Friday Fun -- Comments Please!

Man, you know what's a sad sight on this blog? Well, yes, that puppy from my Feb. 13 post. But I was referring more to the sorry state of my comment counts. I mean, scroll down this page and it's damn near binary code: 0-1-1-2-2-1-1...

And one of those comments was calling me out on an error. Sheesh.

But that ends right here. I'm opening things up in move that could either prove to be a confidence booster or a devastating dose of the reality that I don't actually reach millions (rw) thousands (rw) hundreds (rw) more than a few people outside my family (there you go).

So, what I want to know from all of YOU, my readers and fellow magazine hopefuls/employees: What's the best/coolest/most useful thing you've scored from work? (Those of you foreign to the wonderful world of product reviews, magazines get bombarded with free stuff ranging anywhere from Nerf guns to guacamole)

Obviously I haven't been working in magazines too long, but during my internship in New York I was able to leave with a superfly pair camouflage boots and, my personal favorite, turkey callers! Yes, as in little scratching pads that make turkey sounds. I actually got more use from those than the boots, as my roommates and I used to sit on our roof and turkey call all the people below that were walking back from the bars. (Indiana isn't called a party school for nothing!)

So lets have it people. Light up the boards, jam the servers, and let's break this streak of poorly commented posts. The ball is in your court now....

Come for the free coffee. Stay for the speakers

The words "conference," "seminar," or "workshop" tend to strike fear in the heart of any working man or woman. And to students, they generally spell a free day at home playing X-box. Unless they're required, in which case, well, at least you get to hone your art skills doodling all over the pamphlet they handed you at the door.

But as Ed's faithful servant of service to all those "on the hunt," I am here to say something potentially lame. Conferences can be cool. Yes, go ahead, dock me 15 "hipoints," but I'll stick by my word: Conferences can (legitimately) be great experiences. Especially when you are just getting started.

During my senior year, I had the pleasure of attending the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism in Boston. Now, current students take note. I'll repeat, this time in color, current students take note!! I met with the dean of my journalism school and was able to get the school to finance my trip out east provided I came back and shared what I learned via some seminar or workshop of my own. Also, most conferences like this have either a scholarship program (such is the case for Nieman) or they are free to current students (at least reduced fees). What I'm trying to say is: Students, you can attend these bad boys totally free of charge. And believe me, as soon as you graduate, you won't see that opportunity again for a long time.

The key to picking the right conference is: 1. Knowing your own interest, and 2. Doing your research first. I mention the first because you want to make sure that the majority of the schedule will appeal to the specific direction you wish to pursue in journalism. Obviously, any magazine workshop will be good, or, if you are like me and have a passion for feature writing, something like the narrative journalism conference will also tickle your fancy. As for No. 2, it's important to read up on who will be speaking, what kind of topics they will be covering, and if those topics are unfamiliar, yet intriguing to you. Try to look into professional-level conferences and workshops as opposed to college-level ones because, after all, that's what you're looking to become.

If both of those apply, there is no such thing as moving too soon. Draft up a little pitch to your adviser or dean, do your research, put on your fancy pants, and convince them that your school desperately needs you in attendance for this event.

And lastly, being the habitual giver that I am, I'll hook you all up with a little 411 on just such a gathering taking place in New York this March. The Magazine Career Insight Conference is being put on by the Magazine Publishers of America and for anybody wanting to work in New York's magazine industry it certainly fits all the qualifications I mentioned above. So check it out, and who knows? Maybe I'll see you there.... Not that you'll know who I am... Or what I look like... Or what my name is...

POOF!! Puff of smoke and Ed's Guy disappears to the sound of distant maniacal laughter...

Little Bit o' Luck

For those of you not in New York (or those of you in New York who don't have T.V. and tend to ride the subway with your eyes closed), there has been a recent ad campaign for the New York lottery featuring the freakish-looking man/elf guy to the right. The whole concept is that all you need to win the Take 5 is a foot tall man in a blazer with an oversized head and glasses. Or, as he calls himself, a "Little Bit Of Luck."

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because I just landed my first apartment in New York City. And the circumstances that got me here are just about as freakish as our friend here.

