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SM41 Special user 831 Posts |
Hi Stan,
How do you choose the covers for the magazine? SM. |
Stan Allen V.I.P. 75 Posts |
How do we choose the cover? Usually, by highest bidder!
Well, okay... not! But I was offered $10,000 once by a magician if I would put him on the cover. It was at a convention, and when I came home I mentioned it to my wife. She said, "That's terrible. What month is he on?" She tends to think about braces, tuitions, and that "R" word... Retirement. In most cases, the cover is determined a couple months out, based on a particular story we're doing. Sometimes that story is linked to an event, say FISM or a television show or the release of a book, or a milestone, which was the case when Marvyn Roy was on cover; he was celebrating fifty years of the light bulb act. Other times, we just pick what we hope is an interesting story, and put a little more emphasis on it by placing it on cover, such as "Bricks to Clicks," featuring an article on the future of brick-and-mortar magic shops. And still other times, it's purely a matter of luck and timing. If you go back to the Cardini cover (December 1995), featuring just his hands and the billiard ball... that cover was originally slated for Bob Lund, as he had just passed away. Two things caused the change: 1. We could not get a really good image of Bob. 2. Our art director at the time showed me her concept for using just the hands on cover. And it turned out to be one of my all-time favorite covers. One thing is that I do not consider cover any kind of award or reward. It's just the cover of that month's issue. I realize it ends up in promotional kits, but we do not consider it as a "he really deserves" this. And partially, that's because if you head down that road, there are hundreds of people who "deserve" to be on the cover, but we only have twelve each year. I wish I could make them all happy, but I can't. And, sadly, some people get upset about it. Maybe I should run two covers each month... there's an idea... maybe three or four... ah, heck, let's make all but one page a cover! Of course, then people would want to be on that page! |
Mattillusion Regular user 170 Posts |
Well said, Stan. And I've seen a few promotional kits that have included MAGIC LIVE convention 'cover' credentials!
Best, Matt Roberts |
Stan Allen V.I.P. 75 Posts |
Matt...
I assume you're refering to the name badges we use at MAGIC Live!... your photograph on the cover of the magazine. I'm very protective of our brand, which of course includes mis-use of the cover and our masthead. You don't know how long I went back and forth on using the cover name badges at the first MAGIC Live! in 2001. I feared that magicians would start using that badge in the promotional material, as if they had been on the cover... and, yes, I have seen a few of these, too. One of the first answers was to have the text read something like "John Doe Attends 10th Anniversary," just to prevent the mis-use. Eventually, I conceded, and the badges have become a staple for us. Stan |
Mattillusion Regular user 170 Posts |
It's a cool badge, for sure. Unfortunately, I lot of magicians do 'Carter The Great'-style promotion. You know, that Egyptian-themed poster he used to promote his tour, after a guy named Carter discovered King Tut's tomb. He didn't say he WAS the same Carter but he didn't say he WASN'T either. Sneaky. It's the same thing with the badges, I guess. Some people just put the photo out there and folks who don't know any better think they were on the cover of a trade magazine.
I hope to get to MAGIC LIVE in the next few years. I've heard great things. The last convention I went too was the SAM in Massachusetts as a kid in the 90s when you emceed the Gala show. Great job. I'm due for another one I think... Matt Roberts |
Mattillusion Regular user 170 Posts |
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Stan Allen V.I.P. 75 Posts |
Yes, Matt... I think your due for another convention. MAGIC LIve!, August 16-19, 2009, Las Vegas... already 74% sold out. Is that too commercial for the Café? Okay then, forget I said anything. Stan
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evildraco1 New user 22 Posts |
Stan, you were offered $10,000 from someone to be on the cover? Does $20,000 sound a bit more pleasing???
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SM41 Special user 831 Posts |
Maybe $30,000 dls and he will say YES!
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Stan Allen V.I.P. 75 Posts |
$10,000? $30,000?
We should talk! (I think we still have one more set of braces and two colleges... oh, and a wedding or two.) |
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