. It will mean Habboxlive getting Less DJ's but it will mean the quality of the DJ's is good. Hope that makes sense

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conservative,

Yeah, you can learn, but someone who can't use SAM NOW, can't be a good DJ NOW. I just think Lethal brought up a good point, and James is backing it.

A 10 minute radio trial is NOT too much too ask. If the DJ has a good voice, but can't use SAM, maybe give them the 2 week trial? But it's just to see how good they really are.

---

We want good DJs a DJ can be good even if they can't use sam broadcaster, it's really not hard to learn how to use it imo.

A 10 minute trial isn't much to ask for just 9 hours from Jess every time applications are open. We don't want to turn away DJs that aren't VERY good we can hire them and help them improve it's something we've always done for as long as I have been here I really do not think it needs changing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by You-Lethal

It's all about improvement I agree with you there but Habboxlive is the most popualar fan-site of habbo and DJ's on other sites wish they DJ'ed here.
And Well Habboxlives approach to applicants is if your application isn't good (Voice-clip) then you don't get a trial. What I'm saying is management need to be more stricter in the quality of DJ's from their applications. I know I might get flamed or w/e! Habbox live is the site DJ's aim to DJ on and Well if you do base it on a 10min trial then the one's who pass will be of good quality and well the one's who fail can DJ on a smaller fansite until their experience is good enough to apply again. It will mean Habboxlive getting Less DJ's but it will mean the quality of the DJ's is good. Hope that makes sense

---

To me it does. We judge purely on the voice, and that isn't right. Confidence on live radio is different to recording a clip. Songs - what if all their songs are awful quality? There is more to it than their voice and that's what is judge with the 10 minute trial.

If you think you can improve them after listening to the 10 min trial, by all means hire them, but as lethal said, we are the site all DJs aim for. If we set the bar high, then they will aim for that.

---------- Post added 28-02-2011 at 11:54 PM ----------

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dinasaw

We want good DJs a DJ can be good even if they can't use sam broadcaster, it's really not hard to learn how to use it imo.

A 10 minute trial isn't much to ask for just 9 hours from Jess every time applications are open. We don't want to turn away DJs that aren't VERY good we can hire them and help them improve it's something we've always done for as long as I have been here I really do not think it needs changing.

---

9 hours? No, what James said is what we're looking for - take the best 10(ish) applications and trial them. Then take the best few from them. It also sets a new place to aim for. For example; a new DJ could aim for getting to the trial, then next time round, aim for getting through.

And if you split it between the 4 Head DJs & Jess...that's what, 20 minutes each? Maybe get the Senior DJs to help out? And even get regular DJs to give their opinions? It's not much work, I've done it before, it really helps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conservative,

To me it does. We judge purely on the voice, and that isn't right. Confidence on live radio is different to recording a clip. Songs - what if all their songs are awful quality? There is more to it than their voice and that's what is judge with the 10 minute trial.

If you think you can improve them after listening to the 10 min trial, by all means hire them, but as lethal said, we are the site all DJs aim for. If we set the bar high, then they will aim for that.

---------- Post added 28-02-2011 at 11:54 PM ----------



9 hours? No, what James said is what we're looking for - take the best 10(ish) applications and trial them. Then take the best few from them. It also sets a new place to aim for. For example; a new DJ could aim for getting to the trial, then next time round, aim for getting through.

And if you split it between the 4 Head DJs & Jess...that's what, 20 minutes each? Maybe get the Senior DJs to help out? And even get regular DJs to give their opinions? It's not much work, I've done it before, it really helps.

---

So you're wanting us not to judge people on their applications yet you want us to single out 10 of them by their application..ok :S

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dinasaw

So you're wanting us not to judge people on their applications yet you want us to single out 10 of them by their application..ok :S

---

Break it down when judging people.

For example, talent shows (eg; X Factor break it down like this:
1. Are they a good singer.
2. Are they a good performer
3. Are they going to make it

We can break it down like this;

1. Do they have a good voice (First application)
2. Do they have a good knowledge of SAM (10 min trial)
3. Are they an all round good DJ and entertainer (2 week trial)

Voila.

