LS1 magazine?

[keen]

Is there a LS1 monthly magazine ,like street commo. but for us. And not just about utes or monaros.I love reading articles about cars , but dont wont to read about VL's or VN's.If there isnt maybe there should be one.What do you recon?

[RhysB]

Why pay for a magazine when all the best, up to the minute info and pictures are right here? :rolleyes:

[Fabio's CV8]

Why pay for a magazine when all the best, up to the minute info and pictures are right here? :rolleyes:


True dat! :)

[keen]

You cant take your monitor into the toilet with you, or look at it at lunch time, cant rip out a centre fold and blu tack it to the wall,a lot people either dont like or dont have access to a computer.Id be surprised if such a magazine existed( which is what i was trying to discover)if 95% of forum members didnt buy it.

[IIV8II]

Why pay for a magazine when all the best, up to the minute info and pictures are right here? :rolleyes:
Yep!!

Not taking anything from the enthusiasm of everyone here, but an exclusivley LS1 magazine would sell about as much as The Wool Growers Journal or Model Train Monthly

[keen]

The wool growers journal is a fine publication!

[IIV8II]

The wool growers journal is a fine publication!

So's Model Train Monthly...


(does it really exist? I was kinda takin' the piss...!)

[keen]

A lot of people would probably have thought that a purely commodore magazine would have been a waste of time as well.

[vh-holden]

that reminded me

has anyone fitted a screen into the toliet door?

[Martin_D]

Blownvn has done as LS1 Special of Street Commodores

[Chris5.7ltr]

:stick: Buy a laptop maybe?

[HRT Stroker]

it would be out of date by print from the info posted regularly on here!!!!!

[Swordie]

Yep!!

Not taking anything from the enthusiasm of everyone here, but an exclusivley LS1 magazine would sell about as much as The Wool Growers Journal or Model Train Monthly

The Wool Growers Journal may be quite popular in NZ.

[The Warden]

The Wool Growers Journal may be quite popular in NZ.

And your point is???? :D

[Dickie Knee]

You cant take your monitor into the toilet with you, or look at it at lunch time, cant rip out a centre fold and blu tack it to the wall,a lot people either dont like or dont have access to a computer.Id be surprised if such a magazine existed( which is what i was trying to discover)if 95% of forum members didnt buy it.


I have a wireless laptop but I have never felt the need to read about LS1s when I need to take a dump.

[SSbaby]

I've been thinking about this for a while now... I believe the idea has some merit especially if a technical feature section follows a similar format to the SM LS1 headers/cams feature at Sams - comparisons, DIY articles, graphs, interviews, etc...

If SM can be successful using a variety of cars, I can't see why a dedicated LS1 magazine can't be successful. I don't see it as a means to replace this great forum, rather, it will complement it and bring out some interesting discussion points. Potentially, it could be a much better read than the SM/Motor/Wheels for the thousands of LS1 owners out there.
:cool:

[keen]

Spot on Baby, seems you and I are the only ones who can see there could be some sort of PLUS from haveing an LS1 mag.Dedicated articles, more feature cars, more places for people to view industry products,and if done properly and in conjunction with this forum could only stand to inhance the statice of this forum and its sponsers and the LS1 community as a whole .I love this forum and my car, I recon they deserve there own magazine they can call home. :D

[RhysB]

What would be the source of all this information you're after?? It would probably be this website! The September issue of "AUSTRALIAN LS1 MAG"- "Nathan Higgins- The first NA 346 to run a 10"....."PLAN B gets tubs!"..... "Bolt on LS1 runs 12.5"......"Powertorque Dyno day pics"....and finally...... "Which blower for you- PD or centrifugal??"- It would all be old news fellas. [yawn! ]

[RhysB]

COMING UP IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF AUSTRALIAN LS1 MAG- "How to fit a maf pipe"........"DIY Monaro CAI"......."Which diff gears for you?"......."LS1 v XR6T at the local drags"......"NEWSFLASH- Edit is better than UNICHIP!". :p

[keen]

Not everyone knows LS1.com exists and I would guess that like me most people would only find this site after buying and then wanting to modify there car.If this site had its own magazine it would probably attract more people to it.With a greater awareness in the community would come more sponsers . If the forum was able to generate an income thru a magazine,imagine what could be done with that money.R and D on mods for cars, events, It seems to me there are sponcers here haveing to put there own hand in there pocket to provide R & d which costs the rest of us nothing.All this is great of corse as long as the mag made money?It could include in it LS1 utes ,monaros ,wagons , sedans, Ls1 motor bikes , cobras etc.
Doesnt everyone have a copy of street commodore next to there dunny?

