ITA Net Domain

In recent e-mails, Grant said:>it's well past time the ITA was slugged for purchasing a domain! i'm>pretty sure i could find someone to host it for us on a reliable server>>Did you want to get a groundswell of support going for our own>itawa.asn.au domain? :) it was still available last time i looked.>>Cheers>GrantAnd I said YES!At present, to get access to this web-site you have to type ina very long and hard to remember site address;http://cygnus.uwa.edu.au/~gmalcolm/ita/or use the intermitantly workinghttp://come.to/itawaOnce you have logged on and bookmarked the site then fair enough,but hands up all those out there that have tried to tell theirfrinds about the site and tried to remember that really long one,or maybe your one of those who regularly uses the come.to/itawalink and regularly find the site is MISSING?If the ITA claimed its own net-domain as Grant suggested;itawa.asn.auit would be as easy to remember as come.to/itawa but wouldwork as frequently as the really long one. It would also beanother step away from the AMATUER stigma and show that wecan be and are as good as so-called professionals, not justin our shows but in our attitude as well.I think this is a great idea, anyone else want to throwtheir two-bits?

Good Idea.I would not have any Idea - but it would not be a big cost factor? - or would it?Ooops! They have realised the cage door was open!

We are all for anything that doesn't cost anything - or not much.I'm sure that Grant will have all the answers!> Good Idea.> I would not have any Idea - but it would not be a big cost factor?> - or would it?> Ooops! They have realised the cage door was open!>

> While while I'm getting Grant's attention - How about a new POLL!>> Perfect topic for it I think.That was quick Grant. You're on the ball.Now I've voted, I want to point out something regardingthe options for URL addresses. I personally feel thatita.asn.au makes the most sense and here's why;1. People already know the Independant Theatre Association as ITA2. I'm not aware that there is another ITA organisation in any otherstate so why should leave the option for another to be set up? Ifwe're the first then there's no need for 'WA' to a part of thedescription. Sure it may help locate us, but that can be doneonce the user has 'logged' onto the Web site itself.3. While the ITA is associated with theatre, it is not a threaticalgroup as such, at least that I'm aware of. I think the 'theatre.asn.au'URL is misleading for that fact.4. the 'ita.asn.au' is the easiest to remember;firstly - ita - nuff said,secondly - asn - almost an short version of australian whateverit really stands for.,thridly - au - the way the Web refers to Aussie sites.The ITA is an austrlalian site located in Australia (as silly asthis sounds, there are australian sites NOT located IN australia!)Why do I do this? As an attempt to warp the opinions of anyoneelse reading this and hopefully sway their opinion to match mine!What a selfish B@$^!) I am.Jeff Watkins(Putting on his most persuasive smile)I can do impressions too!

> That was quick Grant. You're on the ball.hmmm... that might explain why i frequently fall on my face> Now I've voted, I want to point out something regarding> the options for URL addresses. I personally feel that> ita.asn.au makes the most sense and here's why;i'm going to put an alternative case :)> 1. People already know the Independant Theatre Association as> ITAi'm convinced that relatively few people know of the ITA. Sure, most local companies are members. But try a quick survey and see how many clubs circulate their copy of the Link newsletter. I think you might find most people involved in community theatre in WA (and i'm including the dabblers here) are astounded to discover that such a thing as the ITA exists. Certainly, i wouldn't expect most of our audiences to have any idea about the ITA.> 2. I'm not aware that there is another ITA organisation in any other> state so why should leave the option for another to be set up?No others that i'm aware of. I include the WA as often as possible to remind people that the focus of the site is Western Australian.... but we have quite a few interstate and international visitors.> 3. While the ITA is associated with theatre, it is not a threatical> group as such, at least that I'm aware of. I think the 'theatre.asn.au'> URL is misleading for that fact.hmm... i'm not quite sure of the distinction you are making here. Are you saying that because the ITA is not a theatre company as such it shouldn't call itself "theatre"?Personally, i don't think i could come up with a more descriptive word. It sums up what is common to everything that the ITA and it's members do.> 4. the 'ita.asn.au' is the easiest to remember;> firstly - ita - nuff said,i think "theatre" is probably easier to remember"ATI? IAT? Now was that Association of Independent Theatres? Or was it Independent Association of Theatres?"and it will make sure people spell it correctly ;)> secondly - asn - almost an short version of australian whateverasn is short for associationSo... my plug goes for:theatre.asn.autheatre association of australiasnappy, accurate and descriptive> Jeff Watkins> (Putting on his most persuasive smile)oooer!*falters momentarily*um... or do i prefer...*recovers resolve*nope! theatre.asn.au is my preference!> I can do impressions too!*is impressed*;)CheersGrant

