Cosplay Magazine?

**Guest** Guest

So I've noticed that one of the things that happens when you're trying to write a masters thesis is you really focus on what you would rather be doing. How do folks feel about a magazine? I'm thinking net based, so practically free to run, maybe occassional print runs for major events.
Would you guys be interested reading reviews of events, shops, equipment (sewing machines, cameras), profiles, how-to's, photoshoots, lists of uncoming events, international spotlight...

Is this something you guys would be interested in:
a) reading? Maybe every one or two months?
b) writing for sporadically? I can't be everywhere, how about writing me some event reviews?

I don't mean this as competition for CNZ, as I know most of the stuff I'm looking at doing is covered here too. But as a complement to it - somewhere for people to showcase their stuff, develop their writing and researching skills - plus having a deadline focuses the mind so delightfully!

Oui? Non?

EDIT: ***********************************************************************

DO THE SURVEY
Take the Online Survey

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EDIT: OK, So here's what we got so far:

Bi-monthly to Quarterly Releases.
Cycle Editors, with the theme of the issue the Editor's
Speciality in the Cosplay World.
Forum Member Spotlight, with Single, Group and Con-Random.
Classifieds, including places where people can advertise
for Cosplay products like Used Wigs etc and people for groups.
Cosplay Nightmare Encounter Section, explains itself...lol
Winning Costumer Spread, by Static.
Research Site Pages
((Future Topics: Cosplay Cup, including interview with
Aussie's Winner and a Spread of all contestants))[[See, I has ideas for the
article already!]]
Memorable Quotes Page.
Mini-debate Columns.
Photography Section ((How to take good Cosplay Photos))
Book reviews like sewing etc books...

E-Copies and Hard copies, which might be being sold at
Geddon and the Cosplay Games.

To be updated as we find things of interest!

By Static. 07/04/09, 07:58 am

I'd be keen - distributing them at armageddon would be really cool. I stick my hand up for helping organise! Especially the printy bits...hehehe...

and dammit, you are distracting me from my RUSHED!essay! Stop coming up with brilliant ideas!!

By **seraphik**. 07/04/09, 08:07 am

SOUNDS AWESOME. C:

i'd be keen to help with it, if you end up doing it. <3

**Guest** Guest

Static wrote:: I'd be keen - distributing them at armageddon would be really cool. I stick my hand up for helping organise! Especially the printy bits...hehehe...

Your place of employment is a rip-off! I went to the coffee shop/photo printer on Courtney which will do a 6*8 for $2.50, compared to your place which wants $7!

**Guest** Guest

Great Idea Very Happy

I am all for helping as well Very Happy

I have no life, so this I can help with Very Happy

I think Monthly would be great, lots of time to research and gather write-up from members etc Very Happy

SS

By Static. 07/04/09, 08:12 am

I know, I told you that! That's why I do it for you guys for free! Although to be fair, our quality is way higher - our prints are archival, and will last a good hundred years. But yeah, seven bucks...my soul dies a little every time I sell stuff full-price sad

EDIT: monthly would probably be overkill - is there enough going on to warrant that sort of frequency? If we had an event every month then sure...maybe every three months? That'd give you fewer issues, but with more substance.

By KotoneVersus. 07/04/09, 08:12 am

We could have galleries too? I'm rather keen to help.

And I think bi-monthly would be a little easier.

By **JVCA**. 07/04/09, 08:13 am

GODDAMN. I wrote a whole big post on this and accidentally deleted it!

Okay, my suggestions are thus:

• Frequency: Quarterly, based around the four main events in NZ (Jan = picnic/camp/ball/whatever cosplayer organised event season, April = Chch/wellygeddon, July = DO, October = Auckgeddon. So perhaps, February, May, August, November? That way each issue can report on the last con, and articles don't have to be done while people are rushing on costumes and such)

• Format: Printing is expensive and makes it more time consuming. I suggest making it web-based, available as two downloadable image packs - one in jpg format (smaller file size, but text is not selectable, and poorer print quality), and one in pdf format (bigger file size, text is selectable, higher print quality). That way, people who want to print it for themselves can do. I also suggest making it a screen-friendly size - perhaps A5 sized pages, so the total size of a double page spread would be a landscape A4. Again, this would make printing spreads at home easier, as not many people have A3 printers. Also, this size would fit fairly easily on most screens.

• Content: If you were after content ideas, my Guild on Gaia produces a monthly newspaper/letter - http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewforum.php?f=38851 which might give you some ideas for types of articles.

EDIT: All this is coming from the perspective of a design student, just FYI.

EDIT EDIT: Also, I'm not so crash hot on the article side of things, but I'm happy to do design layouty stuff. :3 Example of magazine layout design here: http://JVCA.deviantart.com/art/NCEA-Design-3-3-Board-3-E-109640849 (bottom half)

By Static. 07/04/09, 08:14 am

@Kotone: snap!

**Guest** Guest

@Static: True True...lol

The Australian Costumers Guild has a newsletter as well...I think I still have the one I got sent when my mate's Nox from SG1 had a write-up...you wanna take a gander?