[Martin_D]

All I can say is welcome to the magazine business guys!
Now you gotta work out what to put on the other 92 pages :)

[Ryzz]

You cant take your monitor into the toilet with you, .
You can if you have a laptop with wireless internet :D

[markone2]

Spot on Baby, seems you and I are the only ones who can see there could be some sort of PLUS from haveing an LS1 mag.Dedicated articles, more feature cars, more places for people to view industry products,and if done properly and in conjunction with this forum could only stand to inhance the statice of this forum and its sponsers and the LS1 community as a whole .I love this forum and my car, I recon they deserve there own magazine they can call home. :D

Especially so when in the latest SM edition the following advice is offered to a reader
There is clearly room for a magazine with the attributes suggested by Keen

http://www.ssute.com/ls1/sm%2010183.jpg

When such advice is offered to avid car enthusiasts it should not be tempered by the input of advertising dollars :( …read what you will into it…my lips have been gagged over this matter which has made me seen RED for the last week…my sympathy lies with the poor reader if the advice offered is taken....ps sorry about the size,cannot seem to make it smaller

[Chris5.7ltr]

ps sorry about the size,cannot seem to make it smaller
hey dude I just cut away all the usless crap in that pic you posted above (except that advice by SM;)) so if you want to use the smaller version blankEMAIL me (charmainec@iprimus.com.au) and I'll send it back to you.:)

[markone2]

:) Thanx Chris5ltr,however I cannot edit the post.....can you post smaller version to one of
our esteemed Mods who may be kind enough to perform said task........... :bow:

[strife]

All I can say is welcome to the magazine business guys!
Now you gotta work out what to put on the other 92 pages :)

ads like the rest of them

[SSbaby]

Well LS2 is just around the corner and there are other LS* engines that don't get much mention here - C5R ... and I for one would like to read up on these things.

It might also be good to have interviews/opinions from tuners without having their opinions drowned out by an influential few. We also don't get to hear much from repected people like Nathan Higgins... You also don't get a chance to look at depth into how Edit works together with EFI live, for example. The PC magazines are an example of what I'm referring to.

Contrary to popular belief, this site does not contain everything you need to know about the LS1 - is it any wonder the technical section is undergoing an overhaul? As far as topics discussed, we seem to be going over chartered waters again and again on this forum... I can't see why reading about it in a magazine would be so boring?

IMO, the magazine would not be a threat to this site and I would view it as opportunity to discuss issues that we might not have previously covered. Who wouldn't like to compare results of dyno graphs using different sized TBs or comparisons between the various CAI? All it takes is an Editor with an active mind and positive approach.
:)

[ROARZ]

Markone2 - I missed your point about the advice being bad. I don't think there is anything wrong with sending a LS1 owner down to The Brock Shop that I'm aware of. I know it's not PowerTorque, but they're still a reputable business that does a lot of work on Holden's and GenIII's. Why the bad blood? Did you get wrongly done by at TBS?

All - As for the magazine, perhaps those of you who feel passionate about this could work with the forum owners to start a small magazine (Perhaps LS1.Com Magazine or similar). Don't start out with a 100 pager - but start out small. It's something you could sell at the national LS1 gatherings :) and other events. Queensland Street Machine is a similar example. Issues are going to be getting advertisers, as they are already being spread thin across SM, SC, Utes, etc... But, perhaps if you kept it as a spin off from the site, and a way to bring the best of the moderated site content into a form for the rest of the world to read, then perhaps it'll find a niche.

Oh, and there are a couple of monthly model railroading magazines. There's more model railroaders on the planet then there are LS1'ers. Well, so far anyway... :)

[markone2]

[QUOTE=wywalk]Markone2 - I missed your point about the advice being bad. I don't think there is anything wrong with sending a LS1 owner down to The Brock Shop that I'm aware of. I know it's not PowerTorque, but they're still a reputable business that does a lot of work on Holden's and GenIII's. Why the bad blood? Did you get wrongly done by at TBS?

What does $5000 buy at the brock shop for a bolt-on Gen111..... :) There lies the answer........a 14.2 second answer....and yes they did something
to me that steps well over the line ,but this is not the place for that disscusion ...i'll fill you in next time we meet...Willowbank??
soon?
ps :1peek: do tbs actually use LS1 edit ?

[ROARZ]

Markone2 - My 15 minutes of time to edit my reply has run out - so I guess the post will stand as is. I've read the response made by the SM staff again, and agree that the advice is specifically wrong. TBS does not use LS1 Edit at this time. They do have several other means of tuning LS1s, just not this specific product. My LS1 ran fine and produced good power using their techniques, even prior to the big upgrade. So the editorial response is factually incorrect, hence probably your emotion felt in reading it. The reader would have been dissapointed had they rung Joe to ask about LS1 Edit. I'm happy with TBS, but SM is wrong in this case.

[pdv666]

I would be a little hesitant putting my money into any publication that would specialise on any product that has reached the natural end of its product lifecycle.

[ROARZ]

Maybe before going out and starting a new magazine, perhaps a few of you could trial putting together a periodical that is downloadable from here? Something in PDF format that can be printed if needs be. You could write up the big events, and "net out" the topical debates so that those with limited time or entry level IT skills could just grab the PDF. You could even organize forum members to do product comparisons using their own cars (similar to the dyno experiment schwarzy and I did last Firday). You could even email it out to subscribers to start with (anyone interested, not just forum members). There are many people who have been game enough to get on email, that don't venture into the forums yet. Publishing via PDF would not be too costly, or require too much editorial experience, and you could setup a group of reviewers (perhaps rotational basis) from the forum to ensure content was correct and somewhat :) neutral (okay to bag other car makes ;) ). Just some more food for thought.

[SSbaby]

I would be a little hesitant putting my money into any publication that would specialise on any product that has reached the natural end of its product lifecycle.

Why is SM so successful? IMHO, that publication sucks. I would only buy it for its LS1 content.

Carburettors? :lol:

[ROARZ]

I would be a little hesitant putting my money into any publication that would specialise on any product that has reached the natural end of its product lifecycle.