Last Wednesday I decided to peruse Craigslist, not really hoping for much. I put a max price on $1,000 and only really responded to ads in neighborhoods that interested me (which left me contacting about five out of 1,734 ads). Anyway, before I even finished searching I received a phone call. It was a woman who had placed one of the ads. She told me to come by on Saturday. I said great.

So Saturday I went out to Brooklyn, scoped the place, it looked great, location was fantastic, chatted with the two people who live there now, and went on my way. I had lunch with a friend and before I had even paid the bill my phone was ringing. It was the people from the apartment telling me that I had won the reality-television-esque challenge of Roommate Real World Williamsburg.

I had a home. I have a home. Well, as of next weekend, I will have a home.

It's felt absolutely surreal for the past few days. I mean, Craigslist is usually a sure-fire way to find weirdos and free hospital beds. Not much else. Well, also this kickass Hello Kitty telephone. But that's it!

Nevertheless, in a matter of four days I went from aimlessly browsing the listings to forking over the security deposit on the type of apartment I could only dream of. And the whole scenario made me realize that people tend to spin yarns about the difficulty, the hardship, the suffering, the commitment, the this, the that, the everything terrible that it takes to successfully move to New York and make it work. And I'm not trying to deny that sometimes, for some people, it can be a pretty crappy ordeal. I mean, I am writing this post within 5 feet of a litter box right now, so I'm not entirely endowed myself.

I guess what I'm getting at, for all of you destined to make this journey in the upcoming weeks and months, is that there is more to the process than simply what you can control -- sometimes that favors you, sometimes it doesn't. But either way, it's a reason to calm down and stay focused on only that which you can control.

Cuz honestly, you don't need that much to make this whole thing work. You need some cash, some good friends, some assemblage of a network, and... Yes, a little bit o' luck.

More of the freakazoid.

Friday Fun

Just like Will Ferrell in this Shaq-daddy suit -- I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I had every intention of posting yesterday, but then came setting up job interviews, setting up interviews for apartments, reading the New York Times' novella on John McCain's shadiness.... Next thing I know, it's Friday.

And that means work for me, which means not as much time to really delve deep into the changing world of Ed's Guy. So instead, I'll give you the Cliffs Notes version and leave you with some fun stuff to get you through the day.

1. Pro v. Cons lists may seem a little elementary, but when it comes right down to the nitty-gritty of contemplating jobs, apartments, other life decisions, I'll be damned if they don't help.

2. A good ol' fashioned "Thank You" can really go a long way. I know this is a tired bit of information, but sometimes taking the approach of NOT sending somebody a resume and cover letter, but rather just meeting them for coffee and sending a "Thank You" card can go a lot further.

3. Never neglect a contact. Ever. Nuff said.

There you go. I can elaborate a little more at a later date. And now for the fun stuff.

Barack Obama warmed up your car for you... He loves your laugh... He carries pictures of you in his wallet... And more!

And then there's these kids... 41 fantastic Science Fair projects. Oh, we all remember those display boards. Some personal favorites are: "Moon Babies," "Crystal Meth: Friend or Foe?" "The Ideal Pancreas: Part 2 (what was part 1?)," and that kid with the amazing motorcycle sweater! Enjoy.

The Greatest Network of All

No, I'm not talking about the Food Network.

I'm talking about family. Extended, nuclear, and anything in between. Friends are priceless, even essential to the process of moving to New York, but family is something stronger. Something deeper. For most of us, it's something unshakable. It's a guarantee.

And just ask somebody looking for apartments; a sure thing is hard to come by in this town.

It's easy to get caught up in New York. Take me not posting since Valentine's Day for example. Friday was filled with working before the long weekend, the long weekend was, well, a long weekend, then Tuesday you're working to catch up for missing a day, then Wednesday rolls around and you blow half the day waiting for New York magazine's Web page to load.... Well, you catch my drift. Point is, it's easy to get lost starring at the passing lights. But perhaps one of the greatest mistakes one can make in this journey, is forgetting where it started.