SS

By Static. 07/04/09, 08:21 am

JVCA IS AWESOME. Design students rock :3

EDIT (man, I love these things...) : I'm keen to do some writing, and am more than willing to throw examples of my stuff up for people to look at. Also I'm keen on editing writing (checking for typos, not re-writing stuff!) and have a few writers in my circle who would also be keen.

By KotoneVersus. 07/04/09, 08:26 am

I can think of article ideas? Maybe even write a couple myself...

**Guest** Guest

JVCA wrote:: GODDAMN. I wrote a whole big post on this and accidentally deleted it!

I HATE it when that happens. :)

I have plenty of ideas for writing, and I have a pretty clear idea what I'm thinking in terms of design, but I fail pretty bad at that. My codings ok though (can definately deal with something this simple and I have helpers), so need some space... oh JP..... Very Happy

I like the two format print-your own option, and definately net-based. But it would be completely awesome to have some hard-copies to sell at the DA/CNZ stands at Geddon...

Quarterly WOULD make things less rushed, but I think there's a danger of losing momentum, which bi-monthly wouldn't.

Thinkee, thinkee...

Would love the costumers newsletter? Is it hardcopy or what?

By **JVCA**. 07/04/09, 08:31 am

Feature suggestion: Forum member spotlight?

To expand on the gallery idea, I'd like to suggest giving a theme for each issue, and members can submit photos that suit that theme, and we do a dps of submitted photos for the theme?

@Mel: I'm good with the design side, but fail with the coding. Razz

I don't think a quarterly would lose momentum just because it'd be centred around the events - so people will look forward to the next one as they can see all the goings on at the event just past.

EDIT: Also, if we handed out print copies of the last issue at events, then it would serve as a reminder to people that the next one is coming out soon

The hard copy geddon handouts sound much more plausible to me now that static has pointed out that she has the amazing powers of print. 8D (@Static: WAI THANK YOO. I like to think I'm awesome too. Razz

)

**Guest** Guest

JVCA wrote:: Feature suggestion: Forum member spotlight?

Like. Noted Very Happy

**Guest** Guest

@korn: If you meant the Australian one, the ACG does both Hard-copies and e-copies...I got sent an e-copy in pdf format...

SS

**Guest** Guest

SilkSpectre wrote:: @korn: If you meant the Australian one, the ACG does both Hard-copies and e-copies...I got sent an e-copy in pdf format...

SS

Oh yes please - email is my username here @hotmail.com - don't like writing it out, the bots get it...

**Guest** Guest

lol I know the feeling Hehe

Just sent it, tell us if it is attached...lol

SS

By Static. 07/04/09, 08:41 am

u_ne_korn wrote:

JVCA wrote:: Feature suggestion: Forum member spotlight?

Like. Noted Very Happy

...does it have to be forum members? It'd be just as interesting to interview awesome non-forum members at events and include that as the spotlight. Just means they'd catch less harassment for saying silly things, lol.

As far as coding goes - it's a bit of a cop-out, but we could always just export the pages as individual .jpgs...a la harvey norman catalogues!

By KotoneVersus. 07/04/09, 08:48 am

Maybe some classifieds where people can sell wigs/props/skills/pre-worn cosplays?

By **JVCA**. 07/04/09, 08:54 am

How about both? Very Happy

I was thinking a full on interview (full page) for the member spotlight, near the start of the mag - in the editorial section kinda still, but what about a dps as well of randoms at events - maybe 6 people, and as six short but amusing questions each? They do something like that in the mag at my uni, I'll find out what their questions are as examples.

Plus side of a spotlight of a forum member is we can do a more in-depth interview online rather than a rushed in-person thing, and it advertises the forum further.

As for the distrubution of files - I figured we'd just upload a .zip of each format for people to download, though it wouldn't be impossible to set up a page by page online reader via html, which I have done before (years ago lol).

**Guest** Guest

Static wrote:

u_ne_korn wrote:

JVCA wrote:: Feature suggestion: Forum member spotlight?

Like. Noted Very Happy

...does it have to be forum members? It'd be just as interesting to interview awesome non-forum members at events and include that as the spotlight. Just means they'd catch less harassment for saying silly things, lol.

We could do combos Very Happy

"Argh deadline is tomorrow and noone has replied to our interveiw invites - quick, who is online tonight?"

By **JVCA**. 07/04/09, 08:55 am

Also, I like the classified idea. Very Happy

To add to that, we can have a seeking cosplayers section, for those seeking cosplay group members.

By Kitten Slave. 07/04/09, 09:00 am

And and... a warning/horror story section!!
And "handy tips for dealing with weirdos!" section!

whee

By Static. 07/04/09, 09:01 am

I like all the ideas - this is a really cool concept! We will need a hierarchy of editors and such, I'm assuming elected by the community at large. Could we possibly have a rotating editorial cycle? This would help reduce the workload on people with other commitments, and would be a great little learning curve for all involved if we got roated around a bit - moving from interviewing someone to writing a review, to writing a tut, to whatever else we come up with.

Although having said that some people may just be great at doing one particular thing, in which case we should keep them on as long as they can. Hmmm...

unresolved idea is unresolved, but I AM STILL EXCITED. Oh, one more thing - if nobody objected and wasn't offended I'd really love to do some photo spreads on winning costumes...or any costumes really, lol. Plz?

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