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Setting up magazines and being in them
In my day job I own a publishing company and just realised yesterday that I have been a book cover model: somehow didn't register because its my company. I saw online something about magazine publishing and pod and realised that an easy way to profit from modelling for me and get into magazines is to set up short run magazines: things that run for a certain number of issues: like some yoga magazines or some model magazines. I imagine you all view this as cheating but it should be really easy for me: i could probably knock out a magazine if I had the pictures as easily as you could walk across a room. Where to get the pictures because I think this one may be best not done by my company but done collaboratively: sharing profit out bases on how much effort is put in because obviously someone putting one picture in would not get as much as someone with three. I am not asking for people just wanting your opinions is this easier for a newbie than getting modelling work. I have just started out and have agents but wonder how long it takes them to find work and how much. I have heard online of people waiting many months before getting work. Be kind I am a newbie and so if this is somehow unacceptable please understand i have no idea. Apr 08 23 11:44 am Link I hate to say this but if your magazines are anything like your post, I wouldn't want to even look at it. Spaces, commas and paragraphs are free y'know, and it's probably the most important thing to use in a publication. Apr 08 23 04:11 pm Link btw, Vanity Publications are nothing new, the first one I ever saw for photography/models was in the 70's. With extremely rare exception being 'published' in one of those things will not help a career at all, in fact it may hinder it. It's the equivalent of a person placing a classified ad in a newspaper or magazine and then claim they're a writer because it's been published. People may want to be polite to those that are 'bragging' about being 'published' in a vanity publication, but in reality they're thinking "Oh brother, who's this guy trying to impress?" Apr 08 23 04:27 pm Link If it makes a profit it isn't vanity publishing, vanity publishing's main important point is that it is a net loss. There is no reason to suppose why a professional author published by various traditional publishing companies: as well as his own: would all of a sudden make a loss. Generally some degree of ownership of things increases profit: not always though. You may be right though about it hindering a career, that I do not know. Also a don't publish magazines but books and writing on here is hardly to be taken seriously. Is a model or photographer really saying a professional author cannot write, All the brain dead cretins use that argument on us all: not saying you are brain dead but its the pattern. In truth writing book for a living is more competitive than being a model by a hell of a long way. The average professional model earns a lot more than the average professional author and to be one proper: as I am: you must be in the top ten percent of professional authors by income at least. But putting that aside, is it taboo to make money directly off modelling generally? Or is it okay as long as not magazines? I know its not exactly the same thing but no one questions actors that have production companies: like Sylvester Stallone. Or maybe models selling books with pictures of themselves: which they own: as an additional income source. Why not have their own book: not me I have plenty of books. Thanks for the reply. Apr 08 23 05:01 pm Link Well I don't mean to be a downer, but print media, as in magazines, newspapers and books are extremely difficult to market nowadays. For many years, I've freelanced for various magazines, and newspapers. It's gotten so expensive to print now, and the vast majority of people are reading what they are interested in on the web. Now that my favorite newspaper has laid off two thirds of the work force, and increased the newsstand price from 25 cents when I first started as a freelance journalist to $2.50 which is a 100% increase, most people read it online, as I do myself. I'm not sure what you intend to do with your publishing company, but I wish you luck! You'll need it and lots of money! Apr 08 23 10:33 pm Link My company has been around for about 10/11 years. The trick is to think of expenses and making money. That was why I mentioned it here just trying to think of whether its a goer or not. Anyway I do agree that online magazines are bigger. But there are print on demand magazines and to be honest the main advantage with print on demand isn't the short runs but that they generally distribute also and that is very valuable. Most of the magazine sales would probably be online, the print would exist alongside the online. You sort of need the print to lift the image of the online. People would see the print version and think, "Oh this is a proper magazine", and then buy the cheaper online. Apr 08 23 11:51 pm Link Simon Rob wrote: No, people see a Magazine in a bookstore or a newsstand and think 'This is a proper Magazine.' Apr 