I know this is a bit more serious of a tone than you may be used to from Ed's main man here, and I don't mean to come across sounding preachy (Call your mother!!). It just sort of dawned on me how easy it is to fall out of touch with friends, but how impossible it seems to be able to shake free from family. At least for me (This is as good a time as any for a moment of transparency -- My extended family, more than 25 strong, is most likely responsible for half my page views. Either by reading themselves, or recommending others to read. In fact, I'm pretty sure my Mom has set her entire office's homepage to this blog just to ensure their participation. So, obviously, this issue really hits home for me -- yes, fam, pun intended).

Overall, my message is just to remember that your most important network isn't the one that requires cups of coffee or periodic Emails to keep in tact. It's the one that will house you free of charge or buy your magazine even if appeals to them in no way whatsoever.

So next time you bust out that stack of "Thank You" cards to write that editor who interviewed you or that friend who edited your story pitch, go ahead and address one to Grandma & Grandpa. Because I guarantee that one will end up on a refrigerator instead of in a waste basket.

All my blogging, I will send to you

Oh, there were so many options with that headline: "All you need is blog," "Can't buy me blog," "Blog, blog me do"... Shall I go on?

You may be asking, what's with The Beatles? Well, today is Valentine's Day -- when people think of love. And when I think of love, I think of The Beatles. Mostly, because I love them.

But seriously, for most people, this day kind of sucks. I'm willing to bet that most people fall into the categories of "single," "in a relationship, but apart from my significant other," or "in a relationship but smart enough not to dump tons of money on a made up shmoopy holiday," as opposed to the smaller percentage people in the"Omigod, I loooove V-Day almost more than Sweetest Day" population. Therefore, most people are either feeling lonely, sad, or broke today. Personally, EdGuy has an EdGirl back in the Midwest, and thus, he's snuggling up with John, Paul, George & Ringo.

Somehow, I've drifted vastly off course... purpose?... transition?... purpose? Ah, yes! This day is also about gifts! And alas, I have one for all of you! Cuz there is always room in my heart for a reader. So, I present some helpful thoughts, insights, and ideas related to becoming more Web savvy magazine journalists (compliments of two Web editors from one of the nation's most prestigious magazines):

* Become fluent in a multitude of languages -- In other words, the more you can learn about multimedia, page building, and writing for the Web, the better armed you will be for the changing landscape of 21st century journalism.

* Don't get too comfortable thinking your Web site falls under the umbrella of your print product -- Many view a publication's Web presence as an offspring of the actual magazine. Think of it more as a sibling, able to work with, rather than for, the monthly/weekly issues.

* Be conscious of the different experiences with each product -- What you get from a Web site and why you go there, are vastly different from that of a magazine. Holding the bound pages in your hand is more open, receptive, an experience all to itself. When visiting a site, you are generally looking for something more specific and a little less patient. [Sidenote: This is why this particular Web editor doesn't think print versions will ever die]

* Think corollaries -- With whatever you are working on, freelanced or not, always be thinking of what unique opportunities the Web can provide for that project: a poll, a slide show, a video, some audio, anything.

* Buy your own domain -- Starting a Web site is not as frighteningly difficult as it may seem to most word people. So unless you share a name with somebody famous, buy a domain (i.e. www.johnsmith.com) and start building a site dedicated to the greatest topic of all -- You! It will impress potential employers and prove that there is more to you than just a resume (though you can put that in there in case they forget what it looks like).

* Befriend the webbies!! -- While that last one was more for the jobless, this one's for those of you lucky enough to be at a publication already. Your Web needs the most day-to-day content of any aspect of your publication, and it probably has one of the smallest staffs supporting it. So go be nice, make friends, and let them know you are more than willing to lend a hand whenever they need it.

So there you have it. Sorry for the long post, but lets face it, you've got nothing better to do tonight -- all your friends are out on dates. Don't worry, I'm right here with ya. I'll be YouTube searching every Beatles song related to love. Oh yea, and drinking. Heavily.

Here's a little something to get you started: "From me to you" and "All my loving"
And a little something for the Ed Guy's special Gal: "What any irresponsible, unmotivated dropout would do..."

P-p-p-pwweease don't hate me

Yup, I went there. I resorted to the sad puppy dog image.