That is a very good point. However, the Corvette ZR-1 community has a "community" magazine (King of the Hill Magazine) that is still going strong nine years after the last of the ZR1's were sold. It survives because there is a strong aftermarket for these cars, and only 7000 were ever sold. Given the qty of LS1s that have gone into Australian (and the rest of the world), there will still be niche enthusiast interest for many years to come. You would need to take this into account in producing a periodical targeted at LS1 owners. The magazine is affiliated with the zr1.net, but are not partners. The zr1.net community is a subset of the magazine readership, just as we have been discussing here. They seem to like it, as it gives them a coffee table summary, with pics, of what is happening in the zr1 world. It's definitely a "club" style mag though. Yes, it has advertising, tech articles, and stories, but it is much more like a club magazine (see Qld Corvette Club or similar) than a periodical you'd see in a News Agent.

[SSbaby]

We could easily have a combined LS1/LS2 magazine. Old and New combined. :) "They" say that the LS2 heads will be interchangeable with the LS1's.

[pdv666]

I think your suggestion of the PDF download format has merit. I would down load it.

I was looking at the suggestion from a marketing approach. I would be interested if any publisher would pick this type of publication up given that it is targeted at a limited customer base.

LS1.com.au has 4000+- members, how many are active and log on more than once per week? i don't have the figures but i would imagine it would be a low percentage. (maybe sidwindr could comment)

What percentage of the forum content is original, factual, technical?

How many LS1 owners are enthusiasts? not just people who buy a commodore with a V8

How can you base a magazine on an engine but then turn around and say you will cover bikes, kit cars, etc?

Having said this i would buy the said publication to have a read even if it was only once, even if it did only have 6 pages. :)

[SSbaby]

All good points.

I would guess that the circulation would be much greater than just 4000 to be viable. It could be a bi-monthly publication (or quarterly to begin with). It should appeal to enthusiasts at large, not just LS1 owners.

I keep buying Wheels, Motor, PC magazines, ... but only a few articles interest me and very few are of a technical nature. How much of these mag's content is made up of ads? BTW, I don't think Holden/HSV would be averse to chipping in some advertising $$$ (if done properly!).

I'm no market analyst but I reckon that such a magazine would create a niche. I can only base my thoughts on how the current issues are received so favourably, much to my amazement.

[Martin_D]

I would guess that the circulation would be much greater than just 4000 to be viable. It could be a bi-monthly publication (or quarterly to begin with). It should appeal to enthusiasts at large, not just LS1 owners.
I keep buying Wheels, Motor, PC magazines, ... but only a few articles interest me and very few are of a technical nature. How much of these mag's content is made up of ads? BTW, I don't think Holden/HSV would be averse to chipping in some advertising $$$ (if done properly!)..... I reckon that such a magazine would create a niche. I can only base my thoughts on how the current issues are received so favourably, much to my amazement.

Looks like you have yourself a job, three cheers for the new LS1 Magazine Editor, SSbaby!
Now, to find the rest of the staff....

[Swordie]

My 2 cents worth.

Below are my thoughts.

1) It may be best to start off with a web based publication with technical articles similar to www.autospeed.com.au . Forum members could contribute content. LS1 could be just one area.

2) If people are interested in writing content approach established web sites and magazine and see what they require.

3) Determine the business structure. Is it non profit or for profit?

If it's non profit have a fund raiser to kick things off to generate some funds.

If it's for profit venture the magazine industry generally generate around 4- 10% net profit after tax. 4000 magazines would generate ($15 * 4000 * 10% = $6000 max).

4) Maybe have a vote as to what people prefer. If a magazine is the aim state how much it will be when the vote takes place to get a straw poll / indication of potential demand.

5) If there is a group of people interested in starting something try determining what they will contribute and what they prefer to do. Organise some sort of meeting. Put together there must be enough people on this forum who can contribute technical articles, financial advice, web design ECT and cars as case studies.

[SSbaby]

Looks like you have yourself a job, three cheers for the new LS1 Magazine Editor, SSbaby!
Now, to find the rest of the staff....

Errr, I was hoping you'd volunteer for the job, Tuna. :lol:

[SSbaby]

My 2 cents worth.


1) It may be best to start off with a web based publication with technical articles similar to www.autospeed.com.au . Forum members could contribute content. LS1 could be just one area.

The idea behind it would be to complement this site and not become a rival. :D

[markone2]

Looks like you have yourself a job, three cheers for the new LS1 Magazine Editor, SSbaby!
Now, to find the rest of the staff....

Well pdv666 can handle the WSID review, I'd be happy to provide Willowbank’s results, but will some-one please break the good news to Chilly he is now an official photographer and a spare set of car keys must be kept on his person at all times :)
:doh:And I guess some-one should also inform Peter of his newfound journalistic duties before he reads it here and :nutkick: me

[skully]

I've worked on magazines, mainstream and niche (nothing to do with cars) and there are plenty of great ideas for mags but just not enough people buying them. For it to be viable you'd have to sell at least $20,000 - $30,000 worth of ads per issue and then sell at least that many copies.

You could possibly talk a publisher into doing a LS1 yearbook, but most would take the easy way out and just feature lots of show cars with pics without actually telling you anything you don't already know.


That said it's a good idea and as the number of LS1s in Australia increase the market for such a mag keeps growing. If it reaches the critical size to make it worthwhile then it wouldn't matter if the info is months old by the time it is printed, as the vast majority of readers would be people who have not heard it before and probably not heard of this forum.