Doing trials on a private server is time consuming and I am willing to do them (and plan to in the next couple of weeks if we need DJs) but opening apps and telling 10-15 people that they have trials at certain times wouldn't work. People wouldn't be able to fit perfectly into 2 hours that we allocate and would want trials at all different times. A few weeks ago we did some trials on a test server and it was meant to be a few people, I think we did 6/7 in total and it took about 3 hours because we were waiting around for people.

In DJ applications what I look for is natural ability, someone who sounds good and like they would be entertaining on air. Then obviously you look at the experience they have etc. The majority of DJs that are hired do have experience and know how to use SAM broadcaster. Those that are less experienced may not start out the best but they develop in that 2 week trial and so many DJs improve in that time. There are tons of DJs who started off really bad but went on to become the best DJs we ever had (past managers/head DJs/seniors). If you have music, a working mic and sound good in your clip then you can be a good DJ. The 2 weeks gives people chance to settle in and show what they can do.

If anyone ever has an issue with a DJ on air then you can let me know and I will make sure that it gets addressed so that the DJ can improve. One of the most important things to me is helping DJs to improve and making sure that they have the support to do that and the Head and Senior DJs are doing a great job at making that happen at the moment and they will continue to do so.

So basically at the moment we will keep the 2 week trial period and that will always be there even if we have more server trials which we will try to do in the future. It is important that we give people a chance to show that they can improve and not judge them on 10 minutes which is an extremely pressurised situation and not something many people would want to do.

I'll give my view to this. Habbo radio DJs are amateurs who usually come out of their bedroom, sometimes with cruddy mics pretending they're the real thing. It's not an offense, it's basically what DJing on a Habbo fansite is about. Quality can be improved in two ways, one if checking them on a trial server for 5 mins or so to see how they are, which often times is a successful method and one is hiring them on a trial for two weeks and guiding them as they all go along.

I will agree, that the first method is not being utilized too well, things do fall through the net. But at the end of the day those who do, don't stay with us for an extremely long time and are usually removed for warnings and what not.

Although yes, it wasn't as good as it was in 2007 and trust me, I'd love to go out there and head hunt for these great DJs, but with fansites in general dwindling there just isn't as much talent out there as there was. To say more, HxL doesn't employ awful DJs, many news ones yes, but there is a thorough system to guide them to become better. As for Winamp, that's the most silly argument ever. I've mentored a DJ who had Winamp, had an extremely shaky start, but is now improving leaps and bounds and really is becoming a top quality DJ. Sometimes people can really surprise you in terms of what they are capable of with the right guidance. Also, it's fair to say things won't revert to the way they were say in 2007, no matter how much I wish they could.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Grig

I'll give my view to this. Habbo radio DJs are amateurs who usually come out of their bedroom, sometimes with cruddy mics pretending they're the real thing. It's not an offense, it's basically what DJing on a Habbo fansite is about. Quality can be improved in two ways, one if checking them on a trial server for 5 mins or so to see how they are, which often times is a successful method and one is hiring them on a trial for two weeks and guiding them as they all go along.

I will agree, that the first method is not being utilized too well, things do fall through the net. But at the end of the day those who do, don't stay with us for an extremely long time and are usually removed for warnings and what not.

Although yes, it wasn't as good as it was in 2007 and trust me, I'd love to go out there and head hunt for these great DJs, but with fansites in general dwindling there just isn't as much talent out there as there was. To say more, HxL doesn't employ awful DJs, many news ones yes, but there is a thorough system to guide them to become better. As for Winamp, that's the most silly argument ever. I've mentored a DJ who had Winamp, had an extremely shaky start, but is now improving leaps and bounds and really is becoming a top quality DJ. Sometimes people can really surprise you in terms of what they are capable of with the right guidance. Also, it's fair to say things won't revert to the way they were say in 2007, no matter how much I wish they could.

---

All that was said about winamp is that it's easy to convert over to using SAM broadcaster???