I have news about the first issue of Rice Candy magazine. As you can tell I have not posted anything here on the blog for a few days now, and that is due to the time the creation of the magazine has absorbed. I also wish you could see the finished cover-art ... I love it! It is simple and goes well with the theme of the first issue!
As I was laying-out the magazine a few questions and slight problems surfaced. One being the deadline of the magazine.
I want to be clear to let everyone know that I am not stating that this magazine will not be completed. But just simply want to let everyone know that it will take longer then expected. I am basically expressing the fact that, the whole process in making Rice Candy Issue 01- will be done in s l o w - m o t i o n.
I can write here and tell you, bore you, with every itty bitty detail why the magazine is taking a long time ... but that would be pointless. But I do want to share with you some of my concerns.
1. I can finish the magazine in about a week and have it ready to be printed right after. But I am not satisfied with what I have so far. Meaning, I need more content that will flow smoothly with the concept of Rice Candy. I like what I have so far but I need MORE. I want the magazine to come out just like how I envisioned the final outcome to be like. Rather then make what I have so far dictate the outcome. It might be a stubborn move but... no matter what; this just doesn't sit right in my stomach. I am not saying I am a "perfectionist", but I can't settle with what I have just for the sake of finishing the magazine. It would not be fair to me or to any of you.
2. There's this push-and-pull precaution signal going on-and-off in my head about printing the magazine (influence largely by the economy). I know that once I finish the first one I am committed to continue bringing the rest of the issues. I am honestly scared at times and I think “should I just save the money and not print this". But there is also the other side of the coin that reflects the image of something uncompleted. And I really don't want to go the route of: starting something and not finishing it.
3. And just to add to my uncertainties I have been hearing this lately: “print is dead" and that online magazines is where it's at. To tell you the truth that is not very encouraging. And no I don't want my magazine to be one of those FREE magazines at your local record store or the ones given away when you walk out from a venue after a show. Or the ones you see outside supermarkets and art galleries in a small side-rack by the door.
I am not here to get rich by this at all. I do want to make sure that I have enough to print the next issue. Anyone who is involved in self periodical publications knows that there is no money there, just love for the project!
I do plan to get this distributed to large bookstore chains and as many newsstands as possible in the later issues. I do truly want this magazine to be mainly generated by YOU the reader. I want more of the content I have received so far and have more people involved and included as much as possible in the next issues. And that means in every area of the magazine.
I know I didn't have to tell you all this but I felt that you needed an explanation if any of you were wondering about WHEN the magazine was going to be finished and printed. This will get done... but just bare with me as far as the time of completion.
Also... something else I want to express and mention is MY THANKS. Thanks to all of you who have contributed and have offered to help. All the emails I get from people giving me tips and ideas and support with your kind words. When I see the images that I am including in this magazine it fires me up and makes me want to finish it as soon as possible. All the creative content and submissions is what I love to look at and share. All of this is what fuels me. I apologize if I don't email you back right away, or if I miss mailing you back but I do appreciate your input and ideas for the magazine and you can keep sending them.
Please leave a comment on this post, your point-of- view, thoughts, and ideas are valueable to me!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
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8 comments:
Hi
I think, that you shoud do this in slow motion. There are a lot of things to consider when publishing a magazine. Your right, once you put it out, you are going to have to comment to it 100% all the time.
I also think, that what you are about to embark on is amazing and taking your time is the only way I would do it.
As for print magazines being out of style, I don't think so, but you could very well consider the online mag idea...why not!!
1. you'd save on print cost and you could invest that money in other aspects of the magazie.
2. you'd be more enviromentally freindly and that's a plus. Also you don't have to find a printing compnay that won't bleed you dry or worry about recooping the print cost this would free you up a lot.
3.your staff could be any where in the world sending you ideas, photos, stories, the stuff you need to have a great mag.
4. you don't really need office space, you can have your people working from home or your place.
5. the ups of online publishing beat the printing aspect for me at least.
5. you can do a print version once a year if you want to apease those who would like a hard copy of it or a downloadable version of the magaznie for a samll fee why not? with all the best articles and make it a collerters issue hey the world is open to you.
6.No contracts to sign with printing firms or stores to place your magazine if you 're online to start.