And now that I have you feeling sympathetic enough to handle seeing your favorite pair of shoes turned into confetti, I have to admit that my promised post will be arriving a little late. (Don't hate me... Direct your eyes upward a little... there you go... and we're good)

I did, indeed, meet two Web editors yesterday and they gave me loads of good advice. And as my Valentine's Day gift to all of you, I will share some of the highlights instead of choosing to keep it all to myself and reign supreme over each and every one of you.

So, Happy Valentine's Day (barf) to all of you (gag) -- sorry bout that, had a little chunk of commercialism stuck in my throat there -- and I'll be updating you soon!

As a matter of fact...

For the city that never sleeps, I sure have been napping on all of you. I hope you can find it in your hearts (and your Favorites tab) to forgive me.

But I have a moderately decent excuse. I was finding work. Yup, like real, big boy, paid-in-official-U.S.-currency work. Before you gasp and pass out into a pile of free test products, I didn't find a "job," as in full time, so I think I still qualify as being "on the hunt." Which means I can still write for all of you.

What I did get was a freelance fact checking position. And for all you other "hunters" out there, this avenue of work should definitely be explored. It pays, it gets a certain appendage into a certain inside-leading archway, and it's usually part time which leaves ample opportunity for continued job searching, interviews, or episodes of "The Price is Right." And as a good friend pointed out, once you have experience checking facts, you can always fall back on more freelance work should something terrible happen, like your magazine folding -- not that that ever happens.

But fact checking is not for everyone. It's not nearly as rudimentary as it may seem. It's a precision sport that really takes a while to master, not to mention the right resources. That said, there is a lot of help available. And being the loving blogger that I am, I have done some leg work for you. For instance, there are books written by a former New Yorker fact checker. But really, who reads anymore? Well, the lovely folks at Media Bistro have got you covered. They offer a course/seminar/courseminar, but it's not exactly within range of a typical fact checker's budget. But they've done their research and, thus, they offer an 18-minute video download that is only $15 bucks. If spending that hard-earned scrilla is not "your thing," then you can just click around for a while on this site, that has a lot going on but it's all related to checking facts.

So did I win you back? Do you forgive me for my four day absence from posting? Thanks. I knew you would. And just to further cement my significance (not to mention my legitimacy, a true rarity in the blogosphere), on Wednesday evening I will be bringing all of you some exclusive insight to the wonderful world of Web journalism as it pertains to magazines. I'm scheduled to meet up with one (maybe two) Web editors for a very prestigious publication that afternoon, and I'll share some of the highlights right here.

Until then, here's a fantastic video from funnyordie.com that is funny, fact-y, and Bill Murra-y. Enjoy!

Pulled pork with Onions

Sorry I missed everybody yesterday, but I was downtown having lunch with a writer from everybody's favorite source for satire, as well as having drinks with an alumn from my school.

There are two lessons that came out of my day, though. The first is that you never know where a great contact will come from. I actually got in touch with this guy because my boss from the shoe store back home was friends with this writer's family way back in the day (sidenote: my mom really hopes I can get a job there eventually so she can talk about how I was a "shoe in" -- hardy har, mom).

Anyway, the second important lesson is: never order a pulled pork sandwich -- or a pulled anything, for that matter -- when you're meeting somebody important. Stick to clean, easily-forkable foods. Trust me.

So yeah, how's that for some stunning reconnaissance work by the Ed guy? He goes to the city to meet with two members of media and comes back with the advice of not creating a small shrine of dirty napkins at a lunch meeting. That's why they pay me the big bucks. Or rather, why I'm making nothing at all.

There you have it folks -- another day, another fairly obvious piece of advice. Tune in next time when I share lessons on being timely and the merits of showering. Seriously though, I have garnered myself some freelance fact checking and internship leads so I will talk a bit about those in future postings. Oh, and also, Thank You cards. Very clutch. More on that to come, as well.

Until then... here's some more random junk to help you reach Friday faster.

* Video from the mayhem I described in the last post. Listen close in the first few seconds for my favorite line, "Break that shit!" Puts new meaning to Michael Strahan's catch phrase "We stomp you out!"
* Who doesn't love token multi-legged animal stories? Favorite line here: "... and won't even require physical therapy." Who the F gets their pet physical therapy? Better yet, who has the title of Kitty Physical Therapist?
* Lastly, magazine covers through the eyes of The Onion.

