Rough Drafts

 Here are some ideas for the front cover of my magazine:



This is my first front cover draft. There is a girl jumping into the air, giving a sense of excitement to the magazine. Inspiration came from 'Spin' for this, as Duffy is in the middle like in this draft, albeit in a different pose. The articles are placed neatly at the side, separated by blue bars, which are similar to those in both 'Spin' and 'Q' magazine. In the corner there is a blue button advertising the competition to win Glastonbury tickets. I have taken inspiration from 'Q' for this, as the front cover I analysed also had a button on. The masthead is to the side, with a red and white colour scheme, similar to both 'Spin' and 'Q'. The picture

 

This is similar to my first draft in many ways, however, the picture is entirely different; it is a close-up rather than a full body shot, which makes the page look fuller, but not in a messy way. The picture in 'Q' is similar to this, and, as I thought it worked, I am going to use it in my own front cover.

Ideas for the contents page:

 



'Q' has provided me with inspiration for this page, as the layout is quite similar; the title and logo are at the top of the page, the articles go down at the left-hand side, and the pictures are at the right. I have also included a letter fromt he editor, to create a more informal atmosphere between the reader of the magazine and the editor. To do this I have also included a picture of the editor, so the reader knows their face. The titles 'features' and 'monthly' allow the reader to quickly locate the aritcle they are looking for.

I have kept the layout of the title, pictures and articles the same as on the first draft, however, I have moved the 'debut acts' article to the side, making it clearer to read and keeping the page neater. I also think the list format works better for this particular article.
I have changed the layout of the letter from the editor to allow it to fit more easily.
 











Ideas for the double page spread:

Here I have stayed true to the typical double page spread layout, with a picture of the artist on one side and the article content on the other. This makes the page neater as the picture and article do not cross over and are not competing for space. The title is large so that people will clearly see it if they are flicking through the magazine, and there is a small description of the article. The article is split into two columns in the traditional way to keep the page looking neat. The quote in the middle of the text highlights a certain point of the interview (it will be a Q and A), posing the artist in a certain light.  

Instead of splitting up the article writing and picture I have combined the two. The part of the picture with the artist on is on the left-hand side and the side with writing on is just background. The title is still large with a breif description and I have kept the layout of the article the same, with a differently coloured quote in the middle so it stands out from the rest of the article.   

Indie Magazine Double Page Spread Analysis

 Indie double 1 - Q magazine:

This double page spread links with the front cover of the issue, using the same close-up picture of the artist here as on the front cover, with some of the picture cut off. Readers will recognise the picture from the front page and so will have a basic understanding of the article without having to read anything.
The picture takes up an entire page, and if the reader was just flicking through, I think they would stop on this page, as the colour of Florence's hair is very bright and would definitely catch the reader's eye.
The exaggerated blue cat-eye makeup for Florence draws attention to her eyes which are looking at the camera, and thus look as if they are looking at the readers, which makes it less likely that they will turn the page. The artist's hair is also very full and glossy, and the red colour draws yet more attention to the pages.
The contrast between the colourful picture and the black and white text is extreme. Personally, I don't think the contrast works particularly well, however, both the fullness of the picture and the dense amount of text makes the article look like it has a lot to say.
The text of the article is set out in traditional columns, keeping it neat and uncluttered. The use of the larger font for the letter 'T' makes it clear that that section is different to the rest of the article, and catches the reader's eye whilst also keeping the article's graphology interesting.
The title 'Early on' is not set out in a straight line at the top of the article like most magazines. Instead it goes onto two lines, making it look original, and the more interesting and different an article looks, the more likely people are to read it.
The font used is very bold and like at cross between 'goudy stout' and 'times new roman', it looks very professional and prestigeous and gives the article class before the audience has read anything.

Indie double 2 - Spin magazine:

This is a double page spread on Florence and the Machine.