09 23 07:55 am Link Well I am an author not a journalist and so cannot be certain about anything. The thing is books are inherently better products because they stay for sale whereas magazine issues go out of date when the next issue comes out. If I knew for certain I would not make the post. I may make a short 3 or 4 issue magazine just as a test run and see. I don't know what the magazine will be about. To be honest I will probably publish the 3 or 4 issue magazine material also as a book because may as well reuse it and make money from it once its no good as a magazine. I think its terrible not paying people when supposed to and I do not agree with that: I don't employ many people; the occasional freelancer because my company is also about reducing tax for the books I write for other publishing companies. But it all depends on the effort it must pay to do it if it looks like the effort is too large I must admit I will not do it or shelve the idea. Apr 09 23 08:10 am Link Simon Rob wrote: What magazines? Apr 09 23 09:38 am Link I would suggest that the ONLY thing that will result from this particular scheme, should you decide to purse it, will be whether you lose money on it, or manage to make (a little) money on it. Although the odds are against the latter. Not much else will be impacted, either way. Apr 09 23 10:07 am Link I have done things before that don't make much money. I think we all have, one that springs to mind is cafe press because unless you constantly channel people to your online shop there are bugger all sales. It happens but I can't remember making a loss offhand. Of course this does not mean that I can't and I value your opinions. I have found the people on here quite nice: especially to a newbie. Apr 09 23 10:47 am Link What is your plan for distribution? What magazine stands will handle your publication? Apr 09 23 12:46 pm Link I haven't planned it fully yet but online is fine as long as you can drive traffic to it: which if I feature in it I can. Apr 09 23 02:05 pm Link Please understand. Those of us who aren't (at least currently) in the U.K. are at a real disadvantage as to who you are. I understand how well you have said that you would do should you be your own "feature" in a magazine that you'd publish. Or (if I understand you correctly) that you can easily drive traffic to it based on your profile, or your following (possibly in a related area?), etc. But in my attempt to try and understand where you are coming from, in terms of who you are and your following, I've tried googling "Simon Rob UK", "Simon Rob UK model", "Simon Rob UK Editor", "Simon Rob UK Author", Simon Rob UK Books", "Simon Rob UK Publisher", etc. I.E. Everything I could think of based on what you've told us. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything at all (other than lots of people with somewhat similar names that, based on their photos, are clearly different people). Could your profile, or your following (in whatever area) in the U.K., be under another "professional" name? Or something like that? Or am I just completely missing something here??? Apr 09 23 03:23 pm Link ^^^ Never mind. Through the links that you chose to post on your MM profile, I found the info. Although I have to admit that I was taken aback by YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS selling "Bigger Breasts... Magic Spellcast" and "Penis Growth Magic Spell... Longer Thicker Penis", etc. I.E. Selling special magic spells to people for £5.99 each. Clearly I was searching for the wrong things. I realize that everyone is different. But, at least personally, I now have all the info that I need. Apr 09 23 04:12 pm Link I write as S Rob, my publisher is a USA publisher: in addition to my own business. Have written almost 700 books, more than anyone else has on the subject in history. You are entitled to not like what you want but why does it matter were you really planning on buying a copy and have now changed your mind? As for being shocked do me a favour how many model mayhem members do porn? To be honest the only reason I keep that old website working is because you cannot start doing readings and then stop because you end up with clients that depend on you for day to day function. Lets stop being overly judgemental of each others craft. Intolerance is a terrible thing, lets leave it to one side. However thank you for pointing that out and I will be changing the link on instagram because it was my intention to keep both areas separate although I admit so far I have failed dismally: which is my fault. Apr 09 23 08:04 pm Link Simon Rob wrote: LightDreams wrote: LightDreams wrote: Simon Rob wrote: LightDreams, NakeyPiX wrote: Simon, I'm pretty sure my previous statement applies to this thread. Apr 09 23 08:26 pm Link Simon Rob, I was specifically researching the "traffic" question, as that was the angle that you were planning on using. By my math, you have an average of just over 8 Instagram followers for each of your "over 700" books. Which is probably why Google makes it so difficult to find you for those Google search terms (i.e. "Simon Rob UK Book author", etc). That seems to present a potential problem in terms