Yeah, it’s a great feeling to pick up your favorite indie magazine at Borders or your neighborhood independent bookstore, but getting a subscription, in addition to ensuring that you’ll get your favorite ‘zine delivered to your doorstep, also cuts out the middle man and ensures that nearly all of your hard-earned cash will go directly toward the magazine’s publication. At the end of the day, a year’s subscription almost always is cheaper than purchasing the magazines off the rack.
2) Give a donation
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an indie magazine that will turn away a no-strings-attached donation. Writers, editors, and artists have to get paid from somewhere (when they do get paid at all), and printing costs can eat up a surprisingly huge chunk of cash. Most indie mags have special donor programs or goodies (free T-shirts, CDs, or other merchandise) for those who give a little extra. Punk Planet’s Community Supported Journalism Fund was set up specifically to support the payment of quality writers and artists. So think of it this way: the money that you give comes back to you in the form of a great ‘zine.
3) Contribute
Contributors are the lifeblood of indie publications, both print and online. If you can write, draw, or take pictures (or just like to) and you have a story to tell, don’t be afraid to pitch. Indie magazines are always looking for fresh voices, and editors tend to be very welcoming and patient when it comes to working with first-time writers and artists.
4) Spread the word
My friends are tired of hearing me constantly pimp Punk Planet, Stay Free, Sun, Venus, and all the other indie magazines that I read. I don’t care. Most bookstores don’t go out of their way to promote indie magazines; readership tends to grow through word of mouth, and most indie magazines have small to non-existent marketing and advertising budgets. Therefore I’m pretty shameless about talking up my favorite magazines to like-minded readers whenever I get the chance. And don’t forget: subscriptions make great gifts too!
5) Throw a fundraiser
If you have the experience and resources, you may want to consider throwing a fundraiser for your favorite ‘zine. It can be something as small as an evening get-together at your home, a reading at a bookstore, or a big blowout at your local bar. Of course, you’ll want to clear it with an E-mail or phone call to the folks at your favorite magazine first. Chances are that they’ll go along with your scheme.
-Keidra Chaney