The Kickstart Newsletter #194 - September 2nd, 2008

Your FACE or mine?    by Ian Shires

As I often do, I started something on a whim, as an experiment, to see how it does. It's been a few years since the SPA really looked outwards to increase it's membership. Networking sites are the rage right now - and things have grown up a bit from MySpace, so there's things like Facebook now. Started a Facebook Group for the SPA, and sent the word out. Roger, SPA Co-Admin, immediately jumped on it, and we've put him in charge of the Facebook spot, to use it as a recruitment tool, and otherwise bring new avenues for people to get into what we do. Between my initial invites, Roger's, and appointing a couple of officers from the SPA roster...we've busted the place loose to 80 members and climbing quick. I've already, in just a couple days, gotten e-mails from new people asking more about the SPA. So, off to a good start! We'll now see what sending a kick start out to a couple thousand more Small Press And Indy enthusiasts does. We're proving once again that the true spirit of the SPA lays within it's ability to transcend individuals, and even groups of individuals, to show that innovation and good intentioned trial and error, will continue to shape and define "the network" that is the heart of why we do what we do. So! Let's show our strength by numbers, and help attract even MORE new people to what the SPA is all about, and add a group to your facebook setup, if you have one, or start one if not, by going to: THIS FACEBOOK SPOT

DIMESTORE COMMUNITY

The SPA Membership Drive has started, as noted above. But that doesn't mean we've got all the plates spinning we're going to yet. Still in the offing, "Gold Membership" - with cool perks. Being able to earn your way to free stuff by participation in the group. The SPA is getting more interesting by the day! If you haven't been talking or at least reading, in topics going on in the Forum, you owe it to yourself to check it all out right now!

We have gotten together some support for the AD BOOK format that we've used successfully in the past to raise awareness of member books. You can CLICK HERE to get your page or pages in the AD BOOK. And you can also read more/ask more about the project in This Forum Thread. Our hope is to grow the concept into support for a full Catalog for the Distro. Your participation will help build and grow the SPA's strength and reach in comics stores everywhere. It is our hope by next IDOL season, we'll be able to have retailers on board to take the show to it's next level of participation.

DIMESTORE DISTRO

Short work week this week, but I hope to have at least the beginnings of the new push to get the backlog cleared here going. My goal is going to be to catch up, and THEN dig into SP! Magazine and Distro Catalog things. We also have a bunch of new books ready to roll to fill orders - and catch up on the MVA/Idol #0's...now that we're fairly settled at the new place.

SPA COMICS

You can now head over to the SPA Comics site and see what we've put up there so far. The SPA Comics charter and Mysterious Visions section are basically set and ready for viewing, and integrated into the overall 5-site setup we've got for ourselves now. Watch very soon for materials to start going up from affiliated studios!

SELF PUBLISHER! MAGAZINE

Getting a new issue of SP! out every single month is going to become hugely important to us all. It is my hope that the staff built for it, and new people alike, will be ready to get behind a magazine covering Small Press and Indies, and we can really start making a difference.

We have made it so that ANYONE, ANYWHERE can submit news, and then we have a team set up to review what people post, and adjust/approve it as needed. If you want to be on this team (set to be lead by ThePerfessor, Rob Sodoro) please let us know!

INDYFEST USA

All looks to be fine for a September 21st launching to the Indyfest concept! The show is set, and guests lined up to be there, and we're going to do everything we can to make the first ever Indyfest show everything it can be. If you're still looking to get in on this at $25 for half a table, $40 for a full table, contact us right away!

Remember, you can now place BANNER ads right here in the Kick Start, and get your word out to thousands of enthusiasts both in their in-box and on the front page for a week! for just $5.00! See here: http://www.dimestoredistro.com/kickstartad-p-315.html

Dimestore Productions is at: P.O. Box 214, Madison, OH 44057