February 6, 2025
Still getting good suggestions from our readers about attracting newer and younger folks.
Topics Galore
I hope this list will inspire you in the future. These are suggestions for articles I'd like to see:
• Miners
• Loggers in the northwest
• The Oregon Trail
• Railroad types of engineers
• Homestyle music in the west
• Crimes in San Francisco 1842-1860
• Diseases & accidents
• Buffalo!
• Chinese and the railroads
• Horses!
• Doctors
• Texas vs. Comanches
• Indian weapons
• Canadian Mounties
• Scalphunters
• Dime novels
• Indian women warriors
—James D. Biggs (city and state, please)
Not Everyone Loves American Primeval
Bob, I'm struggling through American Primeval. Shaky camera, quick cuts, left angle tilts, right angle tilts, short on story, heavy on violence, overly dirty, gets dirtier, and on , and on. Stylish, maybe? I think we are so starved for Westerns we will accept anything. If this is what it takes to get a younger audience, well who am I to say no.
I would refer you to Roman Helmet Guy on Tic-Toc. He is exactly what it sounds like, a guy in a Roman Helmet who loves history and talks about it to the toon of 1.8 million viewers. He also sells books, thousands of books. Look at this model, all the cool kids are on Tic-Toc.
All you have to be is a little quirky, and I've been reading your blog for years-you have this covered (that's a complement).You could be bigger than Roman Helmet Guy. Set yourself free and get back to the zany-ness you had in your radio days and you will be a hit.
Don't get sidetracked, tell the history. Just tell it like nobody's watching (and everyone will watch). Keep it simple and fun, don't over edit, do it on the rough. The shorter the clips, the more views your likely to have. Nobody cares about a bartender from the 1880's, or a blacksmith...maybe a prostitute, but otherwise, no.
Remember when your kids were little and you had to turn the spoon with peas into an airplane, do that. Because you're going to have to find a creative way to force feed these kids Western history, but I believe you are the man to do it.
I would refer you to Roman Helmet Guy on Tic-Toc. He is exactly what it sounds like, a guy in a Roman Helmet who loves history and talks about it to the toon of 1.8 million viewers. He also sells books, thousands of books. Look at this model, all the cool kids are on Tic-Toc.
All you have to be is a little quirky, and I've been reading your blog for years-you have this covered (that's a complement).You could be bigger than Roman Helmet Guy. Set yourself free and get back to the zany-ness you had in your radio days and you will be a hit.
Don't get sidetracked, tell the history. Just tell it like nobody's watching (and everyone will watch). Keep it simple and fun, don't over edit, do it on the rough. The shorter the clips, the more views your likely to have. Nobody cares about a bartender from the 1880's, or a blacksmith...maybe a prostitute, but otherwise, no.
Remember when your kids were little and you had to turn the spoon with peas into an airplane, do that. Because you're going to have to find a creative way to force feed these kids Western history, but I believe you are the man to do it.
—Unknown (FYI, I would really like to use your real name here)
Daily Whip Out:
"You call that a Western, Pilgrim?"
Thanks Duke. I wonder if someone might put a cap on all this ponderousness that references the warp and the woof?
"Old and new make the warp and woof of every moment. There is no thread that is not a twist of these two strands."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
That was a comment from Brad Ireland, proud True West Maniac #590, in my emails I'm MrMcrudy-same guy. And While I'm at it- I know you you are kicking around the idea of an oversized newsstand edition, but what if you revamped your Illustrated Times of Billy the Kid (or just a Gunfighters issue, using the best of Billy Hickok, and Gunfights)) to fit this format?)
ReplyDeleteAnd why not try another gofund me type project, think Kickstarter. I'm sure the Maniacs still alive are willing to pony up-I'm your Huckleberry.
Bob, one more thought (There's always one more). I've been self-employeed most of my life, primarily in consulting and the restaurant industry, but my education was in marketing. I've owned diners, truck stops, dinner clubs, bars, nightclubs, and a coffee Shop (not all of them successful, especially that damn coffee shop...I don't drink coffee, WTH was I thinking). But in all my years, not one successful idea ever came from my customers- it's because they're selfish and they only think about what they would like. I had to think about what everyone would like. Don't get me wrong, they mean well, but they don't think of the business. The best advice I've been given was from people who have walked in my shoes.
ReplyDeleteThese are strange and challanging times for all our businesses. But what you have that others don't is a complete arsenal. You have art and books and photographs and a nearly limitless archive of material- I would use that. You just need to repackage it and promote it. As my kids tell me YouTube is dead, only old people use it (it's ok, but go Tic-Toc and Facebook shorts). I think your art is a key.
Think about a Tic-Toc video (just shot on your phione) where you do a quick whip out of Bad Ass Billy-show them how you do it. People want real, not perfect. Show your studio. Show your sketch books (and think about publishing them), and for God sake show Uno. Be a modern day Charlie Russell, only Charlie gone Gonzo (a little).
Ok, I'm done now (at least for today). Take care.
Excellent advice, Bradley! Can you email me at bozebell@twmag.com to continue this conversation. Thanks.
Delete