[seldo]

I am sure that the idea and the enthusiasm are just great. Pity the number$ won't work. Sorry, next please..

[Martin_D]

Errr, I was hoping you'd volunteer for the job, Tuna. :lol:

Mate, I actually do that sort of thing for a living....I dont think it would be a very interesting hobby for me :)
Why dont you ask Blown to put it together as a backup for Street Com? He knows how to do that sort of thing.

[keen]

I dont think there is any dought that if there was a LS1/LS2 magazine on the magazine stand next to street machine that the 4000 members of this forum would buy it.Take for instance one of the latest Motor magazine which was called Hot tuna :rolleyes: how many people bought that just to read what they had to say about LS1's?Ill buy any of them if they have an article about LS!'s.Id be surprised if a lot of people werent the same.There was a thread about weather or not we are in a golden age of V8,s again like the seventies,I dont think there is any dought that it is true.A good magazine I think would sell well considering how much interest there is in V8s again.Not just from us hard core fans on forums every night , but your keen members of the general public as well.

[SSbaby]

I've worked on magazines, mainstream and niche (nothing to do with cars) and there are plenty of great ideas for mags but just not enough people buying them. For it to be viable you'd have to sell at least $20,000 - $30,000 worth of ads per issue and then sell at least that many copies.


No problem, we'll have a few bikini clad girls in some pics... ;)

[pdv666]

Well pdv666 can handle the WSID review, I'd be happy to provide Willowbank’s results, but will some-one please break the good news to Chilly he is now an official photographer and a spare set of car keys must be kept on his person at all times :)
:doh:And I guess some-one should also inform Peter of his newfound journalistic duties before he reads it here and :nutkick: me

Thanks Mark, just what i need another job.

SS baby i am currently working on another publication, you want to provide the content i will look after it for you. :D

[keen]

How about the missus as the first LS1 readers wives drapped over your bonnet Pete?

[pdv666]

You gotta be joking!! she might scratch the paint.

You seem keen as mustard. what about you drapped over your own bonnet holding your trophy, in a G-string :lol: :lol: :lol:

(Thats what footballers do isn't it?)

[SSbaby]

SS baby i am currently working on another publication, you want to provide the content i will look after it for you. :D

How about we advertise for some would-be models through the forum for starters? We'll seek volunteers until we get permanently off the ground... ya never know, the opportunity could lead to a great modelling career. :cool:

[Ryzz]

You seem keen as mustard. what about you drapped over your own bonnet holding your trophy, in a G-string :lol: :lol: :lol:

:spew: Need i say more?!?!?!

[keen]

Well at least we would get one sale of the magazine ...........S Tuna :booty: :lol: :lol:

[keen]

I guess the first step if there is any to be taken is to find out if the powers that be here at LS1 think its a good idea?If they want a mag involved with this/there site?

[keen]

:stupid: The magazine that is, not me in another G string!

[blownvn]

How about, instead of these fleeting dreams of having your own magazine, you put your energies into supporting the magazines that already exist.

You don't want to read about Non-ls1 Commodores, well news flash people; we cop so much flak for all of the LS1 stuff we run. The rest of the Commodore community feels that we give LS1's too much exposure.

Our explanation is that this is where the cutting edge is these days in regards to Commodores so it's only fair that we should cover these cars.

[blownvn]

Now here's a little info that I'll share for free. Magazines are expensive! And no I don't just mean the purchase price.

Where are you going to get it printed? I'm sure you you're all patriotic aussies so you'll want to get printed here.

How many pages? Let’s say 100 pages for arguments sake

How often will you print it? Every 3 months sounds fair

So every 3 months you will have to have 100pages of information, pictures, and advertising laid out in a legible format. Now because you all HATE advertising, you'll only want to run maybe 20 pages of ads which means you need to fill 80 pages with information, every three months. Should be easy, shouldn't it?

After all your mates can help you out in writing some of the stories and your cousin just bought himself a flash looking 4 mega pixel digital camera. Now you just need to find some cars to shoot and time to do it all. Three months, too easy!

After all besides work, family, your hobbies, and everything else that's going on your life, three months is plenty of time to put together 80 pages of info and sell 20 pages of advertising. I mean you have a whole 12 weekends to do all that. Except it's your daughters birthday party next weekend, and oh there was that cruise you were going to go on but that's cool you can take photo’s for the new magazine.

Your five mates seem committed and promise that they'll be writing like demons to get everything in for you to correct before it goes to the designer. Shit, who is going to design it? That's right you sister-in-law's niece is doing a graphic arts course surely they can do it.

So you reckon about 7 car features should be enough, figure around 6 pages a car, well there 42 pages filled right there. Only 38 pages left, oh and those 20 pages of ads you have to sell. What about tech, yep lots of tech,…um, how are we going to do the tech? You approach a couple of workshops they all say sure, give us a free full pages add and we’ll help you out so your now down to 18 pages of ads.

One of the workshops is fantastic and bends over backwards to help you, the other though never has any time to let you photograph anything, bitches about everyone and everything, and will not explain anything technical in detail because “they’ll be giving away all their secrets”. Combine this with the fact that your cousin never has enough time to photograph anything but will also NOT lend you his expensive camera means you’ll be buying your own camera and taking your own pic’s.

