Would you support a steel guitar/player magazine?

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 17 Nov 2002 11:52 am

Terry,

What Larry said. An e-zine would be great.

The Steel Guitar Forum has proved to be much more versatile and responsive than a print publication. Without meaning to be, the forum would be hard to beat. Print is quite expensive, and the monthly nut for printing each issue would be high. The primary cost of an e-zine would be in the start-up phase.

Focus on a fresh angle, like player profiles, equipment test-drives by name players, reviews, yet another forum, tab corner.

Your income would be from ad banner sales. You have the server space already.

good luck,
Drew

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www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 17 Nov 2002 12:16 pm

Terry
In a previous life, I was a newspaper advertising manager, so I do have some experience in producing print journals. IMHO, dead trees (paprer) are the old economy. Some uses are still viable, but for the small and... sad to say it..., basically fickle and hard to please market, the numbers don't work.

Even when Russ was on publishing schedule, some guys would cancel subscriptions because of articles about steel guitar that "weren't country" or some other equally personal reason. Another factor is I feel a large percentage of the steel guitar market simply doesn't do a whole lot of recreational reading, which I believe is a growing phenomenon of society as a whole.

Just as a sidebar, where Russ really got in over his head was his move to full-color and glossy paper. Subscriptions only pay a small part of the monthly nut; he had to attract more advertising bucks and felt that a fanzine couldn't get companies like Boss, Roland, etc., so he upgraded. I cautioned against it since four-color and glossy really jacks up the monthly nut. At the same time, his published schedule faltered and subscribers started leaving due to the inconsistencies of delivery. End of story... also end of home ownership, sadly.

I would suggest the e-zine route. It's not old technology, not inventory intensive, the portal of entry is relatively wide, start-up costs would be smaller than print, and there are more competing service providers that offer competitive rates than the companies that provide newsprint, which is constantly getting more expensive.

I'll support the project no matter what your choice. But if it were my bucks...

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 17 Nov 2002 12:41 pm

Herb and John make some good points. Still...I feel the web-based approach would miss a large percentage of the players out there. It's not so much the expense of a computer, but the technology...it still scares many people away. You gotta remember that you can't "sell" to people who aren't on the web with "web-based" advertising!

If you're really into this, though (and it looks like you are!), try doing a simple "newsletter" for a start. This would only have to be 6-12 pages, and you could do most all of the work yourself. It would give you a feel for what the problems might be without "mortgaging the farm" first!

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 17 Nov 2002 2:10 pm

I very much appreciate all of the replies!

It seems that there is still plenty of genuine concern for others among the steel guitar community which I have always known and loved.

I am still processing much of the input gained through this post (with special thanks to b0b and The Forum) and continue to analyze the posts.

Many are not aware of this but my wife Sharon and I operate a small private book/print publishing company here in Nashville (Apple Books, Inc.) and have a high-end quality commercial laser printer in house. Due to the experience gained from our first publication of my own autobiography (The Early Days) and a couple of other books we published, I am somewhat aware of the costs associated with printing.

This magazine could be printed in house (not ink) and would be a tremendous amount of work! However, the costs commonly associated with the printing-end of the industry would not be my primary concern.

As far as an ezine - I believe some opinions might be invalid due to my lack of access to a high-speed internet connection at present. Additionally, if it were cost/time prohibitive, I believe b0b would be more suited to undertake that venture with his vast knowledge and experience of internet based business/technology and so forth. It might be much more expensive than some realize. The time and costs associated with operating our simple web hosting/design company (aLotOfSpace.com) would surprise you.

I am still thinking about it... so I still appreciate everyone for posting their thoughts and opinions

[This message was edited by Terry Wendt on 17 November 2002 at 02:12 PM.]

Bob Simmons · Post by **Bob Simmons** » 17 Nov 2002 6:51 pm

Sounds good,but be sure about your printing costs-things can get out of hand, and it's more than just a part time job with no pay. I'll do some articles on repairing,and war stories. Bob Simmons

Jack Francis · Post by **Jack Francis** » 17 Nov 2002 6:58 pm

It would good to see a comment here from Tom
Bradshaw on this subject.
Jack

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Nov 2002 7:27 pm

my wife Sharon and I operate a small private book/print publishing company here in Nashville (Apple Books, Inc.) and have a high-end quality commercial laser printer in house.

Well, why didn't ya say so in the first place!? That changes EVERYTHING! Go for it!!