of the strategy that you were proposing. As far as judging people for selling magic spells to enlarge their breasts or penises, that's fair enough. Yes, while I didn't state it, I certainly did come up with my own conclusions. I certainly didn't expect any of what I found from your posted links. And, to be exact, I have to admit that I couldn't help pondering about the possibilities of using some of the other magic spells that you were also selling, in terms of your own business success. Like the "Success Magic Spell" or the "More Money Magic Money" spell that you also sell...? Remember that this is a "solution" that YOU are currently selling to the public. And before you make any related claims on the financial front, don't forget your business financials are public records as are legally required. They were one of the items that popped up on my Google search once I got a lot more specific about the business (per M. Stanley public financial summaries, which I've deliberately disguised for everyone else, but you'll certainly recognize). And no, while I may have made some more conclusions as a result, I'm not sharing them here. So yes, based on hard facts, I HAVE made my own personal judgments. But that's just me. Apr 09 23 08:29 pm Link For success: although my books come out in the USA: I am probably still Britain's foremost occult author certainly people have told me that. Financially I do way better than the average professional author in the UK. Plus you probably do not realise professional authors are generally not well paid; the average UK professional author only makes £7000 per annum, less than minimum wage. All you find for companies in the UK all that is posted online is book value not income statements: I am not gold finger. Among authors I am almost a high roller and make a good multiple of the average. Sorry if that offends. You seem to be working from the perspective that authors are rich and I am poor. Its actually the other authors that are poor. However you are not a million miles away author incomes are reducing by about 30% every 4 years and do you not think this may be partly the reason why I am moving into other media areas like modelling because I may be a good occultist but I cannot save a whole area: its a general trend that I cannot control. Sadly in the future there will not be authors that went to state schools like I did and even now the trend is to have a partner that has a good job that essentially keeps the author. If I have done something to offend you it was not my intention. Why are you so bothered by me? I find these attacks off topic. Apr 09 23 08:54 pm Link Simon Rob wrote: Can you please point to where your name is posted in any of these lists? Apr 09 23 08:57 pm Link Simon Rob wrote: "Financially I do way better than the average professional author in the UK" Apr 09 23 09:05 pm Link NakeyPiX wrote: These authors are all dead. Sorry for still being alive. Apr 09 23 09:12 pm Link Simon Rob wrote: There are several lists displayed, most including living authors, choose any of them. Apr 09 23 09:14 pm Link Simon Rob wrote: Having to label oneself is a pain, isn't it? I enjoy photography and writing which has helped me as a freelance journalist being able to produce images and an editorial together. Being an author is another step which I wish to take in the near future, however the digital revolution has changed the way we distribute our works obviously. Simon Rob wrote: This I agree! A friend of mine is managing a hotel as well as writing books on the side. He does not have an agent, as he prefers to stay independent self publishing while using Amazon for marketing. I think magazines and calendars are such a risky gamble as they are dated and it's difficult to sell outdated materials. Simon Rob wrote: You have no idea what you are creating a magazine for? Simon Rob wrote: So I guess you are just throwing this out there to see what ideas others might present to you. In fact, you are so vague that I would not bet on your success. I'm sorry, but you're in such early stages that you are still mulling around thoughts almost like talking out loud on the forum. Ken asked you a very important question. What is your plan for distribution? You've got to know your audience and how to reach them. I like to see other entrepreneurs succeed, but you are in the clouds with dreams but not in reality yet. There is a lot of work and research ahead for you to do! Apr 09 23 09:16 pm Link Online is fine and when something doesn't sell online its not a distribution problem but a marketing problem. The thing is anyone with a computer can buy online making it a huge market place. I have an idea for the magazine but don't want to put it out there. I do write speculative things from time to time and the magazine would be one of those. You are right not launching a magazine right this minute just trying to get the members opinions as they seem to know about magazines. If I think it will definitely fail of course I will not go ahead of course. Just early stage. Apr 09 23 09:28 pm Link You won't find anyone writing occultism on wikipedia I do not write new age stuff I write occultism meaning that I write