One-Man Show
I was asked again recently whether ESC! Magazine is a "one-man show" or if I have a staff of folks to help produce each issue. This is a common question I get and I thought I should share the answer with the legions of fans clamoring for the answer – all three of you.
ESC! is pretty much a one-man show. I have some folks who will occasionally read for me and some who help with layout issues I might come across from time to time, but, otherwise, it's just me, which, I suppose, is the main reason why the website design hasn't been updated yet – though this is in the works ... Really. No, really, it is!
It's my hope that ESC! Magazine doesn't come off as some cheaply produced rag or, as I commonly refer to them, the "stapled in the corner, photocopied 'zines' found at Tower Records." Though ESC! could certainly fit in the category of "zine," I take great pains to avoid that term unless absolutely necessary. Some have referred to it as a "journal" and that's a good way to describe it, though since 1992 I've consistently referred to it as a magazine, so I should stick with that for now.
As you might surmise, ESC! is a labor of love and not of profit ... or even a labor of "break even." In terms of stability and longevity, however, breaking even is ESC! Magazine's goal. As long as I can cover costs, I can keep producing the magazine. I discuss this very topic in my last editorial. If you haven't read it, you should download the issue and experience it firsthand, but to summarize: No one is purchasing the magazine. Issues are being downloaded – more issues than ever – but no one wants to pay for them. As I discovered in a brief but ill-fated experiment back in 2003, if I require payment before download, no one downloads it, therefore our wonderful writers and artists are not read. It's a tough situation, especially when postage and web hosting alone quickly consume the resources of our little production.
Just today, I came across a web site for a small press magazine named "Quanta." Quanta is a magazine that, according to their website, went on hiatus back in 1995 and, as of today, is still on hiatus. In a similar situation, ESC! Magazine went on hiatus in early 1994 but I was fortunate enough to be able to breath life back into it in 2001. In each case, though, the reasons for the break were time and money. From what I've seen of Quanta, Daniel did a fantastic job with it and it's unfortunate the magazine is still "resting," but if you visit the site you'll see that in 1995 he was fighting the same issues I am now. How do you get people to pay for something you're letting them freely download?
I'm still struggling with the answer to that question. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share them with me by leaving a comment below.
Being a one-man show, ESC! Magazine is a lot of work for me and, while I don't have a staff, I do have support from those around me and that is, after all, what counts the most.
ESC! is pretty much a one-man show. I have some folks who will occasionally read for me and some who help with layout issues I might come across from time to time, but, otherwise, it's just me, which, I suppose, is the main reason why the website design hasn't been updated yet – though this is in the works ... Really. No, really, it is!
It's my hope that ESC! Magazine doesn't come off as some cheaply produced rag or, as I commonly refer to them, the "stapled in the corner, photocopied 'zines' found at Tower Records." Though ESC! could certainly fit in the category of "zine," I take great pains to avoid that term unless absolutely necessary. Some have referred to it as a "journal" and that's a good way to describe it, though since 1992 I've consistently referred to it as a magazine, so I should stick with that for now.
As you might surmise, ESC! is a labor of love and not of profit ... or even a labor of "break even." In terms of stability and longevity, however, breaking even is ESC! Magazine's goal. As long as I can cover costs, I can keep producing the magazine. I discuss this very topic in my last editorial. If you haven't read it, you should download the issue and experience it firsthand, but to summarize: No one is purchasing the magazine. Issues are being downloaded – more issues than ever – but no one wants to pay for them. As I discovered in a brief but ill-fated experiment back in 2003, if I require payment before download, no one downloads it, therefore our wonderful writers and artists are not read. It's a tough situation, especially when postage and web hosting alone quickly consume the resources of our little production.
Just today, I came across a web site for a small press magazine named "Quanta." Quanta is a magazine that, according to their website, went on hiatus back in 1995 and, as of today, is still on hiatus. In a similar situation, ESC! Magazine went on hiatus in early 1994 but I was fortunate enough to be able to breath life back into it in 2001. In each case, though, the reasons for the break were time and money. From what I've seen of Quanta, Daniel did a fantastic job with it and it's unfortunate the magazine is still "resting," but if you visit the site you'll see that in 1995 he was fighting the same issues I am now. How do you get people to pay for something you're letting them freely download?
I'm still struggling with the answer to that question. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share them with me by leaving a comment below.
Being a one-man show, ESC! Magazine is a lot of work for me and, while I don't have a staff, I do have support from those around me and that is, after all, what counts the most.
3 Comments:
good reading, Michael. wish i had a real answer for this problem. i suppose not offering free downloads is out of the question...at any rate, i will certainly try to come up with a valid alternative; in the meantime, you will continue to have my subscription (that is, if the MAGAZINE is worth it, lol). just a rant here: too many of us (artists, writers, poets...)are self-serving, only purchasing work in which we ourselves are included. time to start supporting the arts in general, that gift which gives us so much pleasure, joy, creative freedom.
By
Monica E. Smith, at 10:15 AM
Poemsmith, you are absolutely correct and I think everyone can take a little bit of the blame for the problem.
After all, what is the real issue? "Self-serving" artists or "Poor" artists? Or maybe it's "well intentioned but forgetful" ... that's often my problem.
The arts are seldom rewarded and reaching out to support the arts in general (and within your skills and means) is critical to continuing to experience the pleasure, joy and freedom we love.
By
Mike, ESC!Cast Network, at 11:07 AM
Perhaps I was a bit harsh with my critical comment about self-serving artists. As it is, I, too. fall into the well-intentioned-but-forgetful category. But I'm trying to change that. You know, if each of us would simply subscribe to just 1 or 2 magazines, what a difference that would make...
So true, about the Arts being seldom rewarded. In fact, I'll go one further and say too many people feel the Arts are a luxury, an extra. Notice how art/music/culture is always the first to go when school cuts are made? Such a shame. Too bad more people don't see the Arts as necessary, rather than dispensable. It's one of the major things that separates us from other "animals"...
By
Monica E. Smith, at 10:09 AM
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