Introducing: Three of the Month

March 25, 2011 in Three of the month | 2 comments


Picture by CM Palmer, CC-by-sa

Crowdfunding has become a great way for small publications to gain new fans and pay their printing costs.

Of course Kickstarter is the big player in this market, with Indiegogo hard on its heels. Others are also available.

I think it’s a fantastic thing for indie publishers, including larger ones who have a side project they want make happen. Many titles featured on this site, including Put An Egg On It, Kill Screen and Headmaster, raised money for their first issues through these sites.

However, with every crowdfunding appeal comes a proviso: you have to make your funding goal, otherwise you get nothing, which is the fate of most creative projects proposed.

And so, in order to support the whole shebang, I’m going to start a new Magtastic monthly feature. I will pick out three live crowdfunding proposals, as created by forthcoming or existing magazines, that I think are worthy of attention.

I may or may not put some of my own money into their pot – either way, I’d be doing so anonymously – but regardless, these will be publications that I want to exist, and I hope meet their targets. Maybe my blogging about them will help.

I think I’ll call it “Three of the month”.

Three of the month: March
(in alphabetical order)

1. Circus magazine
Their video is a little silly, but I enjoyed the first issue of Circus. It was a little, well, as self-obsessed and a little loosely edited as a magazine of bloggers was always going to be, and I’m a bit unsure about the whole “original language thing” – but the end product of the first issue looked and smelled lovely, contained some strong features/photography, and they should definitely be encouraged to continue. Plus a $2 hug is pretty good value.

2. Made Handsome
A die-cut cover, short stories, a witty spine message, and gorgeous illustration – all based around newspaper headlines. What’s not to like? If only I had $4,500 to spare.

3. Teller Magazine
Though I never saw it, the first issue sounded great. And the soundtrack on their smart video sounds even better. Jeremy was a fan – what more do you need to know? Go and give them your pennies.

Send suggestions of magazines to feature in Three of Month: April to andrew [AT] losowsky [dot] com