proper hardcore magick: which if I am not mistakes offends you. I get it I really do. I would try and explain this to you but I have ran out of crayons. I must admit though it cracks me up that you attack an expert with wikipedia: truly an idiot move. P.S. Thanks for not uploading a legal avatar so you have that statement which basically says I am an arsehole. Apr 09 23 09:37 pm Link NakeyPiX wrote: Simon Rob wrote: NakeyPiX wrote: "Wait Lists"? Apr 10 23 06:05 am Link Simon Rob wrote: Personally, writing "hardcore magick" doesn't offend me in the least. But it was certainly bad judgment to start attacking / insulting people... Apr 10 23 10:44 am Link Simon Rob wrote: There is nothing in anything you have posted that supports your original statement. Through all of your comments in this thread it leads me to doubt it. You make several emphatic yet erroneous statements and ask questions that point to a lack of professional experience. All appear more like an excuse to talk about minor accomplishments than ask sincere questions. Apr 17 23 03:56 am Link I would like to thank everyone here for an entertaining thread. Also, having done multiple photography books over the years, it's not particularly lucrative. This was the last one I did through blurb (NSFW): https://www.blurb.com/b/10377740-quiet- … -portraits I believe I sold somewhere around 20 copies in total? Not many. I once made a magazine on blurb, and I recall making around $1600 when I sold it? I limited the number that I sold though because I knew I had to carry them to the post office. So I don't know how many I would have sold if I just let it go on into perpetuity on my website (or been smarter and just sold them through my storefront on blurb instead of shipping myself). I've found prints to have a better profit margin. I also sell reference sets for artists, and those are probably the easiest for me to sell. A lot of that hinges on having a lot of painters/artists as followers on instagram and working with artists and schools for a decent length of time. If you're fine with lower profit margins and just having the books sit in an online storefront, books and magazines can add up to some money every now and then. I wouldn't say I've ever regretted making them, but the only reason I did was because I had requests from certain people who collect work from me. I think if those people were not making the request, I'd likely not bother. As a vanity project it's definitely a waste of time, especially since my ego isn't boosted by photos of myself. Apr 17 23 06:14 pm Link I guess the nice thing about setting up your own "magazine" is it can literally be all about you and feature you. Whether or not the content sells, or in this modern era I guess you would say "engages an audience" is another matter. Apr 30 23 07:30 pm Link I'm kinda late to the game on this thread, but ... I publish several POD books (mostly fiction) ... mostly other people's work ... BUT ... We're planning a pop culture history book, which would require comic book, pulp magazine, and movie poster photos. Unfortunately, something like this screams for color, which becomes prohibitively expensive even with POD methods. The costs becomes "six of one, half a dozen of the other." Either the publisher pays an enormous amount of money upfront to print copies, or the retail customer pays a tremendous fee per copy, since you're doing micro-prints or POD. Black and white is less expensive, of course, but then I wonder how many people would think, "I wish this was in color." Or worse, after all that work, they may think, "Not in color. Next." Something to mull over before recruiting people for material ... May 20 23 09:24 am Link Would publishing in full color as a downloadable .PDF or some other file format for the buyer solve that problem? Then you could price it as you saw fit for a digital download and if they wanted it as magazine the could print it on their own? Just a thought. May 20 23 12:32 pm Link The fact that the OP hasn't posted a single link to any online publication or website is making me suspect that something is not right. You would think that in 10 years he could have managed something like that. And as for this stuff about occultism, well. Could we be dealing with an online Aleister Crowley here? He actually did publish a number of books which are still big sellers today. May 23 23 09:35 am Link My 2 cents worth. Magazine stands are called tablets nowadays. May 23 23 03:49 pm Link Red Sky Photography wrote: You 100% nailed it. May 30 23 10:34 pm Link Shot By Adam wrote: Newsstand and bookstore are oldthink. Middleman sadly are depreciated. Oct 02 23 06:21 pm Link As far as I can tell, especially watching a friend recently self publish a book, publishing is simply not very lucrative at all. Self publishing, being published by a publishing house... Unless you're a best selling author, you might be able to get by on what you're making, but it's not going to be anything really grand. Especially with self publishing magazines. Oct 02 23 11:06 pm Link isawherface wrote: This sounds interesting. Any printer recommendations? Oct 11 23 05:37 pm Link |
I'm keeping in the positive, but .. 