>Joe wrote:>> I would not have any Idea - but it would not be a big cost factor?>> - or would it?Norma wrote:> We are all for anything that doesn't cost anything - or not much.I'm> sure that Grant will have all the answers!I'm not aware of such a setup being too expensive but best to callon the expert here ... Grant?While while I'm getting Grant's attention - How about a new POLL!Perfect topic for it I think.

> While while I'm getting Grant's attention - How about a new POLL!>> Perfect topic for it I think.>good idea! Jeff

> i'm convinced that relatively few people know of the ITA. Sure,> thing as the ITA exists. Certainly, i wouldn't expect most of our> audiences to have any idea about the ITA.Good point, yet with those that are aware of the organisation, (thatI'm aware of) we all call it "the ITA" - the short version.> No others that i'm aware of. I include the WA as often as possible> to remind people that the focus of the site is Western Australian....> but we have quite a few interstate and international visitors.OK, you focus point is well taken. I'm against it because of thefact that we're always making this distinction and it tends to havea similar effect as calling theatre Amateur. Everyone else inAustralia tend to look down on anything West Aussie. We're likethe outsider in the family and I think we shouldn't just lie downand take it. We have a lot to stand up for, and we should.> hmm... i'm not quite sure of the distinction you are making here.> Are you saying that because the ITA is not a theatre company as such> it shouldn't call itself "theatre"?I tried looking at from the point of view of a user. Theatre wouldgive the impression the the site deals with theatre in general, whichin way it does I guess, but why generalise when you can be verydescriptive at the very begining.I will conceed that as very few people are unaware of the ITA itself,the term theatre may be more useful in attracting attention. You'vescored a point there.> asn is short for associationWell, I wasn't too sure what it stood for. I just tried to makesomething up that sounded appropriate and would help anotherperson to remember it, but association is cetainly better ;-)> So... my plug goes for:> theatre.asn.au> theatre association of australia> snappy, accurate and descriptiveVery true. Let me think on this a bit longer.Jeff Watkins(thinking he might just 'Cross the Floor')

Only a few hours into the latest poll on registering a domain name for the ITA and the votes are coming thick and fast!So far, whether or not to register a domain is a non-issue; unanimously affirmative.However, votes are split 3 ways on the name we should use and someone has voted for "something else" but apparently not posted a suggestion here.I've been checking costs and hold out some hope that we manage a registration for "free". At worst, it would seem the ITA would be up for a minimal setup fee and then $100 per year thereafter.CheersGrant

> Only a few hours into the latest poll on registering a domain> name for the ITA and the votes are coming thick and fast!> So far, whether or not to register a domain is a non-issue; unanimously> affirmative.> However, votes are split 3 ways on the name we should use and> someone has voted for "something else" but apparently not> posted a suggestion here.> I've been checking costs and hold out some hope that we manage> a registration for "free". At worst, it would seem the ITA> would be up for a minimal setup fee and then $100 per year thereafter.>> Cheers> GrantFor what its worth, I agree with both - its not the fence posts that worry me, its the barbed wire when I get off! - each has merit and of value to me.I get upset with the W.A image, perceived by others, so as we have the opportunity to be first the 'cab of the rank' - grab theatre.asn.au while we can. Make this the premier website for theatre in Australia - why not!For all those surfys who search "theatre australia" or "australian theatre" we would be top of the list - yes/no?.It used to be that pro-theatre would, if they had to, finish off their tours here - now there is a tendency to start here and finish in the east - could it be that they have just discovered that West does have theatre of international standards - I doubt it, its just they can in house rehearsals cheaper here and get the bugs outit, before they present to their real theatre city/states over tother side. So to that end lets get one up or on them - instead of apologising all the time for our existence!!!!!!Get them to visit and then find out Who, What, Why, When & Where We do it - its not as though we have to give there money back or risk being sued - as I believe we tend to state W.A not as a rider but as though it was a disclaimer.Not only . But! does the domain (hope its not Melbourne based?) come with a spell checker - PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!I'll donate a dollar!Joe McCabe