Writers, editors, photogs, and bloggers share tips, leads, ideas, news, gripes. PR reps/journos ISO press releases/trips, see also "PR/Marketing." Opinions stated are not necessarily those of Tripatini.
What do you wear to Seven Magic Mountains?
Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation located in the Nevada desert, and the weather can be quite hot and dry. Therefore, it is recommended to wear comfortable and breathable clothing, such as shorts, t-shirts, and sandals or sneakers. You may also want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. It's also a good idea to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. While there is no strict dress code, it's important to dress appropriately for the weather and…
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Geez, I didn't realize you could get it for $8. At that rate I might have subscribed.
But when I was a publisher, we would offer deals, especially at trade shows where I'd hawk an introductory subscription of five months for five bucks. People always had five bucks in their pocket. It's an amount they don't have to think about. I did this in the firm belief that after they had received five issues they would be hooked and want to buy a regular subscription. We had a 70% conversion rate, so these do work. IF you have content readers want.
I believe in aspirational stories, but I sometimes think publications lose touch with their readers. They describe adventures which are so dangerous or so expensive that very few people could do them. That's not to say you don't run these pieces, but you marry some practically into them.
I suspect that with some magazines, buy the time someone can afford an exotic adventure holiday, your body has rebelled against it or you now have responsibilities (career, family, time, etc.) which make it impractical.
I often think of the number of people I know who have gone to Patagonia. I can think of ten who have been there. Everyone of them is a travel writer. I don't know a single, pay-my-own-way tourist/traveller who has gone to Patagonia. Yet, travel editors are always interested in it. Are readers?
As for NGA, it.only got to 600K circulation cuz they were selling annual subscriptions for a mere $8. That was not sustainable, so NG is better off as a whole incentviizing NGA readers to switch to NG and NGT
NGA closure, I think, was premature. A 600,000 circulation is nothing to sneeze at. But I wonder if anyone at NG wanted to do the heavy lifting required to make the title profitable - or more profitable? It's too bad that so many businesses have such short-term focus.
I think back to the closure of Zoom Airlines. Oil was at $150 a barrel (for no reason other than Wall Street speculation), and looked to go to $200. Zoom couldn't sustain their business at $200 a barrel, so they closed. Two months later, oil was $70 a barrel. A price with which Zoom could have thrived.
I recommend travel writing to everyone. Of course what they really mean is how to I get published? And paid. Well, tell them to forget that. Instead, take advantage of what travel teaches us about our world and ourselves. And write it, in the spirit of those who traveled before us. You might start with Homer. Don't forget a few of my favorites, Steinbeck, Twain and Stevenson.
So I get on the plane, and the train, and I try to tell the story, usually to those who've never been. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but It beats a thousand occupations hands-down. Unless you're my child, in which case, "Get a real job."