BCM
As you've read above, Mike Sullivan has resigned his post and I have been assigned the take over duties. I believe we all appreciated the great work and time Mike has put into the magazine, and will miss his leadership, and we look forward to his continued support and help with the magazine.
As some on you may know, I started the publication back in 1992, after 18 years or so, I took off for a few years (2009). Now that I'm back at it, I'm looking forward to the magazine's future development. Chad Laines is still on board as well as Phil Lyons. So between the 3 of us, we will let you know in the upcoming weeks of our progress. But more importantly we ask for your input on ideas and your help. In this trouble economy. The cost of printing is way up, the cost of postage is way up, and rising next month. We see more and more publications are going the way of on-line magazines. We are looking at all options, so give us your feedback. Currently thinking of mixing the print issue with the on-line issues
I'm very excited about the new website design we are looking at (The Board will stay untouched!) and other great things. So, thank you all for the support and well have answers in the next week.
Michael Kadletz
mak
Can we cut through the BS Mikie and you tell us how much the subscription is going up we know it has to happen even in bad times,but it concerns me paying for something I don't get
good luick
Mike,
I am a new subscriber,What is the delivery time going to be for the first issue for new subscribers?
Robert
P.S. Congratulations on your new position
AS much as I would like to tell you, I can't. IN fact I never considered that. I'm meeting with a printer tomorrow for pricing and mailing cost. I'm thinking that maybe we print the magazine every other month and mail, but put new version on line every month in a new easier to use formate. I do not think we can raise subscription prices, and was not planing on doing that. The situation is I need a few days to see how much the magazine owes, what the subscription numbers are etc.. Although you may not be aware of it, I have been subsidizing the magazine out of my pocket for years... wife's not happy about that. Thank you for your understanding.
I paid for a three year scrip. That is a printed version that I can pickup and look at. I don't mean to be the one to point this out but the mag. has lost a lot of creditability over the years. I have seen it go from a magazine to a pamphlet and back. Until Mike took over there was practically no consideration for any activity's east of the big river, and advertisers seem to be walking at an alarming rate. I hope that recovery will be swift, or subscribers will start doing the same. I wonder if the rally will be revived to the same old BORING, TIRED, cavern thing??? Just some thoughts from my feeble mind :D
i also paid for 3 years only seen about 3 copies jim
Mike,
Since we travel more than we are at home, I am very happy with the online addition. I had told Mike Sullivan that I did not really need the printed edition. At least for me, you can save printing a "hard copy". Looking forward to a continuing BCM. Jack
Like Eric: Please don't make it only west coast again! You guys do some neat things but your not the only ones! several years left on subscription and have been subscriber since 90's Bob
Is there an equivalent magazine for the truck-conversion crowd (home built toterhomes etc)? If not, maybe BCM could increase it's sales and advertising revenue by expanding to cover this (very related) area.
Alternatively - if that subject is already being catered for by an equivalent magazine - they're probably facing the same issues as BCM, so speak to them and see what synergies and cost saving there may be in doing stuff together.
Other subjects spring to mind as well - for instance those home-built teardrop trailers seem to be very popular at the moment. They're a long way from a bus conversion admittedly, but still a related hobby. I'm sure there are other groups of potential readers out there as well, just waiting to have their attention grabbed by a magazine covering their weird and niche mobile-home-related hobby.
Another approach might be to stop trying to publish BCM as a stand-alone title and instead do a deal with (for instance) one of the big RV magazines for the 'self-converter' market to be covered by their title by means of a BCM section or supplement in each issue.
Jeremy
Welcome back. I remain a huge fan of the magazine, and it's fine to skip a few issues now and again, especially after a death in the family. What I really want is for the printed magazine to continue forever, even if it has to drop to 4 times a year. Flipping through ten year old issues is still fun, and I never throw away an issue. If you switch to Kindle or PDF, it's so much more likely that issues will get 'lost' and won't survive for decades like the paper issues do.
This magazine forms the written history of our hobby. If it goes away, that's it... there will be no more printed history going forward as I can't see a brand new magazine ever starting up to cover this hobby.
