As I continue my quest to see what makes those people who blog and create websites tick, I asked some questions of Greg Swan. Just to see why he does what he does at his website Perfect Porridge. The site covers local music happenings and he posts videos, mp3s and mentions the national bands that are coming to town.

Rift: When and why did you start Perfect Porridge?

Greg Swan: Although this is my 11th year in the marketing industry as a day job, I’ve always loved music, art and the written word. I was a journalism major in college with a focus on music, wrote for the alternative newspaper in Des Moines and co-founded Art Scene, a monthly arts news tabloid that’s still running statewide down in Iowa. When I moved up to the Twin Cities, I knew I had to keep writing. Five years later, Perfect Porridge is still going strong.

Rift: What is your favorite part about running the site? Least favorite?

Greg Swan: I’ve always been a “consumer” of music in the truest sense of the word. I can listen to an album all the way through and never pick it up again, repeat an album for three days straight, or sample mp3 singles for hours. I consume music, and need it nearly as much as bread and water as part of my everyday routine. My favorite part about Perfect Porridge is that the new music comes to me. The PO Box I was forced to open because of the influx of albums is like a treasure trove of goodies every morning.

A little over two years ago I became a father for the first time, and my three-to-four concerts a week habit was immediately squelched as I reprioritized responsibilities. While being a dad and husband is supremely awesome and absolutely my priority, that doesn’t stop that tremendous number of local and national shows from coming through the Cities. And while that’s a bummer, my least favorite part is the feeling that I’m letting down local bands by not making it to their shows or having the time to devote to pimping their new releases and shows that they truly deserve.

Rift: I keep replacing blog with site, what is Perfect Porridge and what do you feel the difference is between a blog and a website.

GS: Fortunately RSS and loads of free tools have made this a semantic argument. I tend to call Perfect Porridge a Web site or zine instead of blog because I don’t do a lot of personal writing. I’m the captain
of the Minneapolis Metblog for local blogging, and I have a personal blog and link blog for other non-music stuff. Of course, most of my free flow thoughts end up on Twitter, which is my preferred publication medium.

Rift: How much time do you end up spending on the site each week?

GS: It’s kind of scary I spend at least an hour a day just managing the 100+ e-mail pitches, mailbox influx, contests and promotions — and that’s before writing a single word.

Rift: What are you qualifications for running your site (any previous Journalism Experience)?

GS: As mentioned previously, I have a journalism degree with a focus in music, and my experience as a managing editor of Art Scene has greatly helped with the business management side. I think the biggest qualification is unbridled elitism stemming from a childhood steeped in Classic Rock and multiple father figures who impressed upon me the seriousness of a good guitar lick and the tragic consumerism that
makes up Top 40 manure charts.

Rift: Any rants, opinions about the local music scene/website or blog scene?

GS: The Minneapolis/Saint Paul music blogger community is a special gem in a sea of dingleberries. Moving here as an outsider, I was amazed at how close knit the music community is — including musicians,
promoters, venues and journalists. With the neutering, growing irrelevance and inevitable downfall of mainstream media outlets, music lovers will continue to flock to the social mediasphere for timely, relevant and often niche content. I’m glad to be a part of it.

www.perfectporridge.com

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