One of the few topics I feel confident talking about... Me!

A quick anecdote before we begin -- So yours truly tried to catch the big Giants rally/parade today (pictured), seeing as he had nothing better to do. After being forced this way and corralled that way by some of New York's finest, I ended up somewhere along Reade St. near City Hall. All the drifting and changing of direction got me there too late to catch any players passing by, but what I did see made the trip almost equally worthwhile. What started as people trying to gain a vantage point, ended up resulting in a taxi cab getting completely demolished and a black Cadilac being trampled and smashed to the point of pouring smoke out from under the hood. A legion of roughly 25 mounted police officers had to gallop their way through the crowd before order was restored. If only the Ed guy could have managed to get tear gassed in his second week in the city... Mom would've been so proud.

Anyway, moving on to something that actually pertains to magazines -- you know, the whole reason I've been asked to do write this. I wanted to address a recent comment posted on a story from last week. It read...

Hey ED Guy,
Love your writing style! How about sharing some information about where you're from, what type of magazine (or which ones) you are looking to get into and what kind of experience have you had so far (internships, jobs etc)? A resume post of sorts....

Now this is a question I can handle! (Note: Beginning questions with compliments = sure-fire way to get them answered) Well, "beautytalk," I am 22, having just graduated in September, and I spent the past few months back home in the norther suburbs of Chicago, or rather Chi-kaaahhh-go, as we sound to all you easterners. At home I was working for a shoe store -- mostly traveling on the road and fitting up cheerleaders (yes, tough job, but somebody had to do it) -- to save up pennies for the big move to New York.

I went to school at a large, midwestern University that shall remain nameless (let's just it was waaayyy better than Purdue or Illinois and the mascot sounded a lot like "boozer"). There, I did a lot of sports writing/editing up until senior year when I helped launch a magazine. The timing worked out well, there, seeing as I interned through ASME that summer right before senior year.

As for what I'm looking for, well, my dream magazine is a magazine that's hiring right now. In other words, I know better than to hold much hope in landing a gig at one of my favorite publications (though Ed's last lady proved anything is possible). But not to sidestep the question, I enjoy most sports and men's magazines (Esquire, SI, GQ, etc.) as well as music mags, so those are obviously atop my list. A couple under-the-radar mags I really love, as well, are Vice and the New York Times' sports magazine Play.

So there you have it. Me in a nutshell. Until next time...

Predictably Unpredictable

I love football – almost as much as I love massive amounts of people collectively going crazy. So I’m a little upset I didn’t trek into Manhattan last night for the big game.

See, I never really gave the Giants a chance. They had been overachieving throughout the playoffs, and the Patriots, well, they are simply the best team I’ve ever seen. I still feel that way a day after their first loss.

But that’s the great thing about sports: They teach us important lessons that transfer well beyond the field of play. So this morning, when I found out the room I had counted on moving into at the end of the month would no longer be available, it didn’t really take me off guard. I mean, it still sucks. Don’t get me wrong. But at least the news didn’t sucker punch me.

Go back and look at interviews with Patriots coach Bill Belichick after the game, and that’s the look of a man who got hit with something he didn’t see coming. And that’s a position you never want to be in – especially while trying to get on your feet in New York City. Cuz in this situation, a sucker punch can knock you out.

I guess what I’m getting at is the significance of being prepared for anything – good or bad. Sometimes a job you approach as a long shot ends up calling you for an interview. Sometimes an apartment you think you’re locked into winds up becoming unavailable. But in either situation, you’ve got to be ready to tackle the next day.

Another lesson from sports is to stay on your toes. Regardless of the game, you’ve got to be ready to react in a split-second. The same can be said for this city. Whether it be preparing for an interview or dodging a taxi on Broadway, you’ve got to be prepared (or at least open to the possibility) of anything.

Don’t believe me? Just ask Tom Brady.

[Ed’s Guy acknowledges that the majority of his audience is female, and thus, would probably prefer he not dribble on and on with sports analogies. He will try to limit these in the future. But, unlike Giants receiver Plaxico Burress, he will not make any guarantees. Damnit! Sorry. He’s seriously done.]