If you need help catching typos, I'll help edit them out for free.
Thank you.
Kevin Warnock
http://KevinWarnock.com (http://kevinwarnock.com) - my blog
I vote to turn BCM into a web based on line magazine. We're online on the bus conversions-what's so hard about pushing a button to go to the magazine site? No publishing costs, etc. Good Luck, TomC
Ok guys nobody is tougher on MK than me lol but give him credit he did a rally back east and nobody from the east showed up they were all from the west,he did tell me years back he was paying out of his pocket money to keep the magazine going no reason for to story to me about that.
The problem I have is if the magazine was ready to print months back everyone here has a Email address they could have been sent the online version IMO and that is what upsets me as I reservations about renewing I did anyway the online version and I received 2 copies.I know Mike had the death of his mother which is hard on anyone but I do question the business practice he was not alone in running the magazine that is my take on it
good luck
Thanks for the input. It does not matter as to who's fault it was that magazine was not printed. But I was just given the goahead over the weekend to take control and get things done, which I will. Sorry some of you did not like the Caverns Rally. The thing about it was that it was cost effective to do it there. And Maybe in May well do another there, we know have hook ups and many other things to offer. But time will tell in the next few weeks what the plan is. Keep posting,Ill keep reading
Myself; and I think I speak for lots more than you think are out if you do away with the hard copy. Many that only read this board only do so because they like the skills to post. My self my skills go little past that! I can figure about anything out but this computer stuff is a little hard . Plus the mag rack in the Butt Hutt has no plug in. Bob
I have both the online and hard copy subscription. I like the magazine if I'm sitting in a campground or in my backyard. The online is nice if I'm in my office or on my laptop. Each one has it's positives. However, doesn't the online magazine drop off after three months. It sure is nice to look back in print form when you need to. I know my one opinion is not going to set the tone for the future, but I have heard a lot of people vote for the hard copy.
Good Luck and keep us all happy. LOL
Mike
HEY MIKE!
Welcome back to the insanity! I hope you enjoyed your 'vacation'. 8)
Speaking for myself - I really, really, really like the printed version. If it must go to an on line version only, please keep the format in such a way the hard copy nuts among us can print off our own archive copy.
After hosting a recurring rally for several years now, I know first hand the time, trouble & expense involved. & my rallies are simple eat & greets! ;D
Maybe, we east coasters could work together to make things easier to have rallies over here too.
I vote to keep the hard copy.
Richard Olson
The online version is good enough for me. I have been happy with it. I save it and have it forever. Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to do without the printing and mailing costs?
JC
Well I have to say that I prefer the printed copy. I take it with me on trip and read it on the bus.
It's also neat to have on hand to share with newbies I meet on the road that have conversions and have never heard of the magazine or the board !
Just my 2 cents worth which ain't much but still worth slightly more than a wooden nickle!
;D BK ;D
I'm new here and not yet a subscriber - but I have been around avocation - hobby - club - magazine publishing.
I don't know how many subscribers BCM has but I have a hard time believing that there are enough to support printing a four color magazine let alone mailing it out. Newsstand sales of an esoteric publication such as BCM...if and where possible...would likely be a money loser what with the costs of the additional press run, the unsold returns, it's hard to imagine there's a future in that.
As much as I enjoy having a printed magazine to have and to hold it just doesn't make sense.
As for advertisers...if they're like everybody else in business today they're hanging on by their teeth. They'd probably pay something if only to support the cause but it won't be much. Look at the general RV magazines out there. Shrinking in size - advertisers falling off. Only the British seem to be able to support large magazines...and they do it very well. Online would seem to be the only way that makes sense - at least until the economy turns around but even then I wonder if things will ever really be the same as they were before the crash.
I would agree with the comment about the style of British (and probably European generally) magazines being very different to American titles. I sell magazines for a living, including quite a lot of American car magazines (not generally available here so quite sought-after by the muscle car / hot rod / pickup truck community).
Based on my experiences I would say that the business models for magazine publishers are quite different between here and the States - here the money is made by selling the magazine, whereas in the States it is made from the advertisers. This is reflected in the quality, type and number of articles in each issue - typically it seems an American car magazine will have several editorial / column pieces (fair enough), various pages of news (mostly product launches, but fair enough), and a few - maybe only three or four per issue - feature articles.
