OMGDDSS!!! Jack...Stacey... Get a room! LOL!

I think paid membership is a bad idea. And trying to tie it to "professionalism" is bad for business. As times get tougher, giving something will bring in more money.

I see excellent art by new folks with 4 or less comments, yet you see over 30 remarks on someone who is not any better (*sometimes actually worse, as in "floating feet, and other very basic mistakes), but they are a "part of the ren elite" (*old timers). This makes new (*potential customers) members discouraged. So in many ways ren is less about the art (*hence the professional comment is debunked) and more about the marketing & sales.

 While I think that charging a fee will cause many to leave, (*and not because they have a bug up thier butts or whatever because they are PO'd at ren's issue of the moment), but because they are already alienated by the fact the regulars ignore them, but this is a fact, it is occuring. I think it is stupid. I am fairly 'new-ish' (*just 5 years around the boards & galleries, and care less about the cliques and such). But I came here first when I got poser, and other CG products and I have stayed because it is home base. Had i joined just a year or two later, I might have left for greener pastures.

Perhaps if ren focused on more art, less selling (*cause we all are going to buy!) things would get busy and the more traffic the more sales (*usually). Ren is like Reno, NV in many respects. In Las Vegas, NV, they want you drunk and spending freely! In Reno, NV they limit your drinks and are afraid to let go of a nickle (*cause it is hurting thier profits). Thus more people who want to have a good time and spend thier money go to Las Vegas! There might be some real logic and profound wisdom in this statement!

I mentioned once before, put an item on sale, and then have a contest for the best artwork created with the purchased product! Give the winner a 25% coupon (*geez you'll more then profit from the larger sale!), give it to some of the newer artists and see how it will boost sales! They buy the original, and then spend on more with the coupon! Win,win!!!

OK, I said my mind, rip me to pieces! :P (*LOL!)

 Ariana

 BTW... I agree with both art_sorcery and magicmoondesigns, you need ads even for the paid people, cause often things are new or on sale and sometimes e-bots are slow to reach us!

~A~

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