You start trying to sell ads into the magazine but you find because no-one know you, no-one wants to be involved regardless of how cheap it is. You end up giving half of the page away for free just so some businesses can see if they get a response, and the other sell at around a 1/3 of what you thought you should get. And you were lucky to get that!

You still have 20 or so page to fill with editorial but no time or budget to do anything. Your mates have let you down with the stories they were supposed to write, half didn’t start, one got half way through and the other finished the story but it sounds like it was written by a 12 year old.

After battling though everything you end up getting all your stuff to your designer but around 2 months after you said you would. Your wife hates you because you never spend any time with her and your kid/s, and everyone is pestering you on when this magazine is going to be available.

The designer takes another month and a half to design the magazine (I’m being artistic the designer says), while you’ve organized distribution through the newsagents, and printing and a local printers who is a “Friend or a friend who is gone cut you a deal”. The designer is finished and you have decided to print 15,000 copies for the first issue after pressure from the printer who reckons 10,000 will not be enough (of course he wants to print more, he’s getting paid by the copy).

You finally release the first mag some 7-8months after you started, it sells half decently and you move around 5000 copies, and then you think what the hell am I gonna do with 10,000copies? Then the printer hands you a bill for $40,000 (so much for a discount) which he wants paid by the end of the month. Your advertising only bought in $7000 if they all pay, so you need to find $33,000.

Your 5000 sales will get you around $20,000 after the newsagent and distributor takes their cut, which leaves you $13,000 in the hole.

Maybe you’ll make some extra dollars selling some of you unsold copies, nope you’re distributor has already taken care of that for you by destroying the unsold copies (you didn’t actually want them did you?)

continued next post:

[blownvn]

Now you’ve got a $13,000 bill, no magazines, and then you find that half of your advertisers are refusing to pay because the magazine came out later than you said it would when they agreed.

And your fans, and you will have fans of the magazine, want you to go through it all again, and have the next issue out in three months.


Welcome to the world of publishing!

[PepeLePew]

I'll stick to surfing ls1.com.au on a wireless PDA in my dunny thanks, it displays quite nicely on WindowsMobile 2003.

[seldo]

Ha Ha Ha! Ahh, Blownvn - you almost sound like you've been there, done that....:eyes:
Like I said in an earlier post - great idea, great enthusiasm, but the number$ just don't stack up. It's a damn site harder than it seems on the surface.

[markone2]

Now you’ve got a $13,000 bill, no magazines, and then you find that half of your advertisers are refusing to pay because the magazine came out later than you said it would when they agreed.

And your fans, and you will have fans of the magazine, want you to go through it all again, and have the next issue out in three months.


Welcome to the world of publishing!

So given the couple of aforementioned minor teething issues, is there any major hurdle we should concern ourselves with before hitting the streets? :lol:

[blownvn]

Mate I have.

How do you think I got this job?

I didn't just fall out of the ugly tree, I along with a mate produced a valiant magazine based off a "great idea" we formed through our conversation on a valiant internet forum. Sound familiar?

Now before anyone starts raving about bloody valaints and how no-one would buy a valiant magazine, let me tell you, they are the most loyal fans out there. Valiant guys buy everything valiant, they all have every book ever produced, and all own every magazine ever made.

We got stung by everyone, advertisers not paying, huge printing bill, guys promising to do work and not delivering, and the distributor destroying the unsold copies. But we got it done and it felt fantastic to hold the finished product for the first time.

I had 50grand in the bank when we started and nothing when I left for this job, My mate had two video stores on the central coast along with two houses. He now lives in Tamworth on a block of land and struggling to make ends meet.

I got an offer to work with Jason on SC (known Jason for over 12 years through Karate and the car scene) and my mate said "if you want the job just go". I signed the business over to my mate for nothing and he pumped out another few mags but the bills and pressure from advertisers no paying have really hurt. Do a search on Slick 6 Packs (his name, not mine :D ) and you'll see everything.

We had huge support from the Chrysler community but the businesses weren't as forthcoming with the advertising dollars. It sold in varying amounts, from 5000 for the first issue through to 8000plus (Zoom sells 8-9000 each month) so the sales were there.

I'm not saying don't do it, but if you do go ahead than go in with both eyes open.

Otherwise support the magazines that are supporting the LS1 guys currently, they are already doing the job.

[IIV8II]

Now you’ve got a $13,000 bill, no magazines, and then you find that half of your advertisers are refusing to pay because the magazine came out later than you said it would when they agreed.

And your fans, and you will have fans of the magazine, want you to go through it all again, and have the next issue out in three months.


Welcome to the world of publishing!

Dude, you forgot the salaries...!!!

Seriously blown VN, you are right with all you have said above. Does anybody still want to do a sliver-market (it's not even big enough to be called a niche...) e'zine based on one engine?!

[pdv666]

Thanks guys, you just confirmed what i wanted to say in 50 words or less.

[Martin_D]

Cmon guys be brave, Scottys experience was based on a crapper that went out of production more than 30 years earlier.......or did you include Sigmas Blownvn?