But the feature articles are almost always product placement pieces:- "We fit Corporation X's high lift suspension to our Bronco", or "Make 400hp from your small block with Company Y's cylinder heads". Alternatively, a particular modified car will be featured (fair enough), but the feature will then largely comprise of a list of which parts and suppliers were used, almost all of whom co-incidentally advertise in the magazine. And, surprisingly, the products are always reported to be fantastic, with never a bad comment printed.
It may be that this reliance on advertisers rather than magazine sales is a consequence of distribution costs in America, where the average distance between printing press and reader is obviously vastly higher than in the UK. I personally love selling American magazines because they are so cheap to post - typically they have only half or third of the pages of a British magazine.
On the face of it, and from a 'British' magazine mindset, it seems that BCM's survival would be best assured by selling more magazines. This seems an obvious thing to say, but may not be because of some aspect of magazine publishing in America which I don't know about. My earlier post mentioned various ideas for increasing circulation by broadening the coverage of the magazine, although I notice no-one has made any comments on those ideas. The other change (again assuming a 'British-style' approach) would be to make the magazine more attractive to potential readers by improving the quality of the content (not relying on unpaid submissions for the articles), and the quality of the production (decent photography for instance - I've got some issues of BCM where full-page photos consist of heavily pixelated blown-up Jpegs).
Jeremy
Quote from: MEverard on October 31, 2011, 05:38:11 PM
I have both the online and hard copy subscription. I like the magazine if I'm sitting in a campground or in my backyard. The online is nice if I'm in my office or on my laptop. Each one has it's positives. However, doesn't the online magazine drop off after three months. It sure is nice to look back in print form when you need to. I know my one opinion is not going to set the tone for the future, but I have heard a lot of people vote for the hard copy.
Good Luck and keep us all happy. LOL
Mike
I save the online PDF copies in a file in my computer for future use. I have all the online versions that have have been published. Jack
In the end: don't let any hobby/business take you down. While I am computer challenged and would have a difficult time with that. Do as you must and if you must walk away as sad as I would be to loose this tie to the bus owners. I and many do understand. Been a great ride!!! Bob THANKS!
Thanks Jack. I didn't know that I could save them. I will try it with the versions still available.
Mike
First of all.. Thank you Mike S. for your time and effort at the helm.
And welcome (back), Mike K. We look forward to becoming acquainted with you.
As to the ask for feedback on the magazine. I personally know how much effort it is to run a magazine of this size, I started my career out publishing a similar magazine style in a niche computer software industry. The hope of ever breaking even for the costs is far off, never mind including the volunteered time to put it together. These efforts are truly a labor of love, no matter how you slice it. And for that, I commend everyone involved in the process- from the editors, publishers, authors, contributors, subscribers, readers and advertisers.
As digital nomads without a physical address, we're not the target audience for a printed magazine. And we very much appreciate that an online version is available for us to subscribe to in order to support the community. Having a resource like the magazine is a great resource for pointing folks to however, and we seem to encounter folks on a weekly basis who are wanting to break into the bus lifestyle.
In this digital age and the costs of printing, the magazine style is going by the wayside. Both online and printed. While having a PDF version of the printed magazine is nice, there are also many other ways of compiling online content. For instance, as a full time traveler who lives on capped and slow cellular bandwidth, downloading a PDF that contains mostly content I don't need or want is an inefficient use of our resources.
Personally, I'd love to see a subscribe only newsletter that is delivered electronically on a regular basis with information, and then a quarterly or bi-annually finished wrap-up publication (that can be more magazine or book style, printed and/or online). I'd also love to see targeted special editions of compilations of the best content from the past, covering such topics as:
'So, You Just Bought a Bus, Now What?' (A Bus Conversions 101 wrap up of the best of the best)
'Plumbing'
'Preventative Maintenance'
'Electrical'
'RV Safety'
... etc.
Anyway... just some ideas mingling in my mind.