On the right is a very large square picture of the artist jumping in the air, having fun. She doesn't seem to care that her hair is going everywhere which makes her seem natural, not bothering with a sythetic personality, she is also waering very little makeup, which addds to this. It is black and white, which fits in with the colour scheme of the page, and the artist is looking at the camera in a close-up shot.

The title font is very plain, and very big, and complements the page. I think that a more complex font would ruin the page as it wouldn't fit in with the minimalist black and white spread that it is.

The article is traditionally laid out in two columns, which makes the page look neat. And the 'T' in a bubble shows the start of the article. I think the big letter to begin the article works, as it sets the tone for the rest of it.

There is a short blurb under the title to describe the article. I think this is fairly important, as it helps the reader to decide whether or not they want to continue reading. So it is important that this part is well written, as it decides whether people are going to actually read the article.

Photo Shoot

For my magazine I will need lots of pictures of varying types.

Here are some pictures used in the front cover of actual indie music magazines:

 All three covers have a picture of their featured artist in a close up on the front page, looking at the camera. This looks good, so I will use this in my magazine.

Contents pages:

The three contetns pages have pictures of the artists, doing no particular pose, but looking natural and at the camera. I think that a natural pose picture could work well. There are also at least two pictures on each of the pages, so more than one picture is definately needed. I also think that having the pictures in squares works as it keeps the page looking neat, and, as the contents page coud potentially get crowded, it is important that it is neat.

Double page spreads:  

All of the photos are in black and white and are of the artist in a trademark pose, looking at the camera. The picture and writing are separate, keeping the pages neat, but there is no exact positioning of them. I like the use of the read 'L' on the Lady Gaga article.

For my front cover I will use a close-up picture of the artist's face, which will be emotionless.

The contents page will have a variety of pictures on it, describing some of the articles, and they will be square/ rectangle shaped.

The double page spread will be a full-body shot of the artist doing something fun, and will be in black and white. The artist will also be to the side of the article.

 

Rough drafts for pictures:

This is my idea for the front page picture: A close up of the artist's face, looking at the camera (so it is as if she is looking at the audience)  and showing little/no emotion. It will be in the centre of the page and will have article previews around it.

She will wear eyeliner and mascara to draw attention to her eyes.
I will need to take the picture when she is lying down, so I can spread her hair out.

This is my idea for an editor's photo, to accompany the editor's letter. It shows her in a fun pose in order to create a sense of informality with the reaader, rather than the big head of the magazine.

 It will be a medium-close up of the model looking into the camera, clothes will be casual, and she will have her hair similar to that shown.

For the double page spread I want to take a picture in the snow of the artist holding a snowball, as if thay are about to throw a snowball at the camera (so it will look like they are about to throw it at the readers), she will be smiling, creating a more informal atmosphere and making the artist look friendly and approachable, and have a background of snowed-on trees.
If there is no snow I will take a full-body picture of the artist singing into a microphone or jumping in the air.
For other photos I could take advantage of certain weathers, for example snow or sun. Another photo could be of someone sat on a wall, holding a guitar or just having fun.
 

Risk Assessment for the photo shoot:

Here are all the photos I got:

I want to use this photo for my front cover. The picture turned out well after planning, however, I will need to do some editing to get rid of the background.

This picture also turned out well after planning. Her expression, clothes and hair turned out better than expected too. This will work well as the editor's photo.

The model in this photo looks quite moody, like he doesn't want to be there. It's not fun enough to go in my magazine, so I won't use it.

This photo was really good, I like the snowball being thrown in the air. However, she isn't looking at the camera, which is something I wanted her to do.

This photo is great for my double page spread. I will make it black and white, and possibly attempt to move the model, as she should be at the side. I like the use of the snowball.

This photo of the model looking into the distance ponderouslyturned out well, and although it would be good for an editor's photo, I prefer the other one.

The lighting (which is soft) and the model look really good in this photo, relaxed and casual. Despite the fact that he isn't looking at the camera, I think this one could work for my contents page.