[strife]

nothing stopping you guys submitting some news items for the main page

[Sidewindr]

Only News Reporters can post news items :) We currently have only one Reporter. Had a few interested but still not received the application articles :p

[keen]

BlownVN , ive got a few questions for you
1- What is the current circulation of S/Comm.
2- Does the magazine run at a loss?
3-Why did the magazine branch out into Monaros and utes.?
You have painted a picture of doom and gloom in the publishing industry.Is this the current experience for S/machine or S/commodore.?You said yourself you guys get bagged for printing LS1 stuff.So why not split it up . Why not run all LS1 related cars , articles etc on there own.Clearly the market is there for such a publication or you wouldnt have done S/ monaros.No new business is easy to get off the ground,but mate no offence, if what you spelled out wes the way you and your mate attacked the idea it was doomed from the beginning.
Personally I love street commos, and if there was an Ls1 mag cont..

[SSbaby]

Does anybody still want to do a sliver-market (it's not even big enough to be called a niche...) e'zine based on one engine?!

Maaaate. :) Where's your imagination IIV8II?

I can think of a few articles already that aren't strictly LS1 related... How about some light hearted reading: Interview with the HWY Constabulary re: their thoughts on the LS1; an article on dynomometers, what about getting influential people like Brocky write about his Targa Monaro... or how about we test back-to-back Mandrel and H-pipe exhausts and get real results rather than people's humble opinion (as evidenced in this forum).

There's stories to be found if one looks hard enough. Remember, its supposed to be about entertaining the reader but without the BS. It should be more about things that don't often get discussed on this forum. There may be some overlap but (you'd expect that) we might get it from a different perspective to the way it's normally conveyed here.

No disrespect to blownvn and his tireless work ethic to make SC the premier mag, but the idea of reading about Habib's "fooly sick" VL turbo just doesn't grab me.

[keen]

if there was an LS1 mag Iwould continue to buy it every month.Ls1 is still fairly new and growing rappidly , look at the way after market goodies have exploded.LS1 and 2 are the future Ls1s can be bought for $20000 now the market for mods, Knowledge , info, how to do this, where to buy that will just keep getting bigger . If you blokes cant see that an LS1 magazine would be able to stand on its own two feet you need your heads read!

[ROARZ]

Keen - Keep it cool mate - this is a good thread so far.

The pros and cons so far are great critical analysis - but try not to get anyone to chime in with a personal angle.

There are ways to avoid the risks of a start up - especially since so many of them are well known for this type of activity. I would take all the cons analysis on board and just try something small and electronic (PDF) to start with. That way you'll be able to determine if you're going to get any ongoing help, and whether the forum or the SC folks would like to collaborate. Best would be to go for an inclusive model on this one. No point going for profit, although if that is your goal, then definitely collaborate with an existing publisher so that you can leverage their infrastructure. If you start small, and it seems to work, then you may find SC or SM offering to publish it as a companion mag or a special edition (two mags for the price of one or something like that), or SC may host the good bits as a special LS1 Forum section in their mag. Lots of startup opportunities for you to consider.

[blownvn]

Cmon guys be brave, Scottys experience was based on a crapper that went out of production more than 30 years earlier.......or did you include Sigmas Blownvn?


Thanks Marty, we call always trust you to introduced some levity into the situation. The last valiant was made in 81/82 so it's only 20 years ago. :D We never got the chance of entertaining the idea of Sigma's but they would have been a controversial inclusion.

OK Keen, you want answers, here they are.

1- What is the current circulation of S/Comm. No secret there, it's currently audited at 17,000/month

2- Does the magazine run at a loss?It's a commercial enterprise, what do you reckon?

3-Why did the magazine branch out into Monaros and utes.?Because Holden started making them and they're based off the Commodore platform

As for SM and SC I'm not going to go to far into that but it's a tough industry, and highly competitive.

We might get bagged for running what some percieve as too much LS1 stuff but we're not about to turn around and stop running it. I pointed that out so you guy can realize that LS1 owners are not the only Commodore owners out there, everyone deserves their shot. What you guys want to do is divide the scene into the haves and have-nots.

You made this comment:

"Clearly the market is there for such a publication or you wouldnt have done S/ monaros"

Street Monaro's was a toe in the water exercise, going off the response we got it will never happen again.


As for this comment:

"No new business is easy to get off the ground,but mate no offence, if what you spelled out wes the way you and your mate attacked the idea it was doomed from the start"

All I can say is a healthy F U C K YOU! I try and show you guys that it's not all sunshine and roses, through what was a very personal experience and that's the thanks I get. :mad:

You want to lose your house, be my guest.

[keen]

I started this thread because at least 3 times a week I walk into a newsagent to get my paper.I always find myself looking to see if the new street commo is out or street machine or if theres a good article in wheels or similar.I stood there the other day thinking why isnt there an LS1 mag out there?

[ROARZ]

keen - Your reason for posting is a good one, and it's a damn good question. It is getting answered via this thread. It would seem that at this time, those in the publication business are going gangbusters with the content they already have. You can see that SC is doing market testing with a couple of different concepts and both SC and SM have tested LS1 only issues (or was it SM only that did the LS1 special) - who knows, maybe we'll see more of those. As for someone else picking up on the idea from outside the industry - perhaps the barriers to entry (including knowledge of how to get into it) has been too high outright, or too high based on perceived demand, or it just hasn't been considered until now. Perhaps for a change in direction for the thread, maybe you could tell us what you'd like to see in a LS1 mag?

blownvn - Mate, your input is extremely valuable. Thank you for including it. Pros/cons analysis is a powerful tool. Sorry submitting it raised your ire.