But ultimately, whatever is created has to be what those who are creating it are passionate about creating. If its not, it won't be sustainable and won't be done to a level that is usable by all of us.
- Cherie
Magazines come and go Mike S gave it his best shot BCM died a long time ago let it rest in peace advertisers and classifieds ads kept it going now days so many free classifieds for buses and parts and not many advertisers it's had a good life
good luck
I tried to include Jeremey's post but I then couldn't enter mine ???
Oh for an RV/Conversion magazine the likes of Practical Classics! What you say about content is so true. You're lot has to go to 9 point type to fit it all in. Here they use 12 point to fill space.
I totally agree that since the pie is so small it shouldn't be sliced too thin. A conversion focused magazine should include Busses /Schoolies/restored and reinvented RV's - the whole lot. But printing is still a killer expense.
There are ways to present information in a digital magazine format that's a lot more inviting and useful than a static PDF. I'd cite Classic Yacht as a prime example
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/classicyachtjulyaugust2011/2011070701/#0 (http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/classicyachtjulyaugust2011/2011070701/#0)
Notice that it's an actual magazine layout - you can use links embedded in the material and video can be embedded as well
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/classicyachtjulyaugust2011/2011070701/#26. (http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/classicyachtjulyaugust2011/2011070701/#26.) It's really a terrific publication.
But it costs money to do even simple layout. To achieve a publication quality online magazine that would attract subscribers and advertisers you need pro quality production. But...an online publication could garner a lot of people at $10 a year.
Just my opinion
I'm going to get some people upset with me but I'm going to say what I really feel. The original magazine got to where it wasn't much to read by the time it went down. Mike Sullivan took it in hand and, though there were problems, it was starting to become a magazine worth reading again. Now, it has been handed back to the original owner, the one that let it go downhill to start with, and they state that it is an improvement. How??? I'll believe it when I see it.
Once again, thank you for all the input. I'm meeting with a printer and a ON line e-magazine provider today. I will have more info tonight. I'm excited to move forward. Yes, things have changed, companies have come and gone and the media has made changes that make it hard for small magazine to continue. But we will figure out something by weeks end.
For those that know me, when I started the magazine I had a 1 year old child. As it grew to 4 kids, my time for the magazine vanished into family life. I now have 3 teenagers (13,16, 18) and my oldest, my 20 year old daughter. 2 in collage. So maybe I'll have a little more time to put into the magazine.... I'll check with Karen, my wife of 26 years to see how much time she'll give me.
If we can't smile, it's time to quit!
I think you should consider downgrading the quality of the paper in the short term. There are many acceptable colour magazines published on a cheaper grade of paper.
Also, the "on line" version could include more content than the hard copy to encourage people to take the digital version.
I personally prefer to receive the hard copy in the mail.
Bryan
I don't care one way or the other which direction the magazine goes but I will be the first to say I want my money back and they can do what ever with the magazine
good luck
Quote from: luvrbus on November 01, 2011, 10:13:11 AM
I don't care one way or the other which direction the magazine goes but I will be the first to say I want my money back and they can do what ever with the magazine
good luck
It's hard to imagine there's any money to give back. I've been around publications that are spiraling into the ground. Whatever money comes in goes to print the next issue in eternal hope of turning it around. It becomes a sort of defacto Ponzi - with no nefarious intent. It's just that there usually is no money left in an account. Whatever there is - whatever comes in from new subscriptions - goes to production/printing/postage. There is no escrow account for future fulfillment.
But that's just what I've seen.
Quote from: luvrbus on November 01, 2011, 10:13:11 AM
I don't care one way or the other which direction the magazine goes but I will be the first to say I want my money back and they can do what ever with the magazine
Have you made a formal request to get your money back?
I don't know about magazines specifically, but other industries are required to keep prepayments for future services in an separate escrow type account. Each time a service is provided like publishing an issue of a magazine money is pulled out of the account.
I don't know the number of folks interested in bus conversions or doing their own. But I do know the market is miniscule compared to a lot of other interest groups. FMCA has been struggling and their magazine has seen some serious defections from advertisers. The FMC magazine had many Prevost and Prevost converter ads and now there is not a single one.
