Just a quick introduction and a couple of questions. I’ve been writing for about four years - three of those years were spent at a small trade magazine publishing company before I landed my dream job in October 2007. Unfortunately, our company was purchased (along with several others) and I ended up being laid off in August of this year. I’m currently searching for a full time position in communications, but I’d prefer to stay within either magazine or online publishing, especially if it deals with pop music (in this case, anything that is not classical).
Does anyone know of good music publications that are located in the Midwest? I’m not necessarily opposed to moving to New York, but I’m not sure if it would be financially viable for me at this moment in time. (Doubly so for the West Coast, especially given my current location.) My previous job was with an online music publication, and I loved it. If anyone has any recommendations for good local/regional websites or magazines, please point me in their general direction.
I’m also curious about the process of “cold calling” (or in my case, “cold e-mailing”) publications. I’ve been diligently applying for posted jobs, but I’m also strongly considering introducing myself to companies via e-mail portfolio. Though I know that it’s never a bad thing to get my name out to others in the industry, I also don’t want to appear overeager or intrusive. (There’s also the worry that my information won’t even be looked at, thereby making the entire exercise a waste of time.) In the cover letter, I’d let them know I was available for either freelance or full time positions. Has anyone else tried this approach? If so, do you have any tips or experiences you’d be willing to share?
Thanks in advance!
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I know it's in NYC, but...
…here’s what I got from Revolver Mag when I asked about where to send my stuff to back in June (in case you’re curious):
“You can send your resume and a cover letter to our executive editor at the following address:
Brandon Geist
Revolver magazine
149 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010”
Alternative Press Magazine
AP magazine is located in Cleveland. My brother subscribes to it, it’s a pretty good mag!
http://www.altpress.com/
Good luck!
music pub
perhaps this is obvious/not helpful, but Pitchfork is in Chicago… good luck! :)
I feel your pain ...
I really feel for you because I also got laid off in May and it was from a trade magazine job I’d only had for four months. I really loved it, too. I’d worked in other areas of media, but it was my first full-time position as a real magazine editor.
Since May, every time I interview for a full-time magazine job, I’m told a week later that they want to hire me but they are experiencing a hiring freeze. So basically I have to wait and just freelance. But you know … freelancing certainly beats unemployment and it puts you inside of the magazine’s office every day. So you can make relationships and when a full-time job does open up, you are already there.
I wouldn’t have even gotten this freelancing opportunity if I didn’t copy edit fiction part time for a non-profit company. They don’t pay much, but I enjoy the work and they have great connections because as it turns out, lots of fiction writers are also magazine editors.
You never know what connections you can make if you keep your options open. It seems that you are very attached to working in a very specific kind of magazine in a very specific location. I’ve had to move three times in the past five years for jobs and some I do from home. My current freelance gig requires a 2-hour commute in the morning and again at night.
My point is, try to stay open-minded and keep making relationships … even with people your own age. Because maybe they can help you someday down the road.
I’m guessing that cold-calling might lead to something at smaller magazines, so you should go for it. But my experience has always been that at big enough publications, it’s very hard to get someone to notice your resume if you don’t know anyone there. You have to put yourself in the editor’s shoes … how would you have reacted if someone called you at your former magazine? Someone you didn’t know? Isn’t it more likely that you’d want to give someone a chance if one of your friends or colleagues recommended the person first?
I know it’s hard … right now it’s hard for everyone. Getting laid off knocked the wind right out of me. I moved for the job and it was such a horrible, horrible shock. But I believe that it was meant to happen … and anything worth doing is worth working hard for.
Perhaps you are being tested … put your feelers out there and keep pushing yourself. Do what you are doing on here but make sure you ask alums from your school or other journalists for help … I wish I could do more than commiserate since I still don’t have a full-time job either! But just know that you are certainly not alone.