My Magazine

I have done a questionnaire which I asked to people buying music magazines, to help me decide on certain things in my magazine:

From my questionnaire I have gathered that the majority of people who buy magazine are 18-21. So I will aim my magazine at around this target age. I have decided to include articles on both new and old bands, in order to encourage a wider range of readers, thus enabling me to sell more magazines.
The price will be between £3 and £4, which most people asked were happy to pay, and will be sold monthly, the regularity at which most people buy magazines.
I decided to include a competition in my magazine, as most people would enter one if it were in a magazine they were reading. The prize could be festival/gig tickets, according to the most popular free gift, as giving them away with every magazine would be too expensive. The chance of winning an expensive or rare prize could make the magazine more appealing to people, so they will be more likely to buy it.
Although the most popular free gift was tickets, I have decided these are too expensive, so downloads will be the most common free gift, as it was the second favourite.
Despite the fact that most people said no to subscribing, I feel that a good free gift could encourage more people to subscribe, making the magazine have more definite buyers, thus making it have a more stable income.

Indie Magazine Contents Page Analysis

Indie contents 1 - Clash magazine:

This contents page is very busy, keeping the reader interested as they've got loads to look at. The use of bright colours such as the blue, red, and pink, also do this as each one (although they do work together) seems to shout out at the reader, each one desperately trying to grab their attention. Unusually, this contents page is set out over two pages. This shows that the magazine has plenty to talk about, as they couldn't fit it all into one page. It makes the readers feel like they have gotten their value for money, and if the reader thinks it's a good price for what they're getting, they are more likely to buy it again. However, it appears that the reason behind the double page may be that each article as a fair bit of detailing with it (that, and there is a lot of pictures).
The black writing on a white background ensures that the writing is clear. Although this is fairly boring, it is broken up by strips of colour and plenty of pictures which keep it interesting.
The article titles are split off into different sections, organising the contents page so it is easier for the reader to find which page number the article they want is on. The coloured subheadings stand out too, making it look more fun and original.
The pictures are nicely set out around the page and each one is different to the others which keeps the page looking lively. The pictures are all very colourful (helped by the colourful page number bubbles which draw attention to the pictured articles) which adds to this. Also, for people who don't particularly want to read the entire contents page, they can just look at the pictures for a bit of insight into the magazine.
The 'T' has the issue number on. This is very creative and keeps the magazine clean and organised. As it doesn't matter much which issue it is, if the reader doesn't see this it won't impede on their understanding of the magazine.

Indie contents 2 - Q magazine:

The magazine's logo is small and in the corner of each title ('QContents' 'QReview') this reminds the readers that they are reading 'Q' (as if they didn't already know) and subtly hints to them to buy more of this magazine, drilling the 'Q' into their thoughts.
The date and issue number are in the top right hand corner of the page, out of the way but still visible to the readers. Again, this part of the page really isn't that important so having it small and out of the way is fine.
The picture of 'The Courteeners' is the main focus of the page due to its massive size and placing, this highlights how important the feature is to the issue.
Like the 'Clash' contents page, this one is split into sections, making it easier for the reader to find what they're looking for. Regular readers who are used to the format, will be used the 'Every Month' section, and may be drawn to favourite articles and writers.
There are coloured bars for each subheading, drawing attention to the titles to help organise the page. The white writing on the coloured bar stands out really nicely too.
The page numbers are small and to the side of each title, and coloured differently according to the section that they are in.The neat placing of these make it easy to locate the article in the magazine.
There is not much writing on the page (not that there can be much thanks to the massive picture), keeping reading to a minimum and the contents page short and simple (as, let's face it, the contents page isn't that important. Really, it's only for finding out where the juicy articles are). This ensures the readers can quickly find what they want to read without wasting much time.
There is a colour scheme of red, white and black. The use of it throughout the page gives the magazine a sense of continuity and cohesion, which makes it easier to read.