My point is folks who used to read a magazine can now get all their information and more on the internet. My free advice is to change the business model and eliminate a printed magazine and create an on-line magazine with the articles and information to be shared created by the readership and advertisers. Use the forum as the gateway.
With all the ways possible to stay connected now it would not surprise me if instead of a magazine rack next to the toilet we instead had a table and power for a laptop.
I just did Brian post it here the paper work is not going to get lost lol
good luck
Quote from: prevosman on November 01, 2011, 11:56:59 AM
I don't know the number of folks interested in bus conversions or doing their own. But I do know the market is minuscule compared to a lot of other interest groups. FMCA has been struggling and their magazine has seen some serious defections from advertisers. The FMC magazine had many Prevost and Prevost converter ads and now there is not a single one.
My point is folks who used to read a magazine can now get all their information and more on the internet. My free advice is to change the business model and eliminate a printed magazine and create an on-line magazine with the articles and information to be shared created by the readership and advertisers. Use the forum as the gateway.
With all the ways possible to stay connected now it would not surprise me if instead of a magazine rack next to the toilet we instead had a table and power for a laptop.
I saw a fascinating program about Caterpillar - I think it was on CNBC. It talked about how they deal with down markets.
They have an ongoing crises/crash team who has up to date plans ready to roll out of the market takes a dump as it did in South America in the 80's.
The point is...the market has tanked. Doesn't matter what - buses - boats - RV's. So what's the plan? following the Cat example it would be to go to ground...focus on parts, upgrades, rehabbing existing conversions, taking affordable Class A's and doing makeovers . A publication should address all modes especially since the basic skills are the same. Take something that's not built to be a residence and add that which makes it habitable.
Do things that get people who aren't involved or are on the fringes thinking and doing. Show what can be done on a budget. Later when (hopefully) things pick up those people move up the ladder.
Most information is available in forums such as this. But there's a market for articles, profiles, how-to's, case studies.
There was just a big meet in TN. Are the seminars available on DVD? Articles based on the seminars would be valuable for new kids like me. What we get here is raw data and advice from the core who participate. But if this is like most other avocations for every person who posts here there are many more who are interested but don't.
If a magazine is to be valuable - be it online or in print- it has to aggregate that data - turning it into entertaining informative material.
As for the bathroom...yes...I believe we'll need power or charged batteries...perhaps a swing arm laptop holder...hey!...that's something to invent :~)
I guess I've lost count, so how many issues are we missing now???? Last inline shows June?
I have been a subscriber since inception. Like many, it is disappointing to miss issues or have late delivery.
However, I have to applaud all those who have struggled to make the magazine a "go". This is a terrible economy !! Many business are extinct. Congratulations to Mike, Mike, and others, for not giving up.
I have resisted electronic media. But, I am willing to give it a chance to help the survival of the magazine. (Jack likes it, I will definitely try it.)
Ed Roelle
Flint, MI
I've resisted saying anything so far but I might as well have my voice heard and a vote so to speak for whatever it's worth.
I just renewed my subscription and to be honest I probably wouldn't have if I knew what was going on. True, the storm clouds were brewing for all to see but then I've been wrapped up in my own issues, a recent back fusion with subsequent troubles which threaten my ability to work on and enjoy my bus (which may just go for sale). I just got home from a painful injection in my hip/arse thank you very much!
In general I'm not a fan of electronic issues for many reasons but then again, if it keeps the thing going and is the last and only choice then I guess the magazine still means enough to me to have that. The idea of a quarterly issue really bothers me though and especially if it were quarterly AND online. What's next, bi-annual followed by an annual electronic edition? I'm very skeptical of those things and have seen it before, it's a late sign of the writing on the wall. I look forward to my monthly print magazine and in this economy it's about the only magazine I get.
If the online editions had more material, more tech stuff and relevant material to warrant something that I can't sit on the john to read without a laptop on my knee then I'd probably be a taker.
In short, I want the regular monthly hard copy print and would consider paying a minor additional cost to have it but if that's just not possible, no way, no how then I'd go with the electronic edition. If it's less than monthly then I'd like my money back please.
