posted
Where the hell is it? We have a subscription and I will be damned if I can remember the last time we got one. It was supposed to be four times a year. Seems like it it is turning into olympic style mailings....
All I ever hear is bunch of lip service from everyone. Yeah, yeah, yeah...
I have also submitted stuff to them only to not get everything returned. I am tired of asking the old and new staff for my stuff back.
Jeff and Doc ... send me back my stuff!!!! Send me my magazines!!!!!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6454 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I think I got 1 last year. I gave up on seeing another issue. I figured maybe there was some little elitist club that got it and I wasn't allowed in on their secret magazine.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I bought a 2 year subscription in August, 04 after hearing all the rave reviews on various boards and I have received exactly 1 issue, about 1 year ago.
Talk about an expensive magazine, must be a collectors item. I could've bought a nice bottle of Single Malt for that
posted
Can't say I am to happy to see letterheads knocking the Doc and Jeff . I am happy to get it when it's done, timescale on such a quality item is of no importance to me, I have subscribed, it will come. I think since the outset it has always been a little late, It must also be stated that Jeff is a commited family man,,Runs his own sign business THEN in his SPARE time puts together a great magazine for US to enjoy and help us with the inspiration it provides.I am also sure that there is very little in the way of profit on the magazine . It is a labour of love I am happy to wait Cheers Terry Cheers Terry
-------------------- Terry Colley The VintageSign Co 42 barrack hill Romiley Stockport Cheshire, England sk6 3az tel 0161 494 5089 terry@bullandbrush.fsnet.co.uk Posts: 210 | From: England | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Sorry folks, I hope to have this next issue together shortly & to your door. Yes, I am 3 months behind, & hope to do some catching up. Bruce, I am not sure if I know what material you are referring to, but let me know what you would like returned & I will speak to Doc & try to get it back to you asap.
I'll do what I can to make it right.
Jeff
-------------------- Jeffrey P. Lang Olde Lang Signs Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
posted
Terry, I couldn't have said it better myself.
AMAL is not a magazine published by a large company, with dozens of people on staff (earning a salary) to put it together. It's done as a labor of love, without pay, by a busy sign guy who has to make a living like all of us. Is it overdue? Yes. Does it matter? Well, who among us beleives that they could do a better job...
There's a lot of stupid crap on this board I won't dignify with a response. But sniping about AMAL, or slamming Jeff Lang, isn't something I'm likely to ignore.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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AMAL may not always come in a timely fashion - and it is largely due to Jeff's devotion to family - and his workload. He knew it was a big job when he took it over - and he has never backed off his responsibilities. Anybody else want to do it? Do I hear crickets?
And $26 for one issue - or 4 issues - is worth it for what comes inside. Who can't respect a man who comes here to take his licks and own up to his responsibilities?
Kissy, "I figured maybe there was some little elitist club that got it and I wasn't allowed in on their secret magazine." is not a very healthy thing to say about Letterheads. Too many people feel there is an "us and them" in Letterheads.
That couldn't be LESS True. I'm sure you didn't mean it with any sincerity - but that remark gives some folks (who already believe there is a 'club') more gas to throw on that smoldering fire of 'elitism'.
It is about sharing - and NOT a clique with limited participation. If it was, then Letterheads would charge dues. It's free - so how can there be any separation between people? We're all equal if we only share what we know.
Looking forward to the next issue - and all the usual eye candy!!
-------------------- Jay Allen ShawCraft Sign Co. Machesney Park, IL jallen222@aol.com http://www.shawcraft.com/
"The object of the superior man is truth." -Confucius Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I don't think anyone is 'sniping'. It appears that the majority of the responses on this subject are making an obvious point.
They have paid for a subscription which promises a certain number of editions within a certain time frame. The fact that several people have NOT received those editions deserves the reasonable display of minor irritation of the part of the subscribers, and furthermore, has delayed at least one new subscriber.
It may be that the publisher should consider any number of decisions necessary in order to meet subscriptions, even possibley cancling the magazine.
We all have something that we are 'devoted to', ie; consumes our time. This is not a valid excuse for failing in our business endeavors.
I've seen the magazine and enjoyed it very much. I hope a resolution is found.
posted
You know, I just can't shut up here. These little "scoldings to us mere peons" that happen here every once in awhile by a select few just kind of bug me.
First of all, it's true that Jeff is an absolute sweetheart, a devoted family man, and an endeared Letterhead. Personally, I LOVE the guy.
But let's be fair.
What I'm hearing is that some folks PAID for a subscription to a magazine that was to give them 4 issues per year ... and now in some cases they have not gotten but 1 issue in two years. Um ... is that really acceptable?
Jeff says he's only 3 months behind. Something isn't adding up, if there are people claiming to have not seen a mag in a year or so.
It wouldn't matter how wonderful a letterhead I'd be, or how busy I am in my homelife ... I certainly couldn't get away with that in my business.
I respect Jeff for being a merchant here, and paying to support this site. There are those here that could take his cue in that.
I respect Jeff for taking on a "labour of love" and doing a fabulous job with the content of AMAL. I respect him for coming on here and owning up to his shortcomings with the magazine and certainly I empathize with all his best intentions.
Having said that, I certainly don't blame people for questioning, and being abit miffed at not recieving a product they have paid for. I'm not just talking about it's timeliness here. If it's a bit late ... so what ... but not arriving at all is something different. Personally, I think that the better route for them may be to complain directly to Jeff or Doc, rather than airing it here. Unless they have already tried that to no avail.
As I remember, Cam aired, quite loudly, some greivances here recently about a supplier that he felt mishandled his business. If we are to be truly fair here, ... how should this be different? Was the supplier Cam bitched about at that time not a devoted family man? Not a cherished Letterhead friend? C'mon folks ... you must admit this does have an elitist taste about it.
Personally, I don't even know where I stand with AMAL. I'm not sure if I'm even current with my subscription. Am I Jeff? I don't remember an issue for a very long time, but I'm thinking that may have been my own lapse in my subscription.
I suggest that folks first account for where they stand in their subscription, and then maybe compare notes with the AMAL staff.
But please ... spare us the scoldings oh mighty ones, and realize that folks do have a legitamate complaint here.
By the way ... did anyone catch the smiley in Bruce's first post? Clearly he came on here to say "hey, what gives? ... I miss my AMAL!"
I'm seeing both sides here. Maybe we call ALL give each other some slack eh? Nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
posted
Yer' absolutely 100% right, Nettie. Very valid points. Everybody is certainly within their rights to question where AMAL is. I only know that Jeff will make it right. Perhaps 'sniping' is a word that Cam would prefer to retract.
You are also right about publicly airing it - but this is a forum where those questions can be raised and answered - so being discussed in public is a possibility. It's when the comments turn accusatory or ill-tempered that starts the downward spiral of personal attacks.
But I believe what Cam was doing was defending a friend. As was I. As was Terry. As are you. If I ever heard you being bashed by someone, I'd defend you also. I'll always defend my friends. Even if it is to my detriment. Your analogy about Cam's problem with a supplier is also spot-on. If you take the job, you must deliver - no matter who you are, Letterhead or not.
Jeff is a prince and quite certainly isn't happy about the delays either. He made that obvious, I think. Wouldn't you want your friends to defend you - even if you thought their statements were mean-spirited or unfair towards others?
I think that is what I am guilty of - agreeing with a very pointed defense of Jeff and AMAL. But I don't have a wholesale distrust of Letterheads as some seem to have. That's why I added my other comments about "the club".
I don't recall ever hearing anyone say, "this guys in, that girls out", etc. - at any Letterhead meet. Maybe - as I said in an IM to Si - that I'm an ostrich with his head in the sand. Maybe I choose not to see the reality of the remark. If so, I apologize.
But I truly do understand both sides here. Fact: People want their AMAL. Fact: It's late and Jeff has addressed the problem. Fact: The magazine must be in demand!!
Beyond that we have denegrated into accusations of segragation, elitism and scolding. Can that be good for Letterheads? And is it fact or fiction?
I respect Jeff for not hiding and answering immediately. But that could have been the end of the discussion, couldn't it? Cam and Jeff were responding at the same time - and maybe Cam wouldn't have written a thing if he'd seen Jeff's post about taking care of the problem. He was just backing up what Terry had posted. And I wouldn't have written a response if I wasn't friends with Jeff . . . ad infinitum.
So let's all get back to work. Jeff will let us know when the next issue is on its way - and he'll do his level best to make this problem go away. Right, Jeff?
-------------------- Jay Allen ShawCraft Sign Co. Machesney Park, IL jallen222@aol.com http://www.shawcraft.com/
"The object of the superior man is truth." -Confucius Posts: 1285 | From: Machesney Park, IL, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Boy, I had been thinking of subscribing to that magazine. Is it ok to order it? I got a couple of samples at Jill's meet in mars a few years back, & it really IS an excellent magazine!
Jeff, if you are loaded down, maybe you could get some help to get the mag out on time? Sure would hate to see it canceled before I finally get to subscribe
!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
Can someone check the calendar. It HAS to be a full moon or something around here!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6454 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Seriously, I like Jeff. I like Doc. I really dig the magazine. I just don't like being ignored.
As for the people laying on that scolding? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! You'ns crack me up. No hard feelings, though. You, too, are entitled to your own opinions.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6454 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
a big thanks to Nettie for writing the post that was brewing in my mind... but would have been a chore to articulate half as well as she has.
In addition, I would like Jeff to add a little clarification in additiona to already showing up to "take his licks and own up to his responsibilities"
Jeff, what issue is 3 months behind? I just want to know if I missed one or 2 in the mail, since I signed up in December 2004 & only recieved 2 issues. As others have stated, they are worth waiting for... but there is no point "waiting" for one (or 2) that aren't coming because they already went out & mine didn't arrive for some reason... & since a lot of people are asking (& have been asking several different times in the last year)... I don't think it's out of line to ask that the issue number in the works be spelled out clearly. Besides if issues are only 3 months behind... then things are way better off then they appear from the replies here.. but on the other hand, if it is last summers issue that is "3 months behind" then I think that should be clear as well.
posted
I say quite making signs and make that magazine a monthly, I dig AMAL, it's my favorite magazine....
By the way, whenever I'm near Anaheim, I'll stroll into McLogan to see if they have AMAL at the counter if they don't, I'll feel bad about not buying anything so Ill go to the back area where the books are and buy a book, they are running out of books to buy....
[ January 19, 2006, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: Rick Chavez ]
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1539 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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...wonder if Jeff told you guys about the secret society. We have our own secret handshake and code names for things. There are also secret writings that can only be seen under a black light, holding the AMAL upside down.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Yeah, and when you play your David Butler CD backwards you hear, "Doc is Dead".
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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And seriously, whatever you do PLEASE don't cancel it!!!
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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posted
I'm with everyone here in agreeing that it is a great magazine and I would not like to see it cancelled for any reason. From what little I've seen of it is is a work of art!
I'm a one man shop in a very rural area. For me to subscribe to a trade magazine at all, much less a two year subscription it tends to tap into my very limited resources in a big way. I would be perfectly happy with any back issues still in stock to fulfill the subscription if the new ones are a little slow.
I guess I'll just get in line and " Hurry up and wait!."
posted
Anyone want to dedicate the time to helping Jeff get back on track, thus assisting him spend more time with his family and restore the cosmic balance of the sign universe?
Just an idea... Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Secretly speaking, I met Jeff at Jill's Krazy meet. Along with his beautiful family, his gold leaf with mother of pearl and his great personality swept me away! Now, when this mag gets going, I'll probably splurge to see what all the who haw is about!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Frankly, I don't see the analogy between AMAL and a supplier. A supplier provides us with the tangible goods required to produce our work within a specific time frame, whereas AMAL is, for lack of a better term, a luxury item. Without meaning any disrespect to Jay or Nettie, no one can claim they are losing money and alienating customers because a magazine was late. That's not to say that people who have paid for a subscription don't have a complaint if they haven't got the product, but lets not start comparing apples to onions over it.
I've got every issue of AMAL since it began, and its an invaluable resource. I'm also aware that, like the letterhead movement itself, it's not a typical for-profit publication. Look at your AMALs and compare them to, say, Sign Business or Signs of the Times. Do you really want just another trade mag stuffed with ads and industry boilerplate? What's great about AMAL is its NOT about the everyday bang-em-out signmaking we do to pay the mortgage and the phone bill. It's about inspiration; about what's possible; about the quality of work we'd all love to be able to do all the time; about what sign making was about before computers and printers and fax machines and all the "conveniences" of modern life started dictating the terms of how a craftsperson produced their work. We can all stand an occasional reminder of that.
Sure, I'd love to see AMAL arrive in my mailbox like clockwork. But if the choice is to have it be mediocre and on time, or wait a bit longer to have it maintain its standard of excellence, I for one will gladly wait.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I just sent Jeff about 20 CD's of world traveling pictures. Also copies of neat sign related stuff to be scanned for everyone's enjoyment. It will be quite a job to sort thru all the goodies I sent....Jeff is a great guy, devoted father, top notch sign artist, and goes the extra mile to help the Letterhead Movement. It's been a real treat to sit and talk with Mr. Lang at various Letterhead Meets...he's one guy that has taken the reigns of the Mag and kept it up to the high standards we expect.
If the only knock on the magazine is the tardiness of it, well, that's pretty good I think.
I too would like to see it come faster and on time, but I am the same way, and when it does come, what a joy!!! It will be coming soon and what an issue it will be!
I have sent some pictures for the tribute to fellow sign artist, Duane Mickelson, who passed on last fall. Duane cannot get his AMAL's anymore, but YOU can. have a cigarette and practice some script with a brush...it'll be in yur box faster than Jay Allen can crash a Motorcycle. Faster than Dave the Letterman can drink 5 gallons of Coffee..etc etc
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
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