I've looked at fanclubs in the past so it was inevitable at some point that I'd look at official websites. This is something I was thinking of a couple of weeks ago when Meat Loaf's official website announced his newest album. I've always been of the belief that an official website ought to be superior to any other website about that artist. Using Meat Loaf's official website as an example, I believe there are several things that can be improved. To start with there is a lack of biographical information and what they call the 'BIO' is actually more like a press release for Hang Cool Teddy Bear. The official site is normally the first place new fans will look for simple information like where Meat was born or when his birthday is but if this is lacking does it create the impression that the site is going to be your first stop for information in the future? There's also the lack of content to get fans returning to the site. There are maybe eight photos that were general publicity shots that are also included on other websites and that is about it. I've visited other artists websites and they keep their fans coming back by adding new photos every so often as well as things like preview clips of upcoming songs and behind the scenes tour blogs.

I understand that this is probably down to the contract that Meat Loaf has with his current site providers but at present, I can think of several fan run websites who put this site to shame. They are supposed to be professionals but they seem incapable of producing a site that will keep visitors returning.

I've read an article recentely in which a former X-Factor finalist criticised her mentor for not singing live and apparantely this mentor caused controversy by appearing to sing to a backing track on a performance on the show. Whether this particular singer sang live or not is not something I really give a damn about but it has made me think about these pre-recorded performances and why they are such a big deal.
I've seen several occurances where Meat Loaf has been accused of 'miming' to a backing track and with the way some people react, it's as if he's commited some dreadful sin. Sometimes there are limitations in the TV show environment which prevents the performance being done as the show goes out on air. Maybe there are time constraints and they want to ensure the performance fits in with the schedule, maybe they can't fit the whole backing band on the stage? We don't know these limitations unless we are there so I believe that people ought to go easy on these performers a little bit. As I have said in the past when people have criticised Meat for 'miming', it's still HIS voice regardless of whether he's singing it at the present or whether he recorded it a few hours prior to that. I can't speak for other singers but I have been told by a friend, who has been in the audience when Meat has performed on these shows, that you can actually hear him singing, even if it's the pre-recording that the viewers at home hear, almost like he were doing karaoke to his own song.

I tend to just sit back and enjoy seeing my favouriote singer on these TV shows rather than try to look for the negatives. Some may feel that this way of viewing is just a niave way of looking at things but if that's the way they feel then I'll hold my hands up and admit that I'm proud to be that way because I enjoy the performance for what it is and feel that there are better uses for my time than to look for negatives in something that is there to provide us with entertainment.

People who have been following The Iconic Meat Loaf since the early days will probably be aware that the site won Celebrity Site of The Day twice in 2011 and I still regularly look at the other recipents of this award to see what kind of things they have on their sites and I try to use this as inspiration to build on what The Iconic Meat Loaf offers. Just recentely though I've been getting distracted by all the pretty, floral and pink layouts that some of these sites are using and wishing that I had a pretty pink site instead of the 'not-pretty' layout that The Iconic Meat Loaf has with it's horrid skulls in the place that the pretty flowers would be on these other sites.
As a female designer, I suppose it's only natural that occasionally I might have a yearning for pretty but I'm at a disadvantage. The subject of my site is male and pink flowers just aren't going to work. I could change my subject matter but there is no other possible subject matter that I have the same respect and admiration for than I do with Meat.
There's is also another inspiration for my constantly seeking to improve The Iconic Meat Loaf and that is the man himself. He has said on several occasions that he's always trying to improve and be the best he can be and I'm like him when it comes to this site. This site is more than just a fansite to me, it gives me the opportunity to test my skills, my creativity and I am always wanting to make it the best it can be. The day that stops is the day I stop doing it.