Sabo Forte Makes Poetry of Alberta Magazines

Sabo Forte aka Robey Stothart (pictured left), a spoken word poet who has competed at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships in Vancouver in 2007 (one of only five Canadians to do so) wrote and performed a piece he wrote specifically for and about Alberta magazines at the Alberta Magazines Conference gala. See if you can spot the Alberta magazines. Enjoy!

She said she liked to talk mythology.
She followed me awkwardly.
I had to leave cool companies and get back to me.
My city palate was full, needed to go beyond Canadian cowboy country.
Beyond Where Calgary freefalls,
out where Canadian rockies cut jagged teeth into a prairie journal diary.
I want to become an Alberta outdoorsman on the backs of a mountainous molar.
Taking legacy to the canine review'ed mountain ranges.
Making tracks and trends on a new trail lined with wild roses and dandelions.
She wanted to come with,
whispered her own alberta views like a Windspeaker
into my citizen pet ear.
Listening to her hunger for her own edible prairie journal,
we set out on an Alberta venture.
Aiming for the prairies north we started our sights south on Lethbridge living through Calgary Inc and onto a vision of Airdrie life.
We gassed up at the filling station and set dead headed for Where...
Edmonton.
We bonded on highway 2 north and felt like we had an alumni link.
I told her at gasoline alley that I could read her like a book.
She said 'I read you like a magazine'.
Wide-eyed as a Calgary's child. I pouted and kept to myself until we hung a left at Leduc and headed straight on through to Devon, Alberta.
Talk about the wild rose bloom.
BOOM.
We hit the northwest business sections of unlimited wine access.
It's Law Now for your health, she told me.
This real woman on the run was having an impact on my fluttering heart.
Contact Canadian emergency news now!
The supa fly fusion between her and me was gushing a geyser like oilweek had sprung a leak.
No more fishing in the sea.
Synchronicity had taken hold of our wandering hands.
We felt as home to home in each other’s grasp.
We continued up to the galleries west on our way to the avenue, Edmonton.
After our long day we checked into a western Canadian resort
for a little western horse review. She took me on like I was her hobby horse.
By morning I felt stuck in love.
Delighted by her quicksand charm.
Moving over her as oilsands review the landscapes of her body.
Dreaming into the unlimited building between our chemistry.
Envisioning the patience of nurturing our penquin eggs. I wanted to continue the adventure. Suited up for more travels.
Checked the oil and gas inquirer gauges and took to the open highway. Escaping from our tech life future of uploaded text messages. xoxo.
I still have hope in us farming for tomorrow in our 24/7 world.
Take to downtime sometime. Nurturing the seed.
Finding an Alberta that feels like home and treating an Alberta road map like a homeschooler's guide.
Get OUT.
Get Functional and keep it kiva cool on the avenue, Calgary!

Missed the conference? Don't miss the photos. Have a look at: www.flickr.com/photos/albertamagazines/

Magazines: Relevant and Lucrative

This is an excerpt from unlimited magazine’s website. To read the entire story, check out Online Exclusives at www.unlimitedmagazine.com.

Many publishers fear they can’t compete against the internet for a couple reasons. First, websites churn out pages of breaking news faster than a pod of j-school interns. Second, developing and maintaining a website is cheap compared to printing a magazine (about $1 per copy). Alberta Venture, the magazine I work for (and unlimited’s big sister), costs about $30,000 each month to print, and we pay to mail that 250-gram sucker to subscribers. The internet does have certain cost advantages, but I’m not planning a funeral for the magazine industry just yet.

Magazines made some coin last year, mostly from advertising dollars. In 2007, Canadian consumer magazines saw a small increase (2.7 per cent) in ad pages, and ad revenues increased 4.9 per cent to $732.5 million. It’s newspapers you should feel sorry for. They keep reducing their workforce to keep pace with diminishing ad revenue. Ad revenues at the Times Co., the parent company of the New York Times, fell 25.2 per cent last December compared to December 2006. These are unpleasant times for people working at newspapers. Just ask the former staffers at the Halifax Daily News. In February, owner Transcontinental Media pulled the plug on the 30-year-old paper, replacing it with another free daily Metro.