Now, as for Mike. I know that Mike has poured his sweat into this thing but it's a huge and ever hungry beast and I applaud him for his efforts. Does anyone else (aside from present owners) want to step up? Nope, didn't think so, me neither.
I applaud anyone who can and will give it a go and I'll try to be patient...to a point.
-Dave
Firstly, a tip of the hat to Mike Sullivan for his hard work with the magazine.
Put me in the crowd that advocates an online version over the printed one...not saying we shouldn't have it, but those who do want the printed version should be prepared to pony up for it.
As far as frequency - I'm ambivalent, really...though, depending on available resources I think bi-monthly is a good compromise between number of issues and work required to get each issue out. It would have to be on-time, though...I've wanted to subscribe, but haven't due to the questions surrounding when it's supposed to come out.
Just my pennies...
Whatever happens will happen. The free market will determine whether or not BCM will continue as a traditional "dead tree" magazine. If it continues, I will renew it when offered if not, I'll just make GOOGLE my friend as I do most of the time when I want to learn about whatever subject captures my interest at that time. However, there is no reason for some of you to beat up on Mike S and Mike K. They did fine when you consider all of the factors when you take in account some of the sorrowful personal problems that Mike S had to deal with earlier this year. I had nothing but polite response from Mike K's people in the past if the issue was late or lost. I hope he can make a go of things too but you have to remember that people with interests in buses are a very small group of people.
As others have said, we very much appreciate what Mike S has done for the past few years. We got to know him fairly well during the week prior to and after the rally. You simply will not meet a nicer, more dedicated person. I am so sorry that things did not work out, but it was not from a lack of dedication and huge effort on Mike's part.
I also appreciate what Mike K has done for our "hobby". Pat and I have attended all but one of the Bus Conversions rallies. I attended one of his wonderful workshops in 1998 or 99.
Now for some observations. In my estimation, this forum is far and away the best in the field. Some folks have minimized the resources needed to make it operate, by pointing out that the software is free (I think). If not, it is not all that expensive. However, what goes unnoticed is the fact that this forum is hosted on a dedicated server at a major ISP. That is not cheap. If this whole thing goes in the toilet, so does this valuable resource.
Next, folks say that they might not need the magazine (in whatever form), since they have the internet. I can't speak directly for the other authors, but I can assure you that my articles contain a great deal more information than I present on any of these forums. Not only do the articles contain more information, but they are generally presented in a format that makes it easier to get the detailed information in a somewhat logical format.
Most all of the replies express support and you can include me in that group.
Jim
I am not going to beat up on Mike K (to bad) but I have been to this prom dance before with Mike I subscribed to his Arriving magazine which IMO was his best magazine he ever published I paid 3 years 90 bucks the magazine went away and I never got my refund.
I spoke Darlena several times I forget her last name but she said it was a not a problem she would apply it to Bus Conversion Magazine which I agreed to six months later I received a notice of my last issue if I didn't pay cost me again lol
I will give him the benefit of the doubt on this to see how it plays out it wasn't the 90 bucks with me it was more of principal thing I still have the last copy of Arriving it was a fine magazine Mike I bet you could not do that magazine now for less than 10 bucks a copy but 90 bucks was a little steep for 1 magazine lol
good luckt
Depending on the format you should be able to print out the digital magazine for use in any room of the house :~)
Just a thought...
There is a publishing concept out there that some book publishers (mostly textbooks, manuals, etc.) are using. They publish an online version, and offer a printed version "on demand" through a third-party printer. So, all subscribers pay a lower cost for the online version and the printing costs to the magazine publisher go away. The subscribers who want a hard-copy pay (directly to the third-party printer) the actual cost of printing/mailing their copy. Those who order hard-copies typically get to choose their own binding. So, if someone wanted to keep the magazines in a binder, they could order their copy loose and pre-punched. Of course, different bindings have different costs, but it is up to the recipient.
Also, PLEASE don't blow money on commercial web development or online distribution companies. I'm sure there are several people on here (like myself) who have those skills and would be willing to help.
