okay so after many mind-bending months in Rochester of having basically no contact with any sort of music/art/theater/creative people I seem to have made a breakthrough. The story is laden with all sorts of tiny-thread connections where if even one small detail had changed about my day (i.e. I spent 5 minutes longer in the shower or something) I would not be involved in this at all.
Let me start here: I received a call from Jess’s mom one day about two weeks ago because she’d had a dream and couldn’t get it out of her head and she simply felt compelled to tell me about it. It was basically just a story about me and some sort of art/scene magazine. I mean I work at a print shop and she’s knows my interests so it wasnt like it was anything too out of the ordinary and who HADN’T thought about making a little newsletter or something at some point in their high-school career? I humored her and basically closed the conversation quickly and didnt think about it after that. 2 days later some people came in to the shop who were OBVIOUSLY musicians or scenesters of some kind. Big baggy clothes, tattoos and piercings, one guy (Jordan) had an ENOURMOUS set of dreadlocks on his 6′3″ frame. I saw what was in their hand and was all over it. some hacked together artwork for a show flyer. I talked to them for awhile, gave them an incredible deal on the photocopies and told them to come back anytime for printing. 2 days after that Jordan and his friend Kevin came back in to the shop for some color printing and show flyer copies and I got a chance to talk to them a little longer. It turns out they are sound-techs (for a large audio company) and show promoters and have been booking shows around town trying to create and help solidify a Rochester music scene. I told them I wanted to talk to them more and we set up a time to have a beer at an establishment about 3 blocks from where I work. I met up with them later and got the full scoop on what it is that they are doing and what they want to see happen. We had a lot in common with our frustation in Rochester (only they have been here for YEARS) and the obvious ownership of the town. They had been getting their quick printing done at Office Max and I told them “not anymore.” I’d cut them deals left and right for copies and printing and such because I ALSO want to see things change and it doesnt even make sense to let anyone else print their promotional materials. I NEED THEM TO SUCCEED if I’m going to be able to maintain sanity. Well at this point in the conversation (a couple of hours later) I’m looking to take off but Jordan wants me to hang around and meet his girlfriend Meghan. (also someone who works very hard at booking and promoting shows.) I really wanted to take off but thought it might be rude so I stuck around for another 15 minutes. Meghan showed and she and I started talking about the same sorts of things (music/art/culture/blah blah blah) and she asks me if I’ve ever heard of MNBuzz a little magazine her friend Rick puts together. I’d never heard of it and she just happened to have a copy in her little satchel that she pulled out and let me see. I opened it up and at this point I realized HOLY CRAP THIS IS IT! I’m still skeptical about a dream from Jess’s mom, but now I HAVE to follow this rabbit and find out where the rabbit hole goes. Its a fully functional EXTREMELY well put together magazine about skateboarding, street culture, punk rock, politics, ideas, and Minnesota life with an existing set of sponsors and advertisers. I knew that I had to print this thing. “Where’s he getting this printed right now?” I asked. “Office max or Staples or something.” “No. that absolutely can’t happen anymore. I don’t care what he’s paying them to do it I can do it cheaper. There is just no reason why anyone but me should get to produce this thing.” She gave me rick’s number and I made her promise to introduce me to him soon.
Another two days pass and Jess and I went out to play some Southpark pinball at the Brickyard(where Jordan and pals book shows for the most part.) Rick showed up, we met, talked, swapped ideas, and planned to hook up again. It turns out they are making about 200 copies of MNBuzz at this point. We need to figure out how to cut costs, increase the number of copies, and push distribution if this is going to be succuessful. My plan is clear - get this magazine to 1000 copies as quickly as possible and make it sustainable. Things were rolling now. Rick by the way had a crazy tweaked out mohawk and as it turns out had managed the local skate park for like 6 years before shutting down a few weeks ago. He also has an advanced degree in business finance and as you can imagine has an insane network of connections in the minneapolis and midwest skateboard community. This guy is the one who has put every single pixel in place in this magazine and its quite obvious that its his voice that is making this magazine what it is. He’s promoted shows, skaters, products, brand names, dvds, etc for years and is pretty damned good at it. He’s also a darn good Photoshop hack and html kung-fu grasshopper.
Dave (my boss) and I talk about the project extensively that weekend and I tell him my intentions. He’s totally behind me and on top of it all wants to buy ad space. Several phone calls, emails, and meetings later Rick and I are set to print Issue #3 this week and its going to be badass. We’re making all sorts of changes to how its produced with the goal of A. making it as rad as possible. B. driving up advertising rates and C. increasing distribution.
For whatever reason I happen to be working at a printshop and am in the position to make this happen. I fully intend on finding out where it takes me. I’m very excited to be a part of a creative project like this. Its just what I needed to make my stay in Rochester worthwhile. Thanks for listening to my ramblings and I hope you forgive any gaping holes in the story since I’m not even going to go back and read what I’ve written. oh yeah, one more time: MNBUZZ
We finished up a few more things and started cleaning up early since Ben was headed out of town to go skiing in the mountains!