The mad dash to the finish line
We all had our public and private guesses about how many entries we'd get for the Talent Quest, but none of us anticipated the flurry of activity over the weekend and through Monday. When I checked in Sunday morning we had about 800 entries, and by Monday at midnight we had 1368.
In tech terms, we served up nearly 112,000 page views on Monday and handled over 500 2 minute (2MB) contest submissions while over 10 thousand voters continued to listen, vote and comment on contest entries. We also served up 30GB of data running at a constant 5MB/second. That's 2 full contest entries being downloaded every second all day long, a pace which has hardly let up since. Our hosting provider Contegix performed admirably under the circumstances.
As we've explained to folks who contacted us about this, a number of people had trouble uploading audio the website due to the extraordinary volume of traffic we were experiencing. Unfortunately, we weren't able to extend the deadline and accommodate additional entries.
Basically we determined it was impossible to distinguish accurately, fairly or in a timely fashion between those who may have had problems due to the site traffic and those who experienced other problems beyond our control that last day or previously. Allowing re-submissions for some and not others would create new issues and still not make everyone happy (which sucks because making everyone happy is what we would really like to do).
This is disappointing for everyone, of course we want as many people as possible to participate. But if you missed your chance with the Talent Quest this time around, there are some other sites that can help you get your foot into the proverbial public radio door:
http://www.prx.org -- where you can upload and distribute your work to stations (feel free to upload your Talent Quest entry here, by the way)
http://www.transom.org -- for advice on tools of the trade and the craft itself
http://www.airmedia.org -- a community of independent public radio producers
We really hope everyone will parlay their passion for public radio into new opportunities, and stay involved in the growing Talent Quest community. We're certainly looking for ways to bring new exposure and ideas into the mix, above and beyond the current contest.
Now it's time to focus in on the remarkable crop of entries on the site. We've all got our work cut out for us - over 45 hours of audio in total - so please chip in with your votes and comments over the next two week as the judging gets underway.
Thanks!
Jake
Executive Director, PRX
delicious
diggNice way of avoiding site traffic! :P At least it’s good to know that you have people who keep their eyes on you! :) I read about a Technology Transfer stud who showed that there is a possibility to avoid this kind of problems and make sites more powerful.
I understand your predicament and give you kudos for addressing it so thoughtfully. I only leaned about the contest at the end of last week and had to submit in the waning hours. I crossed my fingers and finally...a connection and success. Overall, I thought things operated very smoothly from the tech side. Thanks for all the hard work, and thanks for the great links, not to mention including both delicous and digg on this site.
Best,
Melanie
I believe in creativity in service to other. You can hear more at... Thanks for listening!
http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1855
I've been very vocal about the high tech barriers, here, but if there is not a way to fairly determine who tried to abide by the rules but was thwarted by technology, then the rules shouldn't be bent.
I wonder if this is done again, though, should there be a 'holding cell' for those who cannot load their pieces due to technological difficulties on PRX's end? Perhaps a notice that says, if you can't get thru, email to this address. And then have an auto reply with a password that can be used the next day? Something like that, because the concept of 'a deadline is a deadline' really does apply to both the entrant *and* the contest runner.
Just a thought, plus another: I appreciate the opportunity to plug my program idea. Thank you.
Welcome to HipHop U!
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/8590
At least mine was. Check it out at:
"You know when a deadline is real and when it isn't." (That's why TAL is presented LIVE).
I guess I was lucky that I got my entry up. It took three tries, which brought me minutes within the deadline. The whole time I thought "if it doesn't load, what then?"
It's nice of Jake to direct folks to PRX and Transom, etc. I would like to point out that this is why this contest is so exciting for alot of us. The other options require slugging it out on your own as an independent producer.
This contest is a nice start, but hopefully the CPB (and NPR, etc.) will open up the coffers and their doors to producers a bit more in the near future. The Talent Quest may ultimately prove heartbreaking to a lot of good producers that deserve the resources to make their dream shows.
My sympathies go to those who didn't make the deadline.
-JRD
Jake,
This has been a great experience. Better than I anticipated.
Speaking of momentum and inspiration: there is a group of us spinning off and beginning a project which will, we hope, result is a collection of radio stories. We'll post it to PRX.
You all have done an amazing job. Best of all, it has been huge fun!!! Thanks for this opportunity.
Bill Slammon
http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/399
"Saturday Morning" on WVEW.org
http://saturday-morning-radio-experience.blogspot.com
Some of the brightest people I know are the worst procrastinators. I'm sure some of those who waited til the last minute to get their entries in fit this description as well. I feel sorry for them, and heaven knows it easily could've been me, but you made the right call in not bending the rules. In any event, something tells me you'll find a good show or two out of 1368! Speaking of good shows...
::pimps clip::
I thought you guys did an awesome job. Server crashes were to be expected for an endeavor of this size. Looking forward to participating in Round 2 either here in this contest, collaborating with new found friends / audiophiles or just doing my own thing. This contest gave me an excuse to get going. THANK YOU.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHECK OUT MY ENTRY:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1149
READ MY BLOG: www.akajesais.com
CONTRIBUTOR: www.SanDiegoBlog.com
To you and your staff, and to everyone who has taken a shot.
Steve
People either do what they are predisposed to do, or compelled to do.
Those numbers are pretty incredible.
I'd like to add that your local public radio station or low-power FM is a great place to start working on a program idea. Granted, staff time can be stretched thin, but I think PDs and engineers are always interested in new voices, interesting ideas, and fresh energy.
************************************************
Life is a matinee. BroadwayMatinee.com
Judge my hostiness in the PRTQ
I am opinionated and have well reasoned thoughts and can construct ideas that are entertaining. The question is how do you know if you have what it takes to make it in radio?
I guess that is what this contest really allows you to find out. Do people actually find what I have to say interesting? Or do they hate the sound of my voice and miss the message?
This is a cool oppertunity to take a big chance with little risk. Hats off to PRX for giving us an extra two minutes of fame!!!!
I am a voting manaic. I am voting on your piece next!!!!
I am one of those people who wait until the last min., lucky for me I thought the deadline was Sunday night, not Monday.So thank God because it took me 4 hours to get it recorded right and posted. It was Monday at 2 AM by the time I got it right so if I had started Monday I would never had made it. I would love to re-record my offering because the volume is low, but I can't.
So turn up your volume and give me your vote! Thank you!
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