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Well
I have decades in the field. I started a 4-color magazine that gave a local pillar of the city magazine a serious run for its money. It also didn't make it. I found out I would have needed about 10 times more than what I had. This was 1985. My print bill (no photos, no articles, no salary) was around $20k. I refer to that period as my 1-year, 50k MBA. I learned a lot. It can be done, for sure. You have to have deep pockets. You can't get credit as a business because you have nothing physical to repossess. That means people will constantly be asking you to sign for things personally. Be very careful of this. I had great people donating their time and energy, so I know it wasn't from that. I had a background in accounting and business, so it wasn't that. It was a good idea, and I've seen a newspaper with not the same level of quality, but great for a newspaper, make it. It really came down to playing from a weak hand. Since we were living hand to mouth (shelling out over 75k ultimately, mind you), we always worried, and while it can energize you to move further and it can spur you creatively because you're in overdrive, it can also zap your energy just as quick.
I swear I don't mean this to rain on your idea. I've been involved in 5 start up publications, and I wish someone had taken the time to talk to me about the things that come up. I still probably would have done it, but I would have recognized the stuff as it was hitting and I may have been able to counter anything bad that came along.
Good luck to you.
posted by
terpgirl30
on July 17, 2005 at 8:05 PM
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