Clarification about Cycling74 and dance-tech.net...NOT A SPONSOR...a friend...please read!

[Marlon Barrios Solano]

These is a thread at matt's blog with a Tony Shultz's comment that I need clarify:
http://quodlibet.tumblr.com/post/31986032
I posted this as response to their comment in but I am placing here also:

hello Tony and Matt,
this is Marlon from dance-tech.net
I respect you opinions about the content etc.
I just wanted to make clear that Cycling74 IS NOT A SPONSOR of dance-tech,net.
It is an "institutional friend" as way of facilitating a sustainable practices on dance and technology for independent artist that are not affiliated to any academic institution.
This deal allows our members practitioners to enjoy a very cool educational discount.
http://www.cycling74.com/purchase/discounts
That is all. there is no money trade by me or going towards the network.
They give discount to the dance-tech.net members.
This is one of the strategies and models that I am trying to facilitate.
That is all,
Marlon
PS: about the comment on the patches and code...I did told you that we were jocking and taking things lighter...I also told you that we might not be as skilled like you and that you can take us to were you are to help us to understand...but really dance-tech,net might not be the place for your goals...so we are all part of this landscape and we make it...by the way there technologIes that are embodied and also that are not code...

"SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES "IS A VERY IMPORTANT IDEA WHEN YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE UNIVERSITY RESOURCES...
I HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME MEMBERS THAT THEY VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE DISCOUNTS...SO... PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM...
AND AGAIN THIS IS NOR A BLOG...
dance-tech.net is a network of people and institutions...a community of practice and we try to foster a healthy and collaborative environment...

[Marlon Barrios Solano]

Here in the USA "sponsor" is understood legally as any some entity giving you money. The institutions that I am including here as friends and offering the benefit to the members, not to me only. O f course they are fully aware of the benefits of the networks and the marketing potential. I am trying to ground the network also with the institutions and I think that I had to reward their willingness to collaborate.
I am also considering advertising but it is delicate issue and I will keep exploring alternate sources.
They are not "sponsors".

[Marlon Barrios Solano]

Yes, you are correct.
An yes, the open source software that it is available are more sustainable and is the way to go.
We should encourage the members of the community to explore them.
I wanted the the organizations to feel involved and care more with a more direct communication with ther community
That is part of the trade and I am trying to take them with us and be aware that they can help. What would you suggest?
I might eliminate the sidebar with them an make a page for them...
making the logos smaller...perhaps...
The size of the logos may be sending that message, so, I will work on that.
Can you create a "page" in the pages about Open source or sustainable resources...?
we need that...

[mpgough]

universities are not an endless pot of money for staff/students to draw from.

nor is a 9-month discount very 'sustainable' ... if you want to use the software after that time period you need to pay the full cost (max/msp & jitter$450 - (approx.))

'free' alternatives include:

vvvv - http://vvvv.org/
processing - http://processing.org/
pure data - http://puredata.info/

they seem more sustainable for a 'independent artist'.

the institutional friends are sponsors (sponsorship and advertising are not bad per-se), why else do they get preferential positioning?

surely anyone who offers something of 'value' to members should get a 'banner'? or do institutions carry more 'weight' that independent artists?