Buck Grantham R.I.P. · Post by **Buck Grantham R.I.P.** » 17 Nov 2002 8:25 pm

We needed all this support when Steel Guitar World magazine was going down. It's been tryed and tryed and never gets enough support. I don't think it will work this time. I hate to see someone jump into this and lose their house and have to go belly up.The guy that ran Steel guitar World did his best and what did he get in the end, nothing but the shaft. Sorry, but that's my 2 cents

Pat Carlson · Post by **Pat Carlson** » 17 Nov 2002 8:52 pm

Yes

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Patrick Carlson

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 17 Nov 2002 10:07 pm

I'm in Terry.

Frank Estes · Post by **Frank Estes** » 18 Nov 2002 8:05 am

Yes! It would be cool to include info like where and who the session players are working during the month and other Nashville scene news/rumors.

Bob Hayes · Post by **Bob Hayes** » 18 Nov 2002 8:31 am

Since I don't know much about publishing, but enjoy reading stuff about the steel....and admire you're talent as a musician & writer..I'll vote YES..and my subscription will go proudly in My Reading Room.....
Grouchyvet

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 18 Nov 2002 2:56 pm

"We needed all this support when Steel Guitar World magazine was going down."

There was this much support, Buck. Unfortunatly a few hundred supporters was not enough.

If you try and it fails, Terry, promise you'll still hang out here. It's bad enough when businesses go down, but I hate to lose contact with the folks that tried.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 18 Nov 2002 4:24 pm

I can second that feeling Joey. I felt like I had lost a brother when Russ dropped out of sight. I really liked the guy and would have done anything to help him but on my retirement checks and the odd job I had playing, there simply wasn't enough to go around and I hated feeling that helpless.

Regards, Paul

Rick Ulrich · Post by **Rick Ulrich** » 18 Nov 2002 6:17 pm

Would love to see a magazine. Still have all my old issues of SGWM and read them from time to time. Always find something I missed the first time I read them. But heed the warnings. There just doesn't seem to be enough subscribers out there to make a regular magazine profitable. I like the annual idea. Something like that might be profitable. I would subscribe but vote against you doing it for your own wellbeing.

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 18 Nov 2002 8:39 pm

Terry,

A new steel mag would be really great!!! Sounds like you are in a position to pull off what the other guys were unable to do. Don't let the failures of others stop you if you know that you have a way to pull it off without risking the farm. I don't see how this Forum or any message board could compete with a good magazine that you can hold in your hand and read while sitting on the couch or lying down. And the control of, and therefore possible lack of pollution would really be refreshing.

Again, if you know you have a way to pull it off without risking the farm, go for it. I'd subscribe.

Geoff Cole · Post by **Geoff Cole** » 18 Nov 2002 9:24 pm

Yes Terry, I'll be in it.
Paul Graupp,that's typical of you.You are a bloody good bloke.

Ricky0ne1 · Post by **Ricky0ne1** » 19 Nov 2002 7:55 am

Excellent idea! Count me in... the online idea sounds really great though.. that way we could hear as well as read samples, etc..
Let her rip!
Rick

Bill Findlay · Post by **Bill Findlay** » 19 Nov 2002 2:30 pm

Yes A Steel Guitar Magazine would be a good thing and I would subcribe to it. It is always good to be able to read about the different performers and equipment. And it should be a good place for advertizer to promote their wares.....Hope you can pull it off.

Troy Porter · Post by **Troy Porter** » 19 Nov 2002 5:24 pm

I agree with Harry. Count me in.

Tony Orth · Post by **Tony Orth** » 19 Nov 2002 8:03 pm

Well....I've held out long enough.
Count me in, too.

Tony

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 19 Nov 2002 8:58 pm

I subcribed to Tom Bradshaw's and Russ Rask's, I will support yours too!

Jeremy Brownlow · Post by **Jeremy Brownlow** » 20 Nov 2002 5:02 am

I will take it too.

Terry Wendt · Post by **Terry Wendt** » 20 Nov 2002 5:48 pm

Is that all of the supporters?

Only 110?

I've had a few GREAT PLAYERS (HEAVYWEIGHTS) who said they would contribute! Also, a few advertisers and others. C'mon... would you like to see this? Let me know!

email: tkwendt1@TheEarlyDays.com
or POST HERE!

Terry Downs · Post by **Terry Downs** » 20 Nov 2002 7:41 pm

I would support it. But I do have concerns about you endeavor based on the other steel guitar publication issues. The forum is a great tool for the steel guitarist replacing some of the features of a magazine. You get specific advice, equipment opinions, and tablature, which was a major component of the magazines. The part missing from the forum, that was in the magazines, is interviews with the star players. However, the freedom of opinion from a household keyboard has ran off most of the star pickers from the forum. The magazines didn't appear to have that problem because of the feedback mechanism. Most steel playes are interested in the details of their favorite players.

IMHO.

Regards,
Terry