Indie contents 3 - Spin magazine

The magazine title is placed in the upper left hand corner, like with Q magazine, again, this doesn't take up much space as it isn't the main focus of the page.
Unlike the other contents pages, this one focuses more on the picture of the artist, which is clearly the featured article of the issue, thus the large medium close-up, action pose picture of Duffy is relevant, if only to this issue.
There is a distinct lack of article titles on the page, however, this may be due to the fact that they are only the featured articles of the month (i.e. the ones the magazine is focusing on) so there is less of them in the whole magazine. They are also extremely detailed for a contents page, which emphasises their importance to the issue.
The majority of the writing is placed along the left-hand side, making more room for the picture. (The quote in the corner details the picture, so it is not placed with the rest of the writing)
Page numbers for the articles are placed neatly at the side of each title, and coloured slightly differently to show it is not part of the writing (although you'd think that, being numbers, you could tell this anyway). They are clear so the reader can easily locate the article in the magazine.
The colour scheme for this page is quite dull, which draws attention to the brightly lit picture of Duffy, with her colourful pink ukulele (and puts the page behind her in her shadow. Luckily this doesn't impose on the articles or title, otherwise they'd be fairly difficult to read). The main colours appear to be; grey, blue and pink.

Indie Magazine Cover Analysis

I am going to analyse some indie rock magazines, including "Clash", "Spin" and "Q".

Front cover 1 - Clash magazine:

The masthead is large, spanning almost the entire width of the page. Unusually for a music magazine, it is in front of the artist's picture, however, it works well as it only covers part of his hair. The white contrasts nicely with the background, and the bold font really makes it stand out, so it is more likely that a potential reader will pick up the magazine.
The font is very simplistic and thus easy to read, which is important in a magazine; if the audience cannot read it they are not going to buy it. Although each font for each part of the magazine (i.e. masthead, article titles etc.) is slightly different, they are not so different that they do not work well together, and because of their slight differences, they compliment each other.
The article titles are all lined up nicely at the sides of the cover, making it organised and easier to read. The variation between the white, yellow, black and red fonts keep it interesting, and the reader can distinguish between the article titles and their descriptions.
The background is very simple; a gradient going down from a darker to a warmer yellow, but the simplicity works well with the magazine, drawing attention to the articles and picture. The warm colour of the yellow gives a sense of friendliness, and the brightness of the colour will catch people's attention.
The colours used all work in cohesion, complimenting each other as they are all quite 'warm' shades. This makes the audience more likely to buy the magazine, as they don't clash, and none are fighting for attention.
The picture of well-known artist, James Blake, in the middle of the page will encourage his fans to buy it. Thus the use of a celebrity on the cover increases sales.
The barcode is found at the upper right-hand side of the page, which is unusual for a magazine (they are normally found in the lower right-hand corner). This quirk could hint at the induviduality of the magazine.

Front cover 2 - Spin magazine:

The masthead is unusually in the corner of the page. This doesn't draw much attention to it, especially as it is under the artist's head. However, the magazine is well-known so this is not a problem; its fans will know what to look for. Also the smaller masthead leaves more room for article previews.
I like the white on red look of the title, I think the simple white font on the red box works really well.
The font is very simple, like 'Clash', (this is a continuous feature so I will take it into account) however, 'Spin' magazine uses a much thinner and longer font, which clearly goes with its house style. The titles are neatly placed at the sides which, along with the use of the white background, gives a fresh, clean look to the cover. The black for the titles stands out more than the light blue for the details, asserting its authority as the more important.
There is no barcode which is unusual for any magazine. It is probably placed elsewhere on the magazine, leaving the front cover with more room to display more of its content.
Duffy is leaning forwards with her hand reaching out, as if enticing the audience to come closer and buy the magazine. The picture is centred, so attention will be drawn to her. Her fans will want to buy this issue to find out what is written about her.
The use of the white background is very clean and fresh, and the shadowing behind the picture looks very proffesional; the photographer clearly knew what they were doing. The other colours stand out really nicely on the white because it is so neutral.