Money aside, magazines thrive because of their intrinsic value. Like books, you hold them in your hands; you feel the paper and smell the ink. When I’m having a bad day, I curl up in bed with my favourite mags. They lift me up and motivate me. Maybe I’m weird, but I have a committed relationship with my magazines. I don’t feel the same about TV, radio and the internet.

New York’s Simmons Research measures engagement across various types of media. One of the company’s in-depth physiological and psychological studies shows that, among audiences, magazines score higher than TV and the internet in many areas: trustworthiness, life-enhancement, social interaction, personal timeout and ad receptivity. (I hear they hook participants up to MRI machines to measure brain waves. Pulse and sweat is monitored. Face muscles readings, too.)

Events

March 22, 2008
Calgary MultiArts Variety Show #4
WHAT: Another fast-paced variety show including bands, poets, theatre, comedy, and independent short films brought together for a cause; and, a celebration of Calgary's imagination!

WHY: In support of Inn from the Cold Charity and Single Onion Poetry

Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Soda, 211-12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
8:00pm

$8 at the door

FEATURING:
Bands:
- Musk Cup (improv jazz feat. Chris Dadge & friends)
- Gutterawl (rock)
Poetry:
- Lara T, Kirk Miles, Bronwyn Haslam, Wakefield Brewster
Theatre:
- Swallow a Bicycle Performance Troupe
Stand Up Comedy:
- Col Cseke
Independent Short Films:
- Created or Curated by Garth Whelan

MCs: J.J. Powell & Laurie Fuhr

For more information, to volunteer, or to contact performers for interviews, please contact:

Laurie Fuhr, Event Manager
999-2566 (cell) or lauriefuhr@yahoo.ca

March 29 & 30, 2008
Web Weekend
Magazines Canada, Centennial College and the Alberta Magazines Publishers Association are proud to present Web Weekend Edmonton on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at Grant MacEwan College in downtown Edmonton.

Web Weekend is a groundbreaking, intensive learning event created specifically for magazine publishers. Through seminars and lab work, the expert Web Weekend faculty will deliver practical advice, tools and templates to help make your publishing business more successful. Have a look at the Web Weekend Brochure.

*Small Magazines staff: Inquire about Magazines Canada's generous bursaries. Note: Magazines Canada members only.

LEARN TO:
- Leverage the power of digital media
- Cost your online ventures
- Market your brand effectively
- Utilize the latest tools for measurement and analysis
- Build online communities
- Increase your online revenue streams

PLUS--Web Weekend’s faculty of experts will be available for one-on-one consultations. Find solutions to your magazine’s specific issues—the faculty will be happy to meet with you.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
- Print and online editors
- Web development and I.T. staff
- Publishers
- Designers
- Circulators
- Advertising sales Managers

HOW MUCH?
Magazines Canada members, Alberta Magazines Publishers Association members and students: $495, others: $750

Tuition includes all materials, coffee breaks, breakfast, lunch and access to a dedicated Web Weekend Continuing Ed Forum.

WHEN?
Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30, 2008 (Saturday & Sunday)

WHERE?
Grant MacEwan College, Centre for the Arts, 10045-156 Street, Edmonton

Register online today!

April 3, 2008
The Eh's, B's & C's of Printing
A seminar that demystifies the print production process, presented by Transcontinental.

Thursday April 3, 2008

Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire
3:30-5:30 Seminar with Richard Goldsmith
5:30-7:30 Cocktail Reception
Admission: Free

Please register here.

DEMYSTIFYING PRINT PRODUCTION - A Refresher Course
… from pixels to paper, and everything in between

A training seminar designed to clear up the whole printing process, from ink-based to digital printing technologies geared to Art Directors, Project Coordinators, Print Managers and Assistants, Printing and Graphics Representatives, Buyers, and Graphic Designers.

• Increase your overall knowledge of print production
• Learn important tips to make your production run smoothly
• Clear the printing jargon once and for all
• Learn to make the right choices
• Get up-to-date on the digital technologies
• Avoid costly mistakes, learn to ask the right questions

About the Speaker
Richard Goldsmith - Chairman, The Horah Group
Dick Goldsmith has been in the printing industry for more than 25 years. He is the chairman of The Horah Group, a full-service, print production management and marketing services company he founded 1981 in New York City, and chairman of Horah Direct, a direct marketing creative agency founded in 1997.