[keen]

Blown Vn ILL attmit my comment my not have been the most tactfull, It was not meant as a personal attack more an observation.Thank you for your honest and forthwrite answers, so I guess after a lot blood sheat and tears the magazine is a success. I have 1 more question for you - Do you think that an Ls1 mag incorporating all things LS1 and the future Ls2 would be a success?IE does it have a place in the market?

[SSbaby]

We might get bagged for running what some percieve as too much LS1 stuff but we're not about to turn around and stop running it. I pointed that out so you guy can realize that LS1 owners are not the only Commodore owners out there, everyone deserves their shot. What you guys want to do is divide the scene into the haves and have-nots.


LS1 owners are a different group to the other Commodore owners. It's obvious from the buyer demographic. I'm not saying that we're special, it's just that for us it's desirable to read anything LS1 related.

Don't forget, the LS1 is global. LS2 is imminent, there's lots to look forward to in the performance scene. HSV LS2 is rumoured to be just around the corner. What will all Holden fans and performance enthusiasts in general be talking about for the next couple of years? It won't be VL turbos, I reckon. It might be a good time to ride the waves. :D

[Martin_D]

Only News Reporters can post news items :) We currently have only one Reporter. Had a few interested but still not received the application articles :p

I sent you an article Sidey, and you published it, accepted responsibility for the copyright etc. Why arent I promoted to reporter?
Is it because I didnt get you a bouncy castle at the Drag Nationals?
Is it because I laughed when you couldnt keep a belt on?
Is it because I pick on your little buddies?
Oh, I know why, because you WANT AN INVOICE FOR IT!
Cool :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Red CV8 R]

I have EVERY issue of Street Commodores and Street Machine Commodores, infact I probably have every commodore magazine ever written right back to commodore crazy days, and having owned V6 commodores, Vl turbos, V8 commodores and now a Gen 3 I quite enjoy Street Commodores and I doubt I would stop buying it. However I must have missed the to much Gen 3 Street commodores edition... I dont see alot of Gen 3 stuff in SC and I think it just the v6 owners bitching. Being on Street Commodores forums some of the people on that site are an absolute waste of space and it the typical V6 VN to VS owners or the early V8 mob who have such a problem with the Gen 3 stuff because they have no idea what they are talking about. I would ignore them as the future is the Gen 3.

[keen]

Senator I know what you mean at street commodores web site.I here more intelligent and mature conversations when I drop my 2 and 4 year olds off at kindigarten.Maybe I just becomeing an old f....g c....t?

[Red CV8 R]

I am in the same age group as these drop kicks and I cant stand the way they go on. I saw this one post where a member of this forum gave a very reasonable answer to a post and was attacked with stupid kindergarden names for absolutely no reason, I was like WTF? Freaks!

[blownvn]

I have EVERY issue of Street Commodores and Street Machine Commodores, infact I probably have every commodore magazine ever written right back to commodore crazy days, and having owned V6 commodores, Vl turbos, V8 commodores and now a Gen 3 I quite enjoy Street Commodores and I doubt I would stop buying it. However I must have missed the to much Gen 3 Street commodores edition... I dont see alot of Gen 3 stuff in SC and I think it just the v6 owners bitching. Being on Street Commodores forums some of the people on that site are an absolute waste of space and it the typical V6 VN to VS owners or the early V8 mob who have such a problem with the Gen 3 stuff because they have no idea what they are talking about. I would ignore them as the future is the Gen 3.


Actually it was the VL turbo guys.

So is this thread going to change into a SC forum bashing thread now?

[Martin_D]

Whether you like SC, its forums, or not, you still have to take your hat off to the guys there for their tireless persistence in everything Commodore. I can tell you working with publishing, deadlines, and the constant hand to mouth existence that is the magazine industry, is not the easiest job in the world.

And if you dont like their forums dont go there.....

[keen]

Blown as I said I love your mag, web sites ify but if this site didnt exist id be there. Now what about my last question?

[Red CV8 R]

There is a difference between not liking the forums and being shocked by the low level of certain members there. You know the drill the forums are good just certain members ruin it.

Most definately the Street Commodores team do a fantastic job and as I said I allways purchase their magazine. I would not hesitate in patting the SC team on the back as I think they sell the best magazine on the market.

[Red CV8 R]

Actually it was the VL turbo guys.

So is this thread going to change into a SC forum bashing thread now?


Pfft who cares what they say they dont own a real Holden anyway :lol:

Says he who owned two VL Calais turbos... ;)

I am suprised they are so vocal as I would have thought they would have been the smallest mob in the commodore crowd.

I also didnt intend on creating a SC forum bash so my appologies.

[Mongy]

You cant take your monitor into the toilet with you, or look at it at lunch time, cant rip out a centre fold and blu tack it to the wall,a lot people either dont like or dont have access to a computer.Id be surprised if such a magazine existed( which is what i was trying to discover)if 95% of forum members didnt buy it.
:booty: Buy a printer and print it all out, you don't have this much interative fun reading a magazine :booty:

[keen]

that depends on the mag I guess

[blownvn]

Blown as I said I love your mag, web sites ify but if this site didnt exist id be there. Now what about my last question?

We could probably do it, after all express publications is famous for making niche market magazines, but we wouldn't bother unless it was going to sell 10-12000 copies per issue. Under that it's just not worth the grief.

