Contents

Front Cover

Photos

PAPER DRAFTS

I decided that before I started drafting anything out, that I should plan it out as though I was creating the full magazine, that way I could make sure that when I get to the contents page, I will be able to put down logical numbers for the features and also, I'll be able to put down logical page numbers on my double page spread.

This is my first quick plan of my front cover. I've not put much detail into it as this is more about my thought process of how I have considered the positioning of different aspects that I will need to include on my front cover.

 I have then gone on to produce a much more detailed paper draft of my front cover. I used the possible title from my list "BloodFlowers" and have included various headlines that I may chose to use. I have also decided on the main headline which will be the name of a fictional band called "LuvKatz". The photograph that I will put on the front cover will relate to this band. Which brings me to my sketch of the picture. This gives me an insight to how I want my models to look and pose. As this is a gothic magazine, I gave the two characters the big hair and eye makeup (also patterns on their faces) that I talked about when I did some quick notes on Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure. I also chose quite gothic costume and included a cross pendent which could maybe be associated with religion and/or maybe witchcraft which is also seen as quite a dark/gothic practise. The expressions I drew are quite serious as I think I would like (for the front cover at least) my models to look quite melancholy as I think it would relate quite well. 

This is another quick magazine sketch I did, I decided I wasn't keen on the masthead I chose so for now I've left it to think about. I have also considered just having the one person on my front cover as the medium close up looks quite effective and it looks good how the headlines can be arranged around it in a bit of a more organised way.

 This is the first plan of my contents, the magazine plan I made earlier was extremely helpful for this as I needed to know page numbers and what other things were hypothetically going to be in my magazine which made it easier to set it all out. I decided an action shot would be good to have on my contents as it shows bands doing what they do best. I also thought it appropriate to have it linking to another place in the magazine.

The second plan of my contents is a lot neater and set out better, in my opinion. It has the title once again and the background picture will fill the whole page and I think that will look really good and effective. The block seperates the actual contents away from the picture which will make it easier to read.

Magazine Basics

MASTHEAD IDEAS

• Juju Fourth album by Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1981/a supernatural power ascribed to an object.
• Bloodflowers Eleventh album by The Cure in 2000/Asclepias curassavica - an ornamental garden plant.
• Underground As in, Velvet Underground
• Goth Juice In "The Mighty Boosh" a character called Vince Noir uses a hairspray called "Goth Juice" which is apparently made from the tears of Robert Smith.

PRICING etc
I will charge £1.20 for my magazine. I don't want it to cost too much as it is aimed at a niche audience of people that are a young age, therefore they won't be able to afford extortionate prices. I will use normal paper, like Kerrang! uses as it is less expensive than the shiny type of paper RockSound uses. But sometimes I will have specials where I have larger posters on the shinier, better quality paper.

PUNK

Patti Smith/Velvet Underground
New York Early 70's. Alternative Bohemian: Short, frantic, angry songs, putting across a message. START OF THE PUNK MOVEMENT


The Ramones/Sex Pistols
Punk
The Ramones: American band, formed in New York in 1974.
Sex Pistols: Bright coloured scruffy hair, scruffy clothing, ripped t-shirts, leather jackets. Formed in London in 1975 because of Malcolm McLaren to promote his fashion. The most well known and associated with Punk. Infamous for their attitude.

The Ramones

Sex Pistols

Post Punk Movement

Siouxsie And The Banshees/The Cure
Goth Rock - elegant style; wears big boots (Dr Martens) but teamed with lacy garments, dresses, gloves/fingerless gloves. Wears big dark makeup and backs up hair. Took the Punk style and made it darker, more morose and melancholy.

Robert Smith and Siouxsie Sioux

Toyah Wilcox/Hazel O'Connor/Gary Numan
Electro Punk - Took the big hair and colourful hair and clothing. Bright colourful makeup and costumes. Added computer, synths and keyboards to their music. Brought the Punk style into the early 80's electronic age.

Toyah Wilcox

Hazel O'Connor

Gary Numan

Ultravox
Electro Punk/New Romantic - Had the synths and electronic style of Electro Punk but a more New Romantic image.

Ultravox

Culture Club/Spandau Ballet/Duran Duran
New Romantic: Big, bold fashion statements. Extreme makeup and hair for males and females. They celebrated glamour and ostentaciousness.

Culture Club

Spandau Ballet

Duran Duran

AUDIENCE PROFILE!

After much consideration I have decided that I want my magazine to be directed at a niche audience, really specifically at younger people (15-25) with an interest in Post Punk, Goth Rock - Alternative Rock. I will feature modern day versions of bands such as Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Cure and Velvet Underground. Also, I thought as both these bands have a similar style and are both from Britain, I might make my audience smaller still, and focus on only British bands.
I have decided to go for this idea as these kinds of bands, from what I can see, don't really fit into the magazines that are published now. They're probably not serious enough for Rock Sound, because of their punky attitude, but probably too dark and gothic for Kerrang! and also, because I want to feature British bands, you wouldn't find them in Alternative Press as that is an American Magazine.
My target audience should expect to find information, news, posters, gig dates and interviews with the more unknown bands. I think I'll try and appeal to my target audience by making the cover bold and try to put an eye catching, headlining story that will catch their interest. I'll also include competitions to win various items, maybe iconic instruments or vinyls of the originators of this genre. I think, to attract my audiences attention further I could feature maybe non musical celebrities who have an interest in any of these genres giving their top 5 bands or songs.
I think the advertising space could be taken up by things like alternative clothing stores and bands of this genre advertising tours as this is a good way for them to directly speak out to their also very specific niche audience.

I think my magazine will have more female than male readers (60% : 40%)  as I have asked around and in the 70's - 80's when Goth Rock originated there was more of a female fan base. I think this is because, if we look at the likes of Robert Smith, he wore make up, had huge back combed hair and was quite femine and I don't think that this would appeal so much to the majority of males, therefore I reckon this will still be the case today.