Some great comments about the donations...
I've been a huge fan of the magazine since I picked up the June 2006 issue, but I have to wonder if the choice to open up storefronts as an extension of the GR brand was a wise move, since those were/are resources that could have been put to better use towards the magazine itself and seriously ramping up your web presence to attract more readers outside of Asian culture enthusiasts.
-Yes, the storefronts kept the print going. It was definitely the right thing to do. If there were Oscars for publishers who've done more than just print a mag, I deserve a few gold mofos sitting on my mantle. And look at what it's done for popular culture and boutique culture around the world.
" I don't normally go for this kind of thing. I feel like if you can't run your business with an actual business model, I shouldn't be responsible for propping you up...but in this case, it's actually a really cool magazine and I'd like to support it. "
-Thanks but you're not responsible for it. We are. Thanks for the support.
I don't mean to brag about our growth, but honestly shouldn't a business move to a model that works?
-And tell me, what business model works today? Oh the internet?
Any magazine that uses Impact as a title face needs more help than just cash.
-We've had Impact as the title font before it came with Apple computers. Seriously.
Yikes this sucks! I wonder if the Hyphen crew ever worked with them. Wonder why these two magazines didn’t merge as one. Seems like same style and audience. I’m not sure if I’ve been to the SF store but I’ve been to the LA one and it’s super neat. Would hate to see it go out of business.
-The stores are one thing, the mag is another. How do we merge with another magazine? And no, our audiences are different!
You are a company and magazine that I hope to one day aspire to and this announcement broke my heart.
I will only donate my two cents.
The quality of your work and the image of your company was not reflected in your video. Boo! In this economy and in a country that felt cheated by a bank bailout, I think companies asking for handouts is really anti-America. You are in the creativity industry. The best you could do was sit in chairs and demand money? That was your best pitch? If you fail, you fail because you weren't trying hard enough, not because you didn't receive enough HELP. That's capitalism. If the entire print industry is failing, then do SOMETHING DIFFERENT. You do have a loyal fan base so dare to be creative.
-I've replied to this one in the comments from the donation post. I suppose we could have been more creative and stood up and forced you to send us money as an even better pitch. USA USA!
-Yes, the storefronts kept the print going. It was definitely the right thing to do. If there were Oscars for publishers who've done more than just print a mag, I deserve a few gold mofos sitting on my mantle. And look at what it's done for popular culture and boutique culture around the world.
" I don't normally go for this kind of thing. I feel like if you can't run your business with an actual business model, I shouldn't be responsible for propping you up...but in this case, it's actually a really cool magazine and I'd like to support it. "
-Thanks but you're not responsible for it. We are. Thanks for the support.
I don't mean to brag about our growth, but honestly shouldn't a business move to a model that works?
-And tell me, what business model works today? Oh the internet?
Any magazine that uses Impact as a title face needs more help than just cash.
-We've had Impact as the title font before it came with Apple computers. Seriously.
Yikes this sucks! I wonder if the Hyphen crew ever worked with them. Wonder why these two magazines didn’t merge as one. Seems like same style and audience. I’m not sure if I’ve been to the SF store but I’ve been to the LA one and it’s super neat. Would hate to see it go out of business.
-The stores are one thing, the mag is another. How do we merge with another magazine? And no, our audiences are different!
You are a company and magazine that I hope to one day aspire to and this announcement broke my heart.
I will only donate my two cents.
The quality of your work and the image of your company was not reflected in your video. Boo! In this economy and in a country that felt cheated by a bank bailout, I think companies asking for handouts is really anti-America. You are in the creativity industry. The best you could do was sit in chairs and demand money? That was your best pitch? If you fail, you fail because you weren't trying hard enough, not because you didn't receive enough HELP. That's capitalism. If the entire print industry is failing, then do SOMETHING DIFFERENT. You do have a loyal fan base so dare to be creative.
-I've replied to this one in the comments from the donation post. I suppose we could have been more creative and stood up and forced you to send us money as an even better pitch. USA USA!
Labels: random musings
posted by gr @ PERMLINK: 6:58 AM
10 Comments:
@the anonymous poster calling the GR crew "anti-american."
First, I think you are confusing GR with the big banking companies that DID SCREW US. To compare GR to Lehman brothers and Bear Sterns is just plain wrong. GR was not the reason for the bank bailout, but rather they are feeling the hurt from their mistakes. And at least this time you have control over your money, unlike the Lehman bros and Bear Sterns situation.
Secondly, how can you even make the claim that they aren't working hard enough? Do you run a magazine, do you run a store, do you put on art shows and bring up and coming artists to the forefront of today's culture? i didn't think so.
Thirdly, you missed the point of the video. It was not meant to be flashy and all hyped up. If you're trying to get people to donate money, you do not want them to think you spent all the money you had on a youtube video. The video accomplished its goal, get the message across and come across as peeps just like everyone else. Thats been GR's underlying theme in their magazine the whole time. There doesn't need to be anything else.
Fourth, don't claim to aspire to be like someone then in the next sentence criticize them. Its contradictory for one, and unprofessional. If you really care and really want to be like them, you would go to the store and see what you could do to help. Volunteer your time and resources. Now that would be the American way.
hi. it seems a lot of people had very snarky comments regarding gr's request for donations. i really dont understand this, because TONS of companies (of all types, but most pointedly the print media) ask their supporters for donations when they're really stuck. for example, koream journal several months ago asked its readers for donations. as far as i know, nobody publicly criticized koream for this. magazines dont do this unless there's a damn good reason, 'cause really, who the hell likes to ask for donations unless they had no other choice?
on an individual level, if these criticizers ever lose their own jobs (even busineses) or run out of money for some reason, let's see if they would honestly think, "oh, this is my fault. this is capitalism. i gotta do this all on my own!". uh huh, like they're not ever going to run to their parents/friends for 'emergency cash'? yeah effing right!
eric, dont listen to these people (which im sure you dont anyway). there are more sympathetic supporters out there who value your publication and want it to succeed just as much as you do.
There's even more great discussion at the bottom of the giantrobot.com/donate page.
the giantrobot.com/donate page isn't showing up.
I read that it doesn't work in IE... I don't even have it to test that theory.
Eric, why do you even bother posting this stuff? I know you want to get your point across, but when you post others' snarky comments, whether it be about this or people upset that they didn't get their Uglydoll...it makes you seem overly defensive and snarky yourself. Address the comments within the comments thread, or answer them privately. You need to repost them. I think people like you and don't need to see how others are being mean to you. Looks like you're trying to hard to garner sympathy, which is a little sad.
Maybe you should invest your hard-earned, er, donated money into actually making sure your link to get money actually works. Successful businesses don't forget the (important) details.
I've always loved your magazine, stores, and blog, and will continue to support all 3. Long live GR!
It's for people to read and it's centralized.
It's so awesome how people have the need to tell me what I can or cannot post. How I should respond, how I need to do things. And I'm the one who's not following the American way of doing things? It's a blog, it's free form, it's fun, it's informative, and you read it.
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