I honestly don’t know where to start. The past 4 years have been quite the ride and I still cannot believe how far this website has come. To most of you, this website wasn’t anything more than just that – a website. But not to me.
It was my favorite hobby and it gave me the chance to do some amazing things that I never thought I’d get to do. Like interviewing my absolute favorite band. When I opened this website in February 2009, I never in a million years expected to just 7 months later sit in All Time Low’s dressing room, shake their hands, get offered chocolate by Jack and ask them a handful of questions that I had to pick out of hundreds of submissions. I still don’t really know how that happened.
But like it says up there, all good things must come to an end. And I’m sure this doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you, seeing as the website hasn’t been running the way it should be in a while. I actually have been working on it a lot these past few weeks and months. The new website is pretty much finished. It’s a lot bigger with a lot of new features that would have turned it into quite a big community.
But the other day I realized that it just hasn’t been fun in a while now.
I’m a perfectionist. But whenever something doesn’t work out as planned, I throw in the towel. I’d rather not do it at all than to not do it to perfection. That is why the re-launch had to be pushed back a few times. And it’s why I’m closing this chapter now.
I have a job and some big projects coming up which require my full attention. I just can’t do it all at once.
A lot of people also don’t understand the pressure and stress that come with it. You don’t just spend 5 minutes a day posting that new music video or interview. You get emails, you have contests to run, you need to constantly update the band’s list of tour dates, there’s just so much that needs to be done. It’s a job for five, basically. And I’d rather close my site than to have someone else mess with it. Perfectionism.
Before I start rambling, I’m just going to leave you with this. I appreciate every single tweet, like, follow, visit, comment, submission and email I have ever gotten from you. The response has been incredible and I will always think back and smile. But it is time to let go.
Long live us, I guess.
PS: Keep your eyes peeled for some final contests on Twitter and Facebook.
Alex, Jack, Rian and Zack for never saying no to recording a video message, signing prizes or sitting down for an interview.
Matt Flyzik for always being super cooperative before, during and after interviews and for putting up with our guest list requests.
Matt Colussy for helping out here and there and for getting those balcony tickets for Naomi and I in Dublin.
Helena for all the advice and for helping with my first ever interview.
Naomi for helping out with the last interview and for bringing your fancy camera equipment to make sure we got good shots.
Jessie for interviewing Alex for me and for getting us on the guest list a couple of times.