Dick is the author of Direct Mail for Dummies and has had numerous articles published in Target Marketing and Circulation Management magazines. He has received the Joseph Fiedler Fellowship Award from the Printing House Craftsmen of NY for distinctive service in further education within the graphics arts industry. He has also received the Silver Apple Award from The Direct Marketing Club of New York.

A well-known, informative, and entertaining speaker throughout North America, Dick has presented at numerous DMA Annual Conferences, AMA Conferences, and the Circulation Management Conferences to mention a few.

Transcontinental LGM tel: 403-262-1464
www.transcontinental-printing.com
renato.casello@transcontinental.ca

April 5, 2008
Thought Express Junos Party
Universal Music alongside Thought Express will be hosting the classiest Pre-Junos Party in Calgary. The Thought Express party will take place at Juilliard's in the Epcor Centre of Performing Arts. This elegant venue is the perfect place to party following Junos events at Olympic Plaza, JUNOfest and the downtown core.

Mingle alongside the Music industrys top tastemakers, DJs and artists. With music by DJs Roofeo (www.universalurban.com) and Sabo Forte (www.blacktopguerillas.com). This party is sure to have the greatest spectrum of today's top music as well as the the industry's top dance floor bangers!

The advanced ticket prize for this gala is $20, however, AMPA members have the chance to RSVP for the no line/no cover V.I.P guest list. Please RSVP with the name of your magazine. This is a private event so if you do not have guest list or a numbered ticket you will not be allowed access to what is to be the most memorable Junos pre-party!

April 5, 2008
Thought Express Junos Party
Juilliard Restaurant
Suite 105 237 8th Ave SE (inside Epcor Centre for Performing Arts)

Anthony Rebalbos
thoughtexpress@gmail.com

Robey Stothart aka Sabo Forte
robey.stothart@umusic.com

Mark Mendioro aka Roofeo
markmendioro@hotmail.com

April 9 & 10, 11 & 12
Eight-Step Editing, Taking the Plunge as a Freelance Editor
Come for one day or two. The Editors Association of Canada presents workshops Eight-Step Editing and Taking the Plunge with accomplished editor, Elizabeth D’Anjou.

Edmonton Eight-Step Editing
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
9am to 4pm

Taking the Plunge as a Freelance Editor
Thursday, April 10, 2008
9am to 4:30pm

Both workshops will be held at Grant MacEwan College,
City Centre Campus, Room 5- 215
To register, contact Brenda Jorgensen, brenda.jorgensen@gov.ab.ca

Calgary Eight-Step Editing
Friday, April 11, 2008
9am to 4pm

Taking the Plunge as a Freelance Editor
Saturday, April 12, 2008
9am to 4:30pm

Both workshops will be held at The University of Calgary,
Professional Faculties Building, Room 128
To register, contact Heather Campbell, hacamp@shaw.ca

Cost:
EAC members: $100/ day or $170 for both days
Non-members: $130/day or $200 for both days
Lunch and refreshments will be included.

Please inform of any dietary requirements at time of registration.

Deadline to register: March 26
Payment: Send your cheque or money order, payable to EAC-PPB, to:
The Treasurer
Editors Association of Canada, Prairie Provinces Branch
PO Box
12082 Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3L2

May 1, 2008
FreeFall Summer Launch
Join FreeFall for the launch of the Summer (contest winner) 2008 issue.
Enjoy an evening of award-winning readers from the Calgary community.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
1135 Kensington Road, NW, Calgary, AB
7:30 pm

Reader Line up:
Vicki Goodfellow- Duke, Sandra Savage, Barbara Green, Judy Galbraith and Nick Fuller

Job Opportunities

Current opportunities:

- Account Executive - Venture Publishing
- Art Director - JuneWarren Publishing
- Editor - Avenue Edmonton Magazine
- Junior Designer - Venture Publishing
- Junior Graphic Designer - Where Calgary Magazine
- Marketing Coordinator - JuneWarren Publishing

Find out more about these exciting magazine jobs at: www.albertamagazines.com/job_board