7. If you can for a year garner a huge following online then you have somethig to go with if you want to go hard copy outside. You can go to a bank with a great business plan and show them what you've done over a year with the online stuff and build it from there.
I think, the sheer fact, that you just want to do what you love and not for money is the reason you will succeed.
I know, a lot about business and advertinig and direct marketing to people at a mass level. I have 20 plus years in it.
I opened my own restaurant, when I was 22, because we believed in the product we had and still have and we believed in ourselves no matter what.
When you do something for love or it's your passion then the money is only the icing on the cake. I always tell people focus on what you love not on the finacial gains, that's when you will fail.
You will succeed, if that's what you want, so go for it. If there is anything I can do for you, please drop me an email.
Take Good Care
JB
I (and plenty of others, I'm sure) look forward to seeing your magazine, in whatever form it comes out. Of course first we want you to be happy with it, because then we can feel assured we will be happy with it. You've brought us interesting and thought-provoking images via your blog and I know there are a lot of people out there who appreciate your efforts. You're doing a great job :)
A few concerned questions:
1. How many pages will this magazine fill? (I ask this because you either have too little of the right material or too much of the wrong material you want for Rice Candy. There tend to be two kinds of art magazines: those with lots of filler and those with little or none. I expect you want yours to be of the latter. If Rice Candy is to succeed, the first issue needs to have as little filler as possible. If you have not found enough of the right material, then re-opening submissions would be advisable.)
2. What kind of material will the magazine be constructed out of? (I ask this because in terms of art magazines, and most importantly in terms of the art world; the more unique your product is, the more valuable it will be to the public. For the first issue, you need to have a limited publication run, but don't stop there. Depending on the number of pages in Rice Candy, you could have it bound and have each copy hand-signed by you with a certificate of authenticity. I'm not kidding. By elevating Rice Candy to the status of a collector's item rather than "just another art magazine," you ensure its place in someone's library. In the long run, unbound media like newspapers and magazines get stacked; but that which is bound is almost always shelved. You don't want something that will collect dust, you want something that people will keep for posterity.)
3. Do you require donations to launch a publication of Rice Candy that meets the needs necessary to ensure its collector status on a shelf? (Your concerns about the current economic problems in this country suggests the possibility that if you invest in this magazine and it doesn't break even, your finances will take a hit. If this is not the case, then you are likely concerned that if Rice Candy does not break even, it will prove to you that your time and effort into this project was a waste. Regardless of either condition, you could ask for donations to ensure the survival of the project and the publication of Rice Candy.)
The questions I pose are out of a respect for this project and an interest in its future.
There will always be reasons not to do something, someone, somewhere, will tell you, you can't, you won't and you shouldn't, which is precisely why you should! I think what you are doing is amazing, don't let fear take hold, keep your course, flip the world the bird and get it out there, by the way, for what it's worth, you already have one subscription....
You have your whole life ahead of you and all our lives too.
Noone wants you to rush, I can tell you're a perfectionist. Maybe not with everything of course, but this, it has to make a lasting impression. You have to do it 'right'.
You have to pick it up from magnation, borders, wherever and think, fuck, I did a good job.
There is nothing worse than thinking I rushed this and now, well that's it. I can't go back, and it will be harder to move forward.
So good on you, I think you're doing the right thing. x
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU COMMENT! every single one of you had a valid point.
Thank you JB you come across as a very kind and generous person who is willing to help and share her knowledge in a positive tone. Thank you, you are awesome.
Thank you Victoria, your words and your support mean alot. And yes I want to be happy with the final outcome. I want it to look decent enough for me to be okay to print it. THANK YOU.
Thank you Dave. You always have an interesting point of view. I am cosidering the whole " limited edition" deal. Thank you for all your comments and help.
Thank you "letters I wish I'd written". I am glad you to know I will have a subscriber. That really means alot to me. I love your posts written in letter formats. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Thank you Katie. Thank your advise, It makes alot of sense. I am glad you understood what I was talking about.
THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN!... You guys are very smart, I like the fact that all of you had a different but good point of view that made alot of sense. I wish I could get all of your brains together and make a Frankenstein of-some-sort and just come back and ask him something whenever I have a question like this one. Thank you!
nice....one.....can you feature pictures from philippine ....pls...
Thanks for the information!
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