Senior Week
Have you ever heard of dAmn? "dAmn" stands for the DeviantArt Messaging Network otherwise known as the forum and chat network. For more in depth information about what dAmn is, check out the FAQ: What is dAmn?
This article will describe several reasons why you should be utilizing the chat network section of dAmn. It's fair to say I spend most of my DA time in the chat rooms. In fact, my closest friends on this website are those I met while chatting! The rooms can be a lot of fun and I have come across so much artistic talent that I showcase my findings in a weekly journal feature. My goal today is to give you several reasons why you should be using dAmn if you are not already.
I'll include links to some of the more popular chat rooms at the end. Click one or two and give them a try!So, why use the chat network?
1. Meet Deviants From Around the World
#welcome and #devart are two great chat rooms for meeting other artists and having general discussions. The #welcome chat is a hub for new deviants (and even some old ones!) to ask questions and try out the chat network in a welcoming, friendly environment. #devart is the official DA chat room for general conversation.
2. Artwork Sharing and Collaboration
As I mentioned at the beginning, you can come across some really nice artwork while using the chat network. The deviants in the art sharing chats generally post their own work, which means you can ask them questions and comment on their art... And get responses right away! Have questions about a drawing technique? Not sure what camera lens to buy and want some opinions? Want those answers NOW rather than later? Well, then the chat network may be perfect for you.
The best room to share your art and see others' work is the ShareZone chat room. It's a popular chat with a bot that will post your artwork for you.
If you're collaborating with another deviant, you can meet up with the user in your very own chat room. All deviants are allowed to create their own user chat rooms (this can be done from the chat page). Having a live discussion about your shared piece can be much more productive than sending notes and waiting for replies. Sure, Skype may seem like a way to chat live as well... But in the DA chats, you can post thumbnail codes that appear as images in the chat window.
3. Chat Events
The chat rooms are a great way to get artists participating in fun games together (and in some cases, even winning prizes
). Many groups hold games or critique events in their respective chat rooms. For example, during some Community Weeks, projecteducate will hold Muro Draw Challenges, Trivia, or Rock-Paper-Scissors games in their :#CommunityWeek: chat. Additionally, seniormentors holds weekly Critique Events for all deviants in the #seniors room.Some of these chat events award prizes such as premium memberships, points, and journal features. Pay special attention to the groups you watch and try to attend a chat event sometime.
Those are some great reasons to try out the chat network, right?
Some dAmn Chat Rooms
Here is a quick list of some of the more popular, general chat rooms on dAmn.
- #devart: DeviantArt's official chat room.
- #welcome: The place to go if you're new to DeviantArt or even if you're new to the chat network.
- #seniors: The official chat room for DA's Senior members.
- #ThumbHub: The featured art sharing chat room.
- #NightOwlsChat: A general chat for deviants who stay up all night.
- #Fun4Fun: A chat that's basically just fun.
- #Bronies: A room for... You guessed it, bronies!
Looking for something more specific? Scroll through the chat list! You'll find art-specific chats such as the #iPhotograph photography chat room or some like RPAffinity if you're into role playing.
Some chat network Do's and Don'ts
- Do: Try them out! They can be a great way to say hello to fellow artists in real time, make new friends, or get opinions on your art.
- Do: Read the chat rules, if posted in the chat, before participating beyond introducing yourself.
Each room has different rules and allows different things. For example, in #devart you cannot post thumbnails of your art. These belong more in the ShareZone chat. - Do: "Tab" other users when speaking directly to them. This "tab" method will highlight the user's name in their window. It's very simple to do! Just type the first couple letters of the username and press the tab button on your keyboard. Try it in the chats!
- Don't: Spam or Flood. Sending rapid-fire messages in a chat room can be distracting and interrupting.
- Don't: Ignore chat room moderators. They are there to keep the rooms running smoothly! Community Volunteers are in charge of the official DA chats such as #devart. But in most chat rooms, the moderators will be located in special user categories known as "privclasses" listed to the right of the chat window in the user list.
Hopefully, you are now feeling inspired to go try out the chat network for the first time or re-visit your favorite rooms if you haven't stopped in for awhile! I'll see you in there 
