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- Dear REAX Magazine and all other “reliable” Independent
magazines in the area,
- I’ve come to realize a great many things in the small amount of time as a
PR….that Nyght Scene magazine is THE ONLY reliable independent
magazine in the Greater Tampa area. Why is this? Because when we’re
contacted by a PR or band for an interview we’re prompt to respond one
- way or another. And if we cannot swing the gig this month you bet your ass we
find room for it in another issue or a way to do the interview be it in person, as a
phoner, or in an email. It would appear that we’re the only magazine to do such.
Take for example the magazine REAX. Most consider REAX to be our “competition.” If you’ve ever read both
magazines you would see that “competition” falls short of the mark. As a PR for a local band that will go
unmentioned for this letter I was contacted by an employee of aforementioned magazine to do an interview. The
employee wanted the interview done via email and that was fine with me. What was irritating was that the
“Journalist” was already past her deadline and needed the response like yesterday. So being a nice person I
pushed the band to get me the questions within the hour and they did. So I forwarded them immediately and
waited for the issue to hit the stands. How shocked was I when I didn’t find the article anywhere? Not so
much. You see REAX has a reputation in the area and it isn’t exactly pristine. Spots get promised to many a
local band only to be given to another. It’s everyday practice in the world of REAX.
Like a good PR I sent an email to the journalist and received a response telling me that the band had contacted
her and told her that it was best if they didn’t do the interview. The funny part was that the interview had been
sent so there was no need to re-interview the band. She lied to cover her ass because she dropped the ball and
replaced the band she requested with another. When I asked her who it was that sent told her to drop the
interview she couldn’t tell me who it was. When I told her that I had a sent receipt from the emailed interview
she mysteriously found the email in her junk box.
If you don’t have respect in this business you don’t have anything. If she couldn’t have run the article all she
need do was say as much. But no, she opted to lie first. Not only is it disrespectful, it’s ridiculous to waste my
time and her breath.
Another example of “reliable” magazines are Modzine, Teen Impressions, Knight Life, and Europunk, all Tampa
based magazines. Doing PR work helps you weed out all the snakes in the grass and there in its easy to see who
is worthy of a guest list spot and who is another face wandering around backstage for no apparent reason. I’m
all one for independent media. I know the struggles of being an independent business owner, and in the music
business you’re on the same level as dirt if you aren’t AP, Rolling Stone, or Kerrang. So I contacted all the local
media I could find for a show that Little Lotti Productions was throwing featuring many of the largest Metal
bands in the area. The magazines confirmed three weeks ahead of time and all seemed to be going as planned.
To re-confirm the interviews a week before the show seemed like a good idea and so I did… only to be met
with voice mails or busy signals. It would appear that if you aren’t a nationally touring band that graces Mtv
daily you’re not worth their time. Not even a phone call or explanation was given.
So the point of this letter was basically to say this and this alone: If you can’t do your job, stop wasting our
time. If you need help in the running of a magazine I’m sure one of the Nyght Scene staff members might be
kind enough to give you a few pointers. If you’re going to steal our layout ideas credit us. To me you’re just
one less name on the guest list and soon to be one spot available for someone that deserves it.
- Kisses,
- NS
