Wow, what a great weekend...Actually, I am referring to last weekend, but I haven't had the chance to post anything for a while. I'm going to make up for it today.
The Madison Zine Fest was great! Everyone was cool as hell, and I sold almost everything I came with. My greeting cards were definitely the most popular, and I plan to being a lot more with me next time I do an event like this. There's nothing quite like getting untaxed money for doing what you love. I met a lot of really nice people and left with a huge handful of zines, cards, stickers, buttons and other fabulous miscelania. After the fest, Jeanette, Nita and I explored downtown Madison for a bit, then headed back to Chicago.
The next night was the FOUND magazine show at the Hideout. I had been going non-stop all weekend, but it was well worth the effort. I finally got to meet Davy Rothbart and Jason Bitner (the founders of FOUND, ha) after exchanging letters and emails for a long time. I congratulated Davy on his Letterman appearance. Although I didn't see it, the fact that a zine publisher could get a spot on an internationally syndicated show like that is amazing - I'm so glad to have seen the day.
The show mainly consisted of Davy talking about the concept of FOUND and reading some of the best found items onstage. He's got an awesome stage presence. Later his adorable brother, Popcorn Pete, played some songs on guitar that were based on found notes. He played really well and had a great voice. I must say I'm always a little wary of things like that, but I was not disappointed. You have to hear "Girl, The Booty Don't Stop" at least once in your life. It will take you there.
After the show, I was really starting to feel the fatigue of the weekend. I was talking to Billy of www.loopdistro.com and Alana from the Denver Zine Library and this awesomely cute girl from Tarzania, CA whose name escapes me. They were talking of a party later on, but I said I had to be a good girl and go home. So I walk out of the Hideout onto that really scary pitch black alleyway and start toward North Ave. I called starguitar and was catching up with him, when a herse drove by and the people inside waved at me. I was a little weirded out, but I shrugged it off. Two seconds later, Billy drives up in his minivan covered in baby doll parts and yells, "HEY MICHELLE! WANNA RIDE?" So I got in. It soon became apparent that I was getting a ride to the PARTY instead of a ride home. But I was all giddy and happy and excited, so I said what the hell. You have to do things like that once in a while.
It turned out to be a birthday party for this girl I knew. Very random! Her name was Teri, but I only knew her as Aroura Butterfly. She's this absolute goddess that I met while I was a guest on an indie talk show. She was on the show because she was organizing a nude bike ride. There were other people from the show there, too, so needless to say I was glad I made that little detour. I love nights where I unexpectedly find myself staying up late and meeting fabulous freaks and raunchy artists and having all kinds of random conversations. It was the type of party that makes you realize just how small Chicago can seem. I mean that in a very good way.
When Billy finally drove me home, it was almost 3am, I had permanent marker on my knuckles that read "NEED CA$H" and I was so tired I could barely walk, but it felt awesome. Sorry if I got long-winded, but I just wanted to share my story. This makes me realize that I really, REALLY should be saving this stuff for my zine, but it's cool. I hope you liked hearing about it, and I hope that next time there's an event like this, I will see some of you there! Cheers. 
The Madison Zine Fest was great! Everyone was cool as hell, and I sold almost everything I came with. My greeting cards were definitely the most popular, and I plan to being a lot more with me next time I do an event like this. There's nothing quite like getting untaxed money for doing what you love. I met a lot of really nice people and left with a huge handful of zines, cards, stickers, buttons and other fabulous miscelania. After the fest, Jeanette, Nita and I explored downtown Madison for a bit, then headed back to Chicago.
The next night was the FOUND magazine show at the Hideout. I had been going non-stop all weekend, but it was well worth the effort. I finally got to meet Davy Rothbart and Jason Bitner (the founders of FOUND, ha) after exchanging letters and emails for a long time. I congratulated Davy on his Letterman appearance. Although I didn't see it, the fact that a zine publisher could get a spot on an internationally syndicated show like that is amazing - I'm so glad to have seen the day.
The show mainly consisted of Davy talking about the concept of FOUND and reading some of the best found items onstage. He's got an awesome stage presence. Later his adorable brother, Popcorn Pete, played some songs on guitar that were based on found notes. He played really well and had a great voice. I must say I'm always a little wary of things like that, but I was not disappointed. You have to hear "Girl, The Booty Don't Stop" at least once in your life. It will take you there.
After the show, I was really starting to feel the fatigue of the weekend. I was talking to Billy of www.loopdistro.com and Alana from the Denver Zine Library and this awesomely cute girl from Tarzania, CA whose name escapes me. They were talking of a party later on, but I said I had to be a good girl and go home. So I walk out of the Hideout onto that really scary pitch black alleyway and start toward North Ave. I called starguitar and was catching up with him, when a herse drove by and the people inside waved at me. I was a little weirded out, but I shrugged it off. Two seconds later, Billy drives up in his minivan covered in baby doll parts and yells, "HEY MICHELLE! WANNA RIDE?" So I got in. It soon became apparent that I was getting a ride to the PARTY instead of a ride home. But I was all giddy and happy and excited, so I said what the hell. You have to do things like that once in a while.
It turned out to be a birthday party for this girl I knew. Very random! Her name was Teri, but I only knew her as Aroura Butterfly. She's this absolute goddess that I met while I was a guest on an indie talk show. She was on the show because she was organizing a nude bike ride. There were other people from the show there, too, so needless to say I was glad I made that little detour. I love nights where I unexpectedly find myself staying up late and meeting fabulous freaks and raunchy artists and having all kinds of random conversations. It was the type of party that makes you realize just how small Chicago can seem. I mean that in a very good way.
When Billy finally drove me home, it was almost 3am, I had permanent marker on my knuckles that read "NEED CA$H" and I was so tired I could barely walk, but it felt awesome. Sorry if I got long-winded, but I just wanted to share my story. This makes me realize that I really, REALLY should be saving this stuff for my zine, but it's cool.
I hope you liked hearing about it, and I hope that next time there's an event like this, I will see some of you there! Cheers. VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
[Edited on Oct 27, 2004 10:35AM]