Billetproof Annual? Opinions? aka. opening a can of worms

[KIRK!]

Hey there. Some will remember I posted a while ago about a Billetproof magazine. Well, I just addressed that in another post. In short, it's up in the air. I am doubting my ability to pull it off at the level I feel it should be done. That being said......

A much more realistic endeavor is a Billetproof 2003 Annual. Highlighting the 2003 show. This is a subject I know a little about (although some seem to know more). I'm thinking it could be combined with a calendar. What do you think (I hear a can being opened). I need some feedback about this. Black and white newsprint? All color? Combination of both? Large format? Small pages style? More of just a calendar with featured cars and sprinkled in info?

[Fat Hack]

I admire and respect ya for wanting to do a magazine in the first place...it's a BIGGER undertaking than you can possibly imagine...especially if you're doing it yourself!

I used to do a monthly newsletter for a band. It was usually only 8-10 pages long, but I did the whole thing alone and found myself staying up late nights trying to get each new issue out on time and done to my expected level of quality! It was anything but "fun", although the readers really liked it!

I can only imagine how much MORE daunting the task would be if you were to assume the responsibility of publishing a monthly or even bi-monthly publication for a far broader audience! (There was only about 30 subscribers to the newsletter I did...but they'd howl and cry if their issue was even one day 'late'...even though it was FREE!!).

Given that, I would be inclined to think that an annual would be a better choice for you. You could concentrate on making one big, feature-packed edition each year, something like the old HOT ROD SHOW WORLD publications from Autorama back in the 80s. For one guy or a small group of people working on the project, an annual would probably be easier to pull off and still be of the caliber you're looking for.

(I wish that I had thought to do an annual deal back when I was knocking myself out every month...woulda been better for ME, for sure!!)

Maybe we can rap about it Friday if we can hook up while you're in Detroit. I'll post a note about my planned Saturday gig tomorrow, but we can hang out Friday night if you want to have a beer or two and talk shop!

Best of luck with the magazine...err...or ANNUAL, Kirk! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Levis Classic]

The annual might be a good place to start. Then go to the mag. Hey if your in Detroit, say hello to Roger and Abby for me. Tell Rog I got his 49 50 Ford rear window he was looking for.

[KIRK!]

hey I just talked about Detroit in the other post. I'll be at his place on Thursday. I'll tell him to call you about the window. Maybe I'll con him into driving me out there to pick it up.

[Levis Classic]

If you guys come up this weekend its on the house. Then we can talk about that logo job.

[KIRK!]

Cool. Can you send me your number?

[Levis Classic]

231.941.7648

[Levis Classic]

You can pick out your steering column if you come as well.

[plan9]

an annual mag would be cool, at least until more people learn of it.

id like to see colored pics, and a clean layout... there seems to have been cars that got alot of attention from spectators... would be nice to see build specs and perhaps detailed pics of the work done. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[yorgatron]

i think it would be cool if you had a section in the back to include ALL the cars (not just the ones that got all the attention) that enter billetproof,they wouldn't have to be big pictures,just thumbnail size with the owners name so we could all feel included-george

[KIRK!]

Good ideas Plan and Yorg. Thanks!

[plan9]

i agree with yorg as well... since the mag will be geared towards reporting of the billetproof event, off the top of my nugget...the content could possibly be in catagories?

people+cars (as yorg suggested, as many cars and owners as possible)
top 10 hotrods
top 10 kustoms
[10 for each is quite steep, but it would be cool to see details on these rides, close up color photos...would be even better if there was data on the car rather than 2 pages on its owner http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif]
CHICKS...
bands
C.C.'s in attendance (?)

kirk, imo... your designs are clean and uncluttered...would be nice to see your kounter kulture flare.

[MoFoMOD]

I used to work on an annual and always found that much content slipped through the cracks and was never used due to the amount of time between issues. my advice is why dont you do a Spring/Summer issue and a Fall/Winter issue. that way whatever you couldnt fit or was late for the first issue could be on mark for the second one... just a thought... also make sure if you are going to have pinups, make sure they are worthy of being pinned up...

[KIRK!]

More great input. Thanks. It will be all about the cars. No pinups.

[slazzen]

I think that if you got Jim A to publish it you cant miss but seriously I am cutting my mag subscription down to rodders journal and maybe one other to many mag`s out already but if you want to capitolise on the B-P name and get it out to franshise the event nation wide this would be the vehicle thats for sure you should contact Danny about that place he talked about while its fresh before some one else capitolises it

[KIRK!]

Hey Slazzen, getting with JimA on it would be SWEET! I wonder if he'd be into it?

[slazzen]

it would be sweet he knows what he is doing but i bet he is under contract

[KIRK!]

I was thinking about the contract thing too. I know he'd be a huge help though. Maybe he can do it in secret under an assumed name. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[greaseball]

You mean like instead of "Jim Augst"
He could write under "JimA"...?
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Oh, and Kirk-
I'm dragging my ass getting you the few pics I have of the show...
(Sorry!)

[KIRK!]

No worries Greaseball.