 | Forum
Reply | A Kick up th Rs
at 17:06 9 Aug 2018
Hello - I would like to chime in here in defence of Dave.
"In the spirit of constructive criticism...
Design is pretty dull - from uninspiring covers to poor text layout worthy of a parish newsletter - a better designed magazine would help attract advertisers." - that's like "i don't mean to be rude, but..."
So, AKUTRs started over 30 years ago. As a fanzine. Always put together by Dave over more hours than I can believe he puts in. On a very old Mac and a very old version of Quark and Photoshop. And that is still Dave's set up. Still making a fans 'zine. Not FourFourTwo or the matchday magazine, put together by a team.
Over the years the existance of fanzines has become less popular and 100s have fallen by the wayside, so much content and opinion is online. Dave is also not a web designer nor a graphic designer. He has made everything that exists with the best of intentions and the lowest resources.
Sales have dipped, Dave knows that, he not only has to manage print costs but he drives from Bolton to all home games and most aways to watch QPR and sell the fanzine wherever possible to make a scrap of a living and cover costs. The older fans know what AKUTRs is about and have grown up with it. Yes, it would be amazing to produce full colour, slick design and with a fully responsive website. But that all costs money and Dave is not a designer, he's a fanzine editor who relys on support, articles and people recommending it. This is and has been his life for 30 years and he still keeps going. Luckily he does have people helping him. The "uninspiring covers" are often put together at the last minute to keep with the tongue in cheek format of every edition, a poke at something related to QPR news, sometimes funny, sometimes tenuous but done in a fanzine frame of mind.
My reason for defending this - I have helped Dave with design and done all the cover images over the past 10 years, trying to keep it fanzine looking and not matchday programme looking - in fact one year the AKUTRs was done in a font that the programme also chose - we changed. It's meant to have that Private Eye feel or When Saturday Comes.
I am a also graphic designer of 25+ years, I design, teach and write for design and training platforms internationally and for book publishers - Dave knows this and yet we often talk of ways to improve design that's manageable for Dave's setup. We also discuss sales avenues such as social media, I would love to switch Dave to InDesign, Creative Cloud and a brand new iMac and fully responsive website options but it's Dave that makes this with his own hands.
So really in defense of Dave's commitment and his progression given the circumstances, I and others know we get a rough and ready, skin of his teeth and flying by the seat of his pants editions but its made with love, passion and commitment. I will take that over anything else for as long as he keeps AKUTRs going. Kids don't know what fanzines are and are still more likely to buy the matchday programme, so its us older fans and our grown up kids who know its relevance in 2018. Dave has always tried to keep it advert free but finally relented to keep the mag going but he still doesn't want it full of ads.
What Dave needs is more articles, people speaking well of the mag, sharing its existence online and appreciating why it even exists.
Sorry for the rant but it's easy to belittle 30 years of hard work with no solid, achievable solutions to help Dave and not demoralise his efforts. I am firmly in his corner and have his back, that may show in my response but it's all too easy to criticise and not know how that makes him feel - he's read this post.
Thanks for reading ;) |
| Forum
Reply | Uber banned in London?
at 16:18 25 Sep 2017
"how can you demand black cab fares be cheaper when the driver has to fork out £45,000 out of their own pocket for a cab. This will increase to £55,000 in January, or an obscene £68,000 if they have to buy on finance. this is on top of correct hire and reward insurance, road tax, all servicing, repairs, road tax and license fees etc. they get no holiday pay, no sick pay or pension."
Sign me up!! - why would anyone want to be a cab driver given that's the start up and the actuality of the job? So is it a good earner? otherwise, why?
That's not a criticism - just interested to know from cabbies why that's the route (excuse the pun) they've chosen for a living. |
| Forum
Reply | Selling my QPR shirt collection from past 30+ years
at 16:08 22 Sep 2017
#51 is a rare 93/94 with no sponsor
#83 I think is just an Adidas hooped shirt from between 82/3 - 84/85 with no badge or sponsor.
There is also a signed shirt in there #43 and a I believe a match worn #63/64/65
Cheers :) |
| Forum
Reply | Selling my QPR shirt collection from past 30+ years
at 11:26 22 Sep 2017
Had an offer of £150 on that mate. I actually had two of that shirt, one is with a family member and I let them have it a long time ago as it was given to me and I wouldn't sell that. My daughters can have it for when I am old and long gone when its worth a lot more ;) |
| Forum
Thread | Selling my QPR shirt collection from past 30+ years
at 16:08 18 Sep 2017
Now that I have 2 young daughters with no interest in QPR and the fact I hit 50 and realised I have way too much stuff, it's time to let the QPR collection go. Shirts first. Once i have photographed them all I will be sticking them on Ebay or Facebook - will post here when i do in case anyone is interested. Programmes will be next! The money will be more useful than boxes of stuff in my loft! |
| | DaveClayton
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 8 | | Comment Votes: | 0 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 8 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.