Also new this year, the Bead & Button editors went beyond the Kalmbach booth and scheduled two-hour "Show us your stuff!" sessions in which applicants could present designs and projects to a panel of editors for feedback and answers to their questions. Applicants were to bring a digital photograph of their design and a completed information form to leave with the editors. This was a way for designers to get objective responses to their work or submit an article proposal to the magazine, as described on the Bead & Button website, and the Kalmbach Publishing Company website Contributor Submission page.
The three editors on Saturday's panel were Associate Editors Julia Gerlach, Lynne Soto, and Addie Kidd. They felt their mission was to listen to the applicants, not to pass judgment on anyone’s submission.
Before the first "Show us your stuff!" session I spoke with Editor Ann Dee Allen and Associate Editor Lynne Soto.
Q: How many article proposal submissions to you receive per month?
A: It varies from 10 to 25 or more per month, with no apparent seasonal pattern.
Q: How many people just send things in without inquiring first?
A:: Applicants usually contact us via email or telephone and receive an explanation of our submission procedure first.
Q: What are the most common problems with submissions?
A:: Occasionally we see threads or knots that show in the work, patterns that don't line up, or color choices that don't photograph well. Here's a helpful tip from Lynne: Black beads don't photograph well! If you want your piece to be considered for a lead photo shot, avoid black as the overall color scheme.
Q: What sort of submission makes you cheer?
A: Once a month we have an editorial meeting to sort through proposals, and we see pieces that make us exclaim, "Wow, that's cool!" –striking in its originality, workmanship, creativity, use of color, unique materials, or combination of stitches. As explained on our submissions guidelines webpage, we look for beaded jewelry, and occasionally other objects, that feature:
- A well-conceived and pleasing, balanced design.
- A high level of craftsmanship.
- Unique, modified or combined techniques.
- A striking color palette.
- Innovative use of quality materials.
- Adaptable elements that encourage creativity.
- Current jewelry or beading trends.
A: We're just too busy!
Q: Do you get many complaints about design ownership?
A: This issue is always in the background in beading! We watch all possible venues to see who's designing what. The August issue of Bead&Button has an article on copyright written by an author, attorney and jewelry designer, which helps to define the legal side. On the ethical side, the best thing to do is to follow the golden rule.
Q: With over a decade of publication now, do you review back issues if you suspect a proposal may be a repeat of something past?
A: We check back issues if we need to, and our collective memory and our knowledge of designs is pretty solid.
Q: Has the flourishing of offshoot Kalmbach publications such as BeadStyle and Art Jewelry skimmed the cream from Bead&Button insofar as market share?
A: Each magazine serves a unique audience. BeadStyle caters to the market base of stringers and people who love to make fashion jewelry, and Art Jewelry caters to people working with metal. Bead&Button is what it's always been. We have a legacy of loyal subscribers and new readers who want to create challenging, process-based, wearable jewelry. The editors of all three publications work just down the hall from each other, and submissions are sometimes referred to the other magazines.
Q: What's the outlook for small bead shops, given the rise of large suppliers that seems to be taking place?
A: We don't have the numbers or the knowledge to give you an answer. The American Craft Association may be a better resource for this sort of information. Bead shops and suppliers are an essential part of the circle including bead makers, jewelry designers, consumers and readers.
Q: As online publishing income opportunities for authors increase, do you see any possibility for increased compensation in order for magazines to stay competitive in attracting submissions from the more experienced designers?
A: That's something to look into.
Q: What about book contracts? Are you accepting proposals, or just continuing to publish compilations of articles from back magazine issues?
A: Yes, Kalmbach has a books division, separate from the magazines. The Executive Editor is Pat Lantier.
Lynne Soto, after the first "Show us your stuff" session, reported that they had over 30 applicants, and had scheduled a second session Sunday to accommodate applicants who were unable to attend the Saturday session because they were in class or manning a booth in the marketplace. This had been an email promotion only to registrants and teachers, not a blanket promotion on the show's website, as the staff was uncertain about just how many applicants might turn up. So at 5 minutes per applicant, the number was just about right to fit into the two hours scheduled.
Overall, they were impressed by the good workmanship, original designs, and interesting use of materials that the applicants presented. Many would indeed be contacted for publication of a magazine article.
Applicants Dottie Bezanilla and Cathy Lampole reported a positive, encouraging response from the editorial panel. Panel responses included inquiry as to how the piece was constructed, whether the applicant had taught or considered teaching the project, comments on colors. Dottie felt encouraged to go ahead and pursue other original designs as publication possibilities.
