From: ed@cwis.unomaha.edu (Ed Stastny)
Subject: SOUND News and Arts
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 09:29:51 GMT

An ad of sorts, you might say, I'm posting to just let people know about
a newspaper/mag I work on here in Omaha, Nebraska...SOUND News and Arts.

You can get a copy by sending an SASE to the address in my sig.
Actually, you can get up to like 6 copies (different issues) by sending
an SASE with $1.50 postage on it.  LARGE SASE...the papers are 8.5x11
when folded (11x17/tabloid when un).

I'd like to ask several questions of anyone who cares to read and
answer...things that come up as problems and concerns at the sporadic
SOUND meetings...

1. Circulation.  It's hard to get a lot of people involved in this.
Usually it's a core of 5-8 people who distribute the 20,000 copies we
print to the locations all over the city (bars, stores, restaurants,
clubs).  Does anyone have any tips on how to get a lot of people
involved (besides paying them!)?  We've considered having a big party
the day the thing comes back from the printers and have people go off
and distribute while retrieving stuff/people for the party.  
 
2. Advertising.  We're entirely advertiser based financially, but we
only have a limited advertising "staff" (one person has the title).  We
offer 10% commission.  What do you do?
 
3. Have any of you who distribute free papers encountered the situation
where an employee tells you you can put a paper in the store, but then
the manager or owner comes in later and tosses them?
 
4. Have rival papers ever ditched your stacks?  This has happened to us
a few times.  There are two other "entertainment" publications (mostly
ads and photos of drunks (I'm not biased))...and our paper mysteriously
seems to disappear from locations where theirs show up.
 
5. How did you build up your writing and creative staff?  We seem to be
dwindling and are trying to do a recruitment drive thingy.  We put up
fliers lightly around town and got one new person to show up.  What
works for you?
 
6. How much does INTERNET and USENET get into your paper?  Personally, I
get about 70% of the articles I write from info or leads on Internet and
Usenet.  We also get poetry submissions and such through email.  Most of
the staff have email accounts (mostly due to my urging, they don't use
them as much as they could).  I've gotten interviews over the net, done
research, gotten factoids, quotes, opinions...it's a great resource.
 
7. Who would like their free-papers distributed here in Omaha?  If so,
we'll gladly tote your publication along with us on distribution runs
and put them in places we think they'd be most appreciated.  Just send
us a big bulky box brimming and bulging with barbed bibles of brazen
banter...we'll do fo'ya!
 
   
Don't forget to read alt.zines and send your zines to Factsheet Five
(electronic), be kind, be vigilant and believe.      
 
...e
 
--
 ____                     + Editor, SOUND News and Arts magazine
|____                     + PO BX 31104, Omaha,NE 68131 (lg SASE for copy)
|____ D@CWIS.UNOMAHA.EDU  + SOUND FTPable: quartz.rutgers.edu(pub/journals) 
(Ed Stastny/UNO/Omaha,NE) +                141.214.4.135(docs/zines/sound)
Newsgroups: rec.mag,alt.zines,alt.sex,sci.med,alt.parents-teens