Feeling disappointed

Should I keep going

  • Total voters
    16
bluzervic

bluzervic

65,768 Channels, 185 Universes
Joined
Dec 31, 2011
Messages
535
Location
Fremont, Calif.
All,

As many of you are aware I have been doing shows for 9+ years now. Going through transitions from Wowlights, LOR to Xlights and LED's. I like the hobby and love to sequence and build props that can move around without Power Injection.

This year, like others I submitted the greatest showman video to Xlights Facebook page to get entered into the Videos.
However, because of bad information posted on the Xlights Facebook page, by users saying where to post, my show did not make it.

Needless to say, I was and am very disappointed not only in not seeing my show. But being mis-lead by the Xlights FB posters. Not only am I disappointed but my wife and her family were also let down.

Therefore, I am considering getting out of the hobby all together.
Is there any reason I should consider staying ?
My show is not a big hitter like a lot of you as I keep it low key. So it probably would not even get missed.
What are your thoughts and why should I keep going ?

Bluzervic
 
Sorry your submission wasn't included Vic... I can understand being frustrated but getting out of the hobby over this doesn't seem appropriate to me. Are you ready to move on? If you have to ask "why should I keep going" I would say its time to hang it up... I do my display for me. The day I don't love playing with blinky is the day I'll hang it up. Sorry again that your video wasn't included...
 
If missing out on being included in a video is making you consider getting out of this hobby, maybe that's a sign that your heart isn't really in it anymore. You should do your display because you want to, not because it may be seen on a video, etc. Maybe take this year off and see how you feel after that?
 
I would take a year off if you feel that way and see what happens in the future. All the best.
 
Sorry you missed out and feel bad about it. I agree with David though, if you think this one element of not being part of a video project is worth packing in years of time, effort and dedication to the hobby, then perhaps deep down you are ready to move on from the hobby.
But also, time away can be a good place to start and re-evaluate things and priorities in life. You may find a new hobby or fall back in love with blinky again. There's no right or wrong answer as such, only what you deep;y feels right to you.

On another note, I don't think public posts on FB will help as it will only bring out the trolls and make you feel even worse. I'd consider removing your post before the comments get to you...
 
I don't have a show anywhere approaching some of yours.
I don't do it to win competitions (although I have to keep an eye on Mike down the road, in case he surpasses me!)
My thrill comes from hearing little kids say "Wow!"
Maybe take a deep breath, take a little break, and think "Why do I REALLY do this?"
I hope you keep clapping!
 
What everyone else said, just because a couple of guys didn't put your show in a video isn't a reason to give up.
 
I personally would be disappointed if my lights had made the XLATW. I do the lights for the locals and rarely record the lights. Not only is my display fairly unphotogenic but the song choice for 2018 wasn't at all Christmassy IMHO. I thought about pulling the plug in 2017 but came back in 2018 and was reasonably pleased with the crowd numbers. A youtube viewing audience means nothing to me when it comes to Chrissy lights. Putting on a display is a joy solely if 1 child says "wow". Don't focus on missing out on making the video Vic, focus on the joy that you bring to the people who see your show in person.
 
If you love sequencing and love doing the show, then keep doing it - for the love of it.
Maybe take a break this year.
I live in Australia and I am out in the sticks, off the beaten track - so to speak.
Passing traffic is very low to none existent.
I enter competitions, not to win it, or even get a place, but more so for people to know where we are
.
Yes, I can understand the dismay about the wrong information and the work you put into your display and not having the video accepted.
I love the looks and squeels from the little kids, the adults and the big kids(who think they're too grown up for Christmas lights display) - that is what makes it worthwhile for me. Seeing it on a video does no justice to my display and I can't see the people's reactions (if any)
 
videoman3857 said:
Seeing it on a video does no justice to my display and I can't see the people's reactions (if any)
Click to expand...
This is very true. Went I went back to work last week I had some colleagues come up and say "WOW your display is amazing!! We saw your page on Facebook and thought yeah ok he has lights, but to see it in person was amazing!"
So to echo Videoman's post, it's not really all about the video (btw I did not enter as I didn't want to put hours of work in just to flash on screen for 5 seconds...) as its more about the experience first hand.
 
I went around the suburbs and looked at most of the Christmas lights. Some had placed in a huge effort placing the standard lights over every bit of their house, some had even set their house up allowing people to walk through and some you can drive past, stop listen admire with awe and move to the next one. What I've seen in the short time I have been here - this hobby is about the camaraderie of like minded people through out the world enjoying the "Wow" factor that you provide - I guarantee if you decided to pull the pin and stop - this christmas you will see a huge number of cars driving past your home hoping to see your efforts, leaving disappointed. Seriously the money and effort of doing something like you do each and every year is inspiring, and people like me see that and join in the madness :) - keep going
 
I know that I am about to repeat what a lot of other people have said but hey why not.

I do my Xmas lights for myself number 1 and my 5 year old son number 2. He loves the lights more than I do because he doesn't care if they are in time, or the wrong colours or just random, he does, however, let me know when an element gets stuck on and I have to fix it lol but I am moving off topic. Some years I think it's soo much hassle to put all the lights up and then when I pull them down here in Australia it's always so damn hot and I regret it, however, I put them up every year because I know my son loves them. I couldn't care if anyone else saw them or not, if I lived in the bush and not a single car drove past I would still do it, yes it's nice to get recognition and I am one of those people who like to be recognised for a job well done but if it doesn't come then so be it. If you have gotten to the point of doing it solely for the recognition then I think you might not be doing it for the right reasons any more and perhaps a year off might be the best place to start.

Getting wrong information from facebook well that is just the norm these days, however, I can understand your frustration when a group you are relying on for correct info lets you down, these groups are meant to be there to support you not lead you down the garden path. Personally I don't use xLights I am still a Vixen man so I never even read any of the details about the video, I can understand being frustrated especially if you made a special effort to use the song in the first place and also video it if that's not something you typically do, but to stop doing lights all together is a pretty drastic step.

Lastly the side effect of doing my lights for the reasons I mentioned is for what I saw one night out the front of my house, some people had stopped their car out the front, the mum and child got out of the car and the child stood on the footpath while mum took a photo of her with the lights as the backdrop. Now that is what keeps you coming back and doing it year on year, who knows how many other people had done the same thing that I never saw. Personally, I don't sit out the front of my house and watch people come past I prefer to let people stop and look without seeing someone in the front yard, I find some people don't stop if you're out the front but each to their own.

If you keep going then enjoy what you do for you if you decide to throw it in you might get bitten again a few years later.
 
I haven't done anything yet. All I can say is that I am getting into it for the joy of Christmas and hopefully put a smile on 1 person's face. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake.
 
My submission was also not included as I submitted late, but you know what I did - I moved on and vowed to make sure that next year, if they do a song I can stomach, I'll add the sequence at least for a few nights, and will also submit very early.

Ad for my show, if I was to quit every time I got down, or every time something failed, or caused me issues I would have quit 12 years ago, but instead we have brought a bit of enjoyment to whats likely to be tens of thousands of visitors in the last 12 Christmases, and THATS why I do it - for the visitors, not for a video
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top