INTERVIEWS - talking to printers

For my COP3 research, I decided to get in touch with a number of printers in order to gain some first hand research that would really inform my theoretical and practical work. By looking at zine making in contemporary society, I will be able to gain a better insight into it's existence and how it is going to progress.

I found this process extremely beneficial, and was extremely pleased with the responses I received, displaying real passion for the work that they produce. It also spurred me on to start getting in touch with studios regarding placements and more studio visits as it made me realise that individuals are willing to take time out of their day to get in touch with me, which allowed me to gain confidence.

Salford Zine Library

Hi Craig,

I’m currently a third year Graphic Design student at Leeds College of Art - Amber gave me your email address, I hope that’s ok! I came to the Print Festival last year and saw some of the work that you had there. What you’re doing relates really well to my dissertation topic and I was just wondering if there was any chance I could pop in for a chat at some point in the next two weeks? This would be really helpful.

Cheers,

Beth

Hi Beth!

Craig doesn't run the zine library anymore, I'm afraid. He's moved to Chicago! If you wanted to talk about the zine library itself, the collection or zines in general I'm happy to do that. I mightn't be much use talking about graphic design or illustration, if it was Craig's work that you're particularly interested in, though.

Sorry about that!

Steve

Hi Steve,

Sorry, I didn’t realise Craig no longer worked there! Would you mind if I just asked you a quick couple of questions via email? My dissertation is all about whether or not zines have a place in today’s society, regarding distribution and production methods, as well as social practices. If it’s all right there’s just a few questions below - it would be great if you could get back to me with some of your thoughts.

Do you feel that advances in technology have had a positive or negative affect on zines? Why?

What can printed zines offer an individual that a blog/website does not?

Do you feel that the popularisation of zines can be viewed positively, or has this led to things like personal gain and a loss of message?

Thanks,

Beth

Hi Beth,

Sorry it's taken me a while to get back to you! My day job has been super busy for the last couple of weeks. Hope this isn't too late.

Do you feel that advances in technology have had a positive or negative affect on zines? Why?

It's a bit of both, I think, but mainly a positive. People might say "isn't a zine just a paper version of a blog?" and not see the real point of zines. The common belief outside of the zine community is that zines will die because it's much easier to write a blog post and distribute it online.

This doesn't actually seem to be the case, though. If anything, the internet has given zinesters a new way to promote themselves to wider audiences. From our blog, Twitter and Facebook accounts we've been able to attract donations from all around the world. That would have been much harder in the "old days", as it were. Similarly, zinesters are able to collaborate with people from around the world and have their zines stocked by distros that they might never have been aware of, were it not for the internet.

I think also making zines has always been seen as a kind of outsider pursuit. Because it is so easy to write a blog post, I think zine making is even more attractive to people who don't necessarily want to conform to the mainstream. It requires some level of skill and patience (Although how much skill and patience you have doesn't really matter that much) and it's just a nice thing to do, isn't it? Anyone can write a blog post and get people to click on it.

What can printed zines offer an individual that a blog/website does not?

Are we talking about the individual making the zines or the individual reading the zines? Sorry!

 

Do you feel that the popularisation of zines can be viewed positively, or has this led to things like personal gain and a loss of message?

I think it can only be a good thing. I mean, there are some things, like Topshop trying to claim that their catalogue is a zine (When it is in no way anything like what most people consider to be a zine!) in order to look slightly more edgy or cool or what have you- that's pretty rubbish. But I don't think there's any problem with zines becoming more popular in general.

The zine library accepts all zines, in whatever format, whatever the content, so if the maker identifies what they've created as a zine then we'll accept it! I think as long as it is self published, a zine can be anything. There is no general "zine message" as far as I'm concerned, aside from a vague promotion of DIY culture, so whatever people want to do with zines is up to them. It's a really cool way of expressing yourself, in whatever way you want to, and I think that opportunity should be open to everyone.

Hope those answers are okay! If you can clarify question two I'll get a response back to you ASAP.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks so much for the response, I really appreciate it! The answers are great, they will be a big help with my dissertation!
Sorry if question two was a bit confusing. I was talking about the individual reading the zine/blog.

Thanks again,

Beth

Hi Beth!

Happy new year! Here's a response to that question that I missed out earlier.

What can printed zines offer an individual that a blog/website does not?

That's a tricky one - I suppose it depends on the individual reading the zine or the blog. I think zines tend to be more personal. I like that someone has spent time and energy putting something physical together.

Most blogs can be accessed by absolutely anybody - a zine usually has a very short run, and the chances are that you're part of a relatively small group of people who will be lucky enough to read what you have in your hands. It's almost like the person who wrote the zine is talking directly to you. It's closer to receiving a letter from a friend than any kind of mainstream publishing, and I think that's part of what makes zines so special.

Hope that's alright! Let me know if you think of any other questions. Hope everything's going well.

Thanks,

Steve

Hi Steve,

Happy new year (a bit delayed)!