Quote from: ktmossman on November 02, 2011, 12:23:22 PM
Just a thought...
There is a publishing concept out there that some book publishers (mostly textbooks, manuals, etc.) are using. They publish an online version, and offer a printed version "on demand" through a third-party printer. So, all subscribers pay a lower cost for the online version and the printing costs to the magazine publisher go away. The subscribers who want a hard-copy pay (directly to the third-party printer) the actual cost of printing/mailing their copy. Those who order hard-copies typically get to choose their own binding. So, if someone wanted to keep the magazines in a binder, they could order their copy loose and pre-punched. Of course, different bindings have different costs, but it is up to the recipient.
Excellent idea! Amazon offers publishing on demand. A friend uses it and I can't believe how inexpensive it is for a person to buy one four color book. Cost him virtually nothing - all he does is collect royalties.
Online issues could be aggregated into a book once a year.
Yes, print on demand is bringing thousands of obscure books back into availability, and - although I've not heard of it - could presumably be extended to include obscure magazines too. It's not just an on-line thing either - you can order a print-on-demand book from your local bookshop and collect it from there when it's ready. Perhaps ideal for bus nuts who don't have mailing addresses?
Jeremy
I'll throw something else into the mix that I'm sure MAK has at the very least thought about, whether he is considering implementing it or not. There are web forums out there that you have to pay to read. There seems to be consensus that the content here is valuable and that it costs to maintain the BBS. So maybe we should all be paying to play. Obviously there's some risk to implementing that program and it could be argued that some members here give way more in the way of valuable information than they ever receive back. If some of them got driven away by the cost to subscribe then maybe there'd be no reason for the rest of us to come back. On the other hand there's probably some way to balance that and still generate some revenue from this site so its not just a cost centre. I'd pay - I'm not sure how much but I'd pay something.
Ahoy, Mike,
Please hang-in-there, and keep BCM alive, either on line with a fee if needed, or optionally printed (at furthur additional extra cost).
I have them all, including a number in which I authored articles.
I'll try to turn-to, and write some more, if you need more material to publish.
Please let us know if you need more copy. There is a LOT of experience out here in your BusFolk field.
Enjoy /s/ Bob
well, this is a fine kettle of fish...
Where are we on subscription extensions?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
There was a comment on the 'Kenworth' thread about BCM having a history section - great idea!
Are there any classic/vintage (or indeed modern) bus magazines in the US? There are several in the UK so I'd imagine the much bigger US market could support at least one. Possibly BCM could expand it's scope to cover old restored and preserved American buses as well as old converted ones (although I still think expanding to cover for example self-built truck-based motorhomes would also be a good way to go)
Here are some of the UK bus magazines currently being published. These are all glossy, professional magazines available from high-street retailers. I also have back-issues in stock for several other bus titles which have since been taken-over / merged etc.
Jeremy
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsstand.co.uk%2Fi2287140%2FZoom%2FCLASSIC-BUS_OCTNOV-11.jpg&hash=a053c3f98f611a66bc03a818f2b3d7ff8e98827a)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsstand.co.uk%2Fi2288799%2FZoom%2FBUS-FAYRE_VOL-336.jpg&hash=635ed91bb9bdbc9d0dfbd5bda84c65d0e6f7d52b)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presbuspublishing.com%2Fimages%2Fbcpcover.jpg&hash=2ea475f2c907c63639da13e8fa3f26f68cf3e683)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.busesmag.com%2Fimages%2Fbus-oct11-400.jpg&hash=07c8931fe20d4d2981288b7ee6f1751d5a34c091)
I've also just come across this one, which I haven't seen before. Looks to be for bus operators rather than enthusiasts. BK probably receives something similar:
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.isubscribe.co.uk%2Fimages%2Fcovers%2Fuk%2F274%2F8702%2Flarge%2FCoachBusWeek2910104117.jpg&hash=77204fa92c7dbd4c3f4bc0060888dddd06242cb4)
Sounds like a great idea. I was thinking along those lines to in why not include some material on the seated bus side of things once in awhile as well? Or, how about doing something on executive or VIP coaches since those sort of bridge the gap between the seated and converted bus.