Front cover 3 - Q magazine:

The title is big, bold and in the corner. The shade of red is really bright, (and works very cohesively with the artist's hair) which draws potential readers attention to the cover. The fact that the title is only one letter, 'Q', creates a sense of mystery, what does Q stand for? (It stands for Quinten Richardson, the creator of the magazine, just in case you're wondering) Of course, potential readers might be more inclined to buy it if there is this sense of mystery, as the magazine might hold the answers inside.
The font is very plain, but bold, the fact that it is all in caps makes it seem as if the articles are being screamed at the audience, which I don't particularly like, as I feel a magazine cover should be friendly, however it also makes them look exciting, thus making the reader think that the content is exciting.
The white writing stands out very nicely from the darker picture, so is easy to read. If the audience can actually see the article titles they are going to be more inclined to buy it, so obviously having clearly visible titles will aid the sale of the magazine. Like the other magazines, the articles are very neatly placed at the sides, leaving more space to see the artist as the main focal point.
I really like the blue circle on the right-hand side, the colours (the red of the hair, the blue of the circle and the white) work extremely well together (especially the blue and red) and the bright blue draws attention to the Zane Lowe thing.
The barcode is neatly placed in the bottom left-hand corner. I think this is a good placing, out of the way but still visible enough for the shop assistant to scan it.
Florence fills the page with a close-up, eliminating the need for a background. Her face is still centred, meaning that the readers can still clearly see her with no writing on her face. Her pose, looking at the camera, enticing the audience in, with her hands neatly placed on her face. The focal point of the picture is her eyes, as the rest of the picture is so perfect, and her eyes are the only place which really stand out. This makes it seems as if she is looking at you, so you should buy the magazine. Also, as I've said for the other front covers, the use of a celebrity will really reel in the buyers, as the artist's fans are going to want to buy it. Thus the more famous the celebrity, the more readers there will be.

Indie Style

http://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Indie
- An article from WikiHow on how to dress indie. I will come back to this when choosing a costume for my photo shoot.
Indie stands for independent, the wearer chooses how they dress and doesn't care what other people think about it; it is their own independent style.
So my people can pretty much wear what they want to, as long as it looks casual.





Some examples of indie rock fashion (winter of course). Coats, jumpers scarves, my willing models can wear what they want to keep warm outside when I'm taking pictures, as long as they look comfortable wearing it, and it is their own fashion.

Music Magazine

This is what I am doing:
"Main task: the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine (if done as a group task, each member of the group to produce an individual edition of the magazine, following the same house style)."

I have decided to do an indie rock music magazine, like 'Q', 'Spin' or 'NME'.

"Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include indie pop, jangle pop, C86, and lo-fi, among others. Originally used to describe record labels, the term became associated with the music they produced and was initially used interchangeably with alternative rock. As grunge and punk revival bands in the US, and then Britpop bands in the UK, broke into the mainstream in the 1990s, it came to be used to identify those acts that retained an outsider and underground perspective."
- Wikipedia - Indie rock

Indie rock magazines tend to have quite a clean finish, i.e. they are not covered in pictures and writing or bright colours. They generally have one picture of an artist featured in the magazine, and a simple house font which will explain a few articles to the reader which are usually neatly placed at the side. The masthead tends to be at the top left hand corner of the page and written the house font. Colours tend to be light or pastel, calming in nature.

Mood Board for indie rock:

This is the sort of style I want to replicate in my magazine; retro but modern.
The colours, especially the light blue, which represents a certain excitement as a bolder colour, and orange/warm colours, which convey a warm, friendly feeling, are exactly what I want to replicate in my magazine.
I love the font of the 'Indie Rock' in the middle, and I feel that a similar font would suit the style of my magazine.
The retro pictures, such as the mic, tapes and records, show that my magazine will incorporate the old into the new, perhaps with articles about older tracks.

Wordle:

I gave a variety of Indie-Rock songs to a panel of people aged 16-29 (my intended target audience) and asked them to give one word describing the feeling the song inspired. I then made a wordle of their descriptions, which I will use when creating my magazine, to enssure that I get across the right feeling in it.