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. I really appreciate you getting back in touch with me, and your answers have been a great help! The responses I have received make up one of my main chapters so I am extremely grateful for you taking time out to reply.

Thanks again,

Beth

Hi Beth,

Not a problem! Happy to help and if you need anything else, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks,

Steve

Footprint Printers

Hi there,

I’m currently a third year Graphic Design student at Leeds College of Art. What you’re doing over at Footprint, particularly the Zine Fair, relates really well to my dissertation topic and I was just wondering if there was any chance I could ask you a quick couple of questions via email? My dissertation is all about whether or not zines have a place in today’s society, regarding distribution and production methods, as well as social practices. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks,
Beth

Hi Beth

They most certainly do have a place in society - if they didnt we'd be out of business!

Please do send the questionnaire across and we will do what we can, although we are quite busy so you may have to bear with us.

James

Hi James,

thanks for the quick response! Here's just a few questions I'm hoping you could answer that would really benefit my research. If you could maybe get back in touch with me within the next week that would be great. 

Can you give some examples of subject matters of the zines that you print.

On average, how many copies of a zine do you find yourself printing for an individual?

Do you feel that advances in technology have had a positive or negative affect on zines? Why?

What do you think is the best way of distributing zines? Do you see this changing in the future?

What can printed zines offer an individual that a blog/website does not?

Do you feel that the popularisation of zines can be viewed positively, or has this led to things like personal gain and a loss of message?

Thanks,

Beth

Hi there, I'm just following up on my questions below. I was just wondering if you have had a chance to take a look at them? Thanks again for offering to help with my dissertation, it is much appreciated! Many thanks, Beth

Hi Beth,

sorry for the delay in replying.

Can you give some examples of subject matters of the zines that you print.

A lot of it is music based, especially punk and some indie too. A lot of it is political, especially environmental, anarchist, social justice and animal liberation stuff (we won't print for any political parties though). And a lot is people's personal arty projects. There is a lot more beyond that too, zines about footballers moustaches or cartoons about dogs.

On average, how many copies of a zine do you find yourself printing for an individual?

probably 200, but it varies from 30 to 2000. Most would be 100-500.

Do you feel that advances in technology have had a positive or negative affect on zines? Why?

I'm struggling to think of negatives. The falling price of copying is obviously a boon. The rise of computers makes it ever easier for people to organise and design their layout,but they can still be as rough and shoddy as they want. The barriers of money, skills and access to technology have diminished hugely,which means the only real barrier left is 'do you have something to say?'.Likewise,the internet makes it easy for people of niche tastes to find each other, and zinesters are just one group who've benefitted.

What do you think is the best way of distributing zines? Do you see this changing in the future?

I don't really know. We've started doing a distro which we've not really got the website going but we do stalls at zine fairs,roller derby bouts and political events.

What can printed zines offer an individual that a blog/website does not?

Tangibility and posterity. The internet has everything ever,so it's always beckoning you to scroll and click on to the next thing. With a paper zine you linger a lot more over the aesthetic. You goback and read the same one repeatedly - when did you ever do that with a blog post? From the maker's perspective, the greater time and effort it takes to make a zine means they have given it that bit more thought,that refining of the ideas that makes it into something that gabs you more. Also,a blog goes on and on, with a zine you're usually done in 15 minutes; that sense of interlude,of a brief wander in someone else's head yet getting the whole story they want to tell, has no online equivalent really. The fact that zine fairs have burgeoning in the online age proves that they're different media. Rock music didn't kill off orchestras. It's the same thing.

Do you feel that the popularisation of zines can be viewed positively, or has this led to things like personal gain and a loss of message?

I don't really see personal gain. Factor in the time spent compiling and editing,folding and stapling, posting, sitting behind a stall,really,who actually makes a living? Who even gets £1 an hour? It's the fact that the medium itselfis essentailly uncommercialthat makes it so good. Yes, the fucking Daily Mail sells well over a million a day,but how many trust it? The thing with a zine is that it only exists because someone thought it should. There's no fortune, no fame, no advertisers or editors to temper the content, it's an open,honest expression. In an age of increasingly polished corporate media saturation they are ever more refreshing as a real human voice, produced on a human scale. The fact of their existence says we needn't be consumers, we can create, and if you're not seeing anything saying the stuff that's in your head, get it said yourself. That's empowering and there's room for everyone to do it. Even the daftest most puerile zine is,in that sense, profoundly political and a big fuck you to advertisers and Daily Mail World.

I don't see what 'message' there is to lose either. The whole point is that they're about whatever anyone wants to talk about, there is no overarching idea that they need to comply with. Imagine if you gran and her friends did zines, how much you'd want to read it. The more people do it the better.

Cheers,

Merrick

Hi Merrick,

Thanks so much for the response, I really appreciate it! The answers are great, they will be a big help with my dissertation!

Thanks again,

Beth