The Top 10 Reasons to Submit to the Red Pages
By Kayt
There are many good reasons to take pictures at Red Elvises concerts and almost as many good
reasons to write up your impressions of shows afterwards. Just a few of those reasons might be
to exercise your creativity, to immortalize good memories for posterity or to share the
experience with friends who unfortunately were not able to go to the show. But because we also
can usually use a laugh or three, and I can never resist the opportunity to gently nudge (I do
try to refrain from harassing, no really, I do!) fans into submitting photos and
articles to the fanzine, here are the top ten reasons, in reverse order, why it’s so great
for you to send in those photos, show write-ups or other written articles (you may also write
about your experiences on a Red Elvises-related road trip or something major and red that
you’ve acquired or decorated -- a room? a zippy little red car named Harriet? a truck?
something else? -- be sure to send photos!) for publication in the
Red Pages:
Reason Number 10:
It’s easy! If you can write in a journal or write a letter, you can write a Red Pages article!
Don’t worry if you feel you don’t write well, we don’t expect Hemmingway or Spielberg, and
your spelling and/or grammar can always be fixed. Don’t worry if you don’t have a fancy
state-of-the-art camera; if you can point any type of camera in the general direction of the
stage and push a button, you can take photos! Just email the photos, a few at a time, or you
can email me (see the Submission Guidelines page, I'm
the "photo editrix") for my snailmail address and mail actual
photos if you don’t have a scanner, or send a disk of photos via snailmail if you have tons
of them. Over 50 would be considered “tons.” Special Note: you no longer need to make or
provide thumbnails with your photos, so that should save some time and trouble!
Reason Number 9:
We don’t bite! Well, not excessively, anyway, speaking for myself at least.Your friendly Red
Pages staff, Ealasaid, Rick and myself, all want you to submit your creations! Writing
and photos, that is – please don’t send us your crocheted lampshades (unless maybe they’re red
and you’ve perhaps embroidered the words “Red Elvises” on them, in which case we could keep
them as souvenirs...) or picture frames made of macaroni (okay, those aren’t even cool when
spray-painted red!) – and we will graciously praise you for doing so. Our definition of
“gracious praise” will probably most often go along the lines of “Thanks tons!” or “You rock!”
or both of those. If you’re okay with that, submit, submit, submit!
Reason Number 8:
You can use this as handy Instant Justification for a variety of things, including travel – if
you want to go to a Red Elvises show in another town, just think how much more important it
will sound to your friends and family if you say “I need to go because then I can send in my
photos and a show write-up to the Red Elvises’ Official Fanzine!” Or…have you had your eye on
the latest shiny new technological device or software? Then just fill in the blanks in this
statement: “I have to buy this [digital camera, scanner, new computer, word processing
program, photo cataloguing program or other appropriate electronic wonder gizmo] because
it will enable me to [photograph, scan photos of or write about] Red Elvises and submit
to the Red Pages!” There you go, now you have an actual and very logical excuse for what you
want to do!
Reason Number 7:
Show the band your support! They read the fanzine too and they know who submits. Band support
is not only very important but also very appreciated, I can tell you from personal experience.
Reason Number 6:
You don’t like limits? We have virtually none! Well, that is except for a rather strong desire
for no obscenity (keep it clean, people’s kids may read this, ya know!), but so far that has
not proven to be a big problem. Send as many or as few photos as you like, and/or write a
couple of paragraphs or a novella-length epic – we can split extra-long articles over two
issues if necessary, or you can keep us supplied with your photos for months like Oleg does,
a real “gift that keeps on giving!”
Reason Number 5:
Grab your month of fame! All write-ups, articles, road stories and photos are credited with
writers’/photographers’ names. Or, if you prefer to remain anonymous and mysterious (though
no one ever has) we could accommodate you on that too. First names only are fine if you
prefer to keep a low profile, or we can put your whole name on your work; just let us know
what you prefer.
Reason Number 4:
Here’s your chance to be a Field Reporter! You might not want to list it on a resume or tell
your future grandchildren about it but it’s still a great opportunity to share your fun
experiences at shows on the Internet for all the world to see! Other fans love to hear about
and see photographic evidence of what happens at shows! And think of how your friends that you
take with you to the shows will love seeing photos of themselves posing with band members on
the Internet!
Reason Number 3:
Share your photos with the world where other Red Elvises fans are most likely to see them. No
one’s ever heard of your website? People can’t seem to find your photos on Yahoo? The Red
Pages is part of the Red Elvises’ official website; other fans want to see your photos and
will look there first!
Reason Number 2:
Writing and photography are great outlets for your creativity! What do you
mean you’re not very creative? Everyone has some kind of creativity deep inside them…think of
the last time you came up with a convincing “white lie” to cover something you did or didn’t do,
or your latest excuse for being late to work or school…yes, that’s creativity! You CAN do it;
tell your story (true stories only, please), show us your pictures! No, not your body parts
(put your shirt down, Waldo, whoa!), your pictures! That’s it, yeah!
And the...
Number One Reason...
for submitting to the Red Pages is… (drum roll, please…and
some bassline and guitar riffs too…aw, what the hey, throw in some sax and keyboards while
you’re at it, now you’ve got some kick ass rock ‘n roll!):
The Red Pages thrives on fan input. Remember it is by and for the fans, so as many fans as
possible should have a voice here. It’s YOUR (favorite) fanzine, so
get involved!
Also, don't forget to nominate yourselves and/or your Red Elvises-loving friends for the
Virtual-Red-Tiara honor of "Fan(s) of the Month!" Be recognized for your loving devotion to
your favorite band! Write today to nominate a Fan
of the Month!
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