As a private venture, well you would need alot of experience in the publishing industry to even comtemplate it. The ways people can shaft you are too numerous to mention.

[SSbaby]

We could probably do it, after all express publications is famous for making niche market magazines, but we wouldn't bother unless it was going to sell 10-12000 copies per issue. Under that it's just not worth the grief.

blownvn :)

I understand what you are saying and I appreciate you taking the time to describe the work ethic required to get such a project off the ground.

Rather than run with the concept and hope the products will sell itself (i.e. over 12,000units/month to make it worthwhile) what would it take to generate those numbers? In other words, you'd have to run a different format to SC if you are to sell it to the right crowd (demographic) so what would this format be to make this magazine a success, given that it's a modern product that thousands are crying out for?

[keen]

Well, chop,chop what are you waiting for.It would appear the future lies with us , S/C will probably sell a few copies less but if theres still a few LS1 articles I bet a lot of people will still buy both. Youll stop getting greif from the grommits and there V6s and 5.0s about all the LS1 articles.We'll leave you alone because we have even more to read and pull our pudding over.And it wouldnt surprise me if the mag covered sedans , utes ,wagons, monaros everything LS1 that in not to much time it would overtake S/C for sales. Everyone getts what they want and you sell more magazines.
Now I must move onto the next most pressing issue,the problems in Iraq.

[SSbaby]

Wheels/Motor usually have a circulation of about 60,000 sales/month. Just out of interest, I wonder how many mags they'd sell if they didn't have any Holdens/Fords gracing the front cover. My guess would be very few.

[Roddy]

Wheels/Motor usually have a circulation of about 60,000 sales/month. Just out of interest, I wonder how many mags they'd sell if they didn't have any Holdens/Fords gracing the front cover. My guess would be very few.

True, the latest Daewoo offering in full front page glory may affect sales a tad. :)

It's interesting to note the readership figures for major motoring titles, they are huge compared to the circulation figures;

Wheels 498 000

Motor 392 000

Street Machine 433 000

[SSbaby]

True, the latest Daewoo offering in full front page glory may affect sales a tad. :)

It's interesting to note the readership figures for major motoring titles, they are huge compared to the circulation figures;

Wheels 498 000

Motor 392 000

Street Machine 433 000

And wouldn't it be interesting if between the covers, they had more than one article of interest?

Supercars just don't interest me, Korean cars ditto...I buy the mag mainly for the Holden content and I'm always disappointed at the end. I ask myself why every time and promise myself that the current issue will be the last I buy... Although the GTS was featured on this month's Wheels, it it a boring read, IMO. :sleep:

[blownvn]

True, the latest Daewoo offering in full front page glory may affect sales a tad. :)

It's interesting to note the readership figures for major motoring titles, they are huge compared to the circulation figures;

Wheels 498 000

Motor 392 000

Street Machine 433 000


Readership figures are a crock, they combine smoke and mirrors and multiply it by the angle of a duck arse to achieve unrealistic figures. Sales are the only thing to go off and ACP mags do rather well in this department, wish we had their budgets really.

[Sidewindr]

I sent you an article Sidey, and you published it, accepted responsibility for the copyright etc. Why arent I promoted to reporter?
Is it because I didnt get you a bouncy castle at the Drag Nationals?
Is it because I laughed when you couldnt keep a belt on?
Is it because I pick on your little buddies?
Oh, I know why, because you WANT AN INVOICE FOR IT!
Cool :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:



erm you never asked to be a reporter :p You just sent me the article and you got the credit for the article bub or is your eyesight going ?? :box: :lol:

[Plan B]

^ .How cool, I've just been made; "Minister for Jumping Castles"
|
|
|____ Your in next year Sidewindr, That's my job too! ;)

[Martin_D]

erm you never asked to be a reporter :p You just sent me the article and you got the credit for the article bub or is your eyesight going ?? :box: :lol:

Sounds like one of those morning after lines Side!
Ive got enough reporting jobs thanks anyway mate

[Roddy]

Readership figures are a crock, they combine smoke and mirrors and multiply it by the angle of a duck arse to achieve unrealistic figures. Sales are the only thing to go off and ACP mags do rather well in this department, wish we had their budgets really.

Perhaps, but most large scale advertising is sold off the back of those readership figures, and like the Oztam TV ratings it's the accepted currency, so it's a matter of playing the game to an extent to get the big $$.

Though certain publications commission their own readership research rather than subscribe to the industry standard, because their own figures are often double the industry reported figures. :eek:

They seem to chock their pubs with ads pretty easy too. So there certainly are ways to get around it.

[roman95z]

GM high tech performance magazine (US publication) has a strong bias towards LS1-related articles.

http://gmhightechperformance.com/

Also, Camaroz28.com forums is a great site for technical info regarding LS1 mods etc.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/

Could check out

http://www.f-body.org/

Cheers Roman

[Sidewindr]

Sounds like one of those morning after lines Side!
Ive got enough reporting jobs thanks anyway mate

haha you sound as though you have had alot of experience in hearing those morning after lines :lol: :flip2:

[Sidewindr]

^ .How cool, I've just been made; "Minister for Jumping Castles"
|
|
|____ Your in next year Sidewindr, That's my job too! ;)


I'm in what ?? :) The nationals? Well if I can get the bits I need in time to have it all sorted by then you just might see me in it :)

C'mon doughy I'm still waiting on the quote for the parts!!! :) :cool: