Sounds bloody fantastic George!!! Finally something for us old fellas, i will send you a couple of pics when u get it up and running. Maybe you could have a highest jump section or reviews on sunhats, sunnys, gloves, pink zinc and the like, something i feel is missing from these mags targeted at punks.
Dave.

Isn't that what Kite World already does? And does bloody well.

A new mag !!!!!!

hmmm maybe you should do some research.
Some facts to consider
The Aus kite market is tiny - so you already have a limiited audience
Thes advent of online mags which are free also means that you actual market is shrinking because kiters wont necessarily buy your mag.
I think the the ratio of kiters to kiters who buy the existing mag is pretty low to start with.
Will the supplers want to throw some money at another mag and not get any more exposure...there are only about 40 kite realated businesses in Australia.

plus the KBM has just had a face lift - new editor, new graphic layout - so its likely to be bigger and better - therefore don't assume you are competing against the old mag.....

In saying that - if you are interested in persueing your creativity and expression about a sport you love - go for it - just don't expect to make any money.

Brucex

aren't magazines and dvds supposed to show riders progressing the sport, pushing the boundaries?? most readers may not ever get to that level, but they want to see what is possible. the novelty of seeing photos of the same tricks you can watch anyone do down at your local might wear off after the first couple of issues.

then again you'd only have to print your issues on time and you would already be ahead of kbm.

Try online mag first and guage the response
then ask the audience what they want???
Then try and make everyone happy.
Good luck!!
There should always be room for new ideas!

theDoctor said...

Ben De Jonge said...

Isn't that what Kite World already does? And does bloody well.

kite world sucks

Any reasons why?

Personally I think it is pretty solid and the only one that warrants being bought as most of the other ones are full of ads or very basic articles that can be read in the newsagency without haveing to be bought. I find Kitewould also tends to be a lote fatter than most other kite mags, but hey whatever floats your boat.

Bait taken
Matt

kitepilotoz said...

Try online mag first and guage the response
then ask the audience what they want???
Then try and make everyone happy.
Good luck!!
There should always be room for new ideas!

good idea

The more kite mags the better mate, but as others have mentioned, there are some pretty good online mags out there now, so yours would have to be something pretty special to compete, and I think you would struggle to make a living out of it.

Thanks for the responses which are all great.
There is a lot to consider and they will go along way in helping me in my research.
Cost and the net are by far the biggest hurdles to consider and many of you made strong points on those two matters.
The net does go hand in hand with print media, provided it offers something different to what is already out there.
If you do have interesting story ideas i would like to hear about them.
At the moment I'm trying to track down the country's oldest kitesurfer.
Is there anyone you would like to nominate?
If you know him or her, please send an email to [email protected].
thanks again for your responses and i will keep you posted about the progress of this little idea.
Bring on the wind, i'm so over winter!

theDoctor said...

Ben De Jonge said...

Isn't that what Kite World already does? And does bloody well.

kite world sucks

my appologies, i have kite world confused with another overseas kite mag that does indeed suck, though you would have to agree, at $14.50 the price sucks.

i agree with walshd, it`s very hard to find kite mags in newsagentcy`s .most are quarterly and i only have one agetntcy in my area that sells them and thats in north shore sydney. though i`m always looking for a new one . one mag is rediculousely expensive $14.99 ,think it is a pommy mag i can`t justify spending that on a mag.
more mags the better.
cheers

I like the idea but yes research is the key to anything with a good launch. The current Aus mag is for lack of a better word crap. All it does is focus on QLD riders and sponsored riders which is fine but I for one will not buy it anymore.
A mag that focuses on the average kiter having fun and looking at kite spots around Australia and new gear sounds good to me. You will need obvisouly a clear vision and mission statement and stick to that and not stray to become another KBM.
The point was made that the market is small in Australia but that does not mean there isnt room for another. Maybe there worried you will take sales from their very average distribution.

You need a point of difference something cutting edge.

Good luck.

Futher to my first post. May be you should get out there and talk to kiters around Australia especially your target market and find out what they want in a mag. Take the time for the research and planing and it could a real winner. I will buy it.

Later

The only time I buy KBM is when I grab it by accident . . and then I feel ripped off. It's usually good for 3 mins in the newsagent. The only people that want to hear what 15yr olds think about life is 13 yr olds.

I buy every other mag I come across tho, and have a subscription to kiteworld.. I think it's the best for unbiased tests - for example the huge kite/board test in the last issue.

I'd buy another ozzy mag for sure.. until I get internet installed in the toilet anyway

I wouldn't mind seeing some reviews on CA PFD's and maybe even some emergency response beacons. There are lots of things you could do that haven't been catered for by the "punk" mags.
I also woundn't mind seeing a big ole one footer section, or maybe even a deadman, loving those at the moment.
I hope yoou can get this happening
Dave.