Drag Magazine

[DragMag]

I'm doing a class project for University, and we're to come up with a concept for a magazine. I'm hoping to get some information on whether or not anyone would be interested in the idea of a magazine for Cross Dressers and Drag Queens (not to buy or anything, just whether it's a good idea). I have about 5 or 6 questions as to whether or not a magazine in this field would be accepted, if there is anything like this in print already, and whether anyone would be interested in giving a potential interview for articles.
You can contact me on here, or send me an email at
writetosparkle@gmail.com.
Thanks very much, hope to hear from you all soon.

[Sharon]

What is the focus of the magazine going to be? Mostly photos or articles of interest? And if there are articles, will they be instructional, news oriented, or lighthearted, such as fashion and makeup tips?

[DragMag]

These are exactly the questions, I'd like to ask. This is the very preliminal stage of planning. I'm to find out what would be most useful.
I don't know whether people would like to read about tips and tricks, or how-to's, or whether forus like this are all the information they need on the topic.
I'd like to imagine a buyer's guide, on the best places to find shoes, wigs and clothes, etc, maybe some personal accounts on the ups and downs of crossdressing, but like I said, I don't know what would be best received. My professor just told us to go and start talking to people.

[Kathleen Ann Trees]

Personally, I love the idea. Would I pay for it? It would have to be VERY good!

Our community is very diverse from closet hobbiests to entertainment drag queens to TGs. And not all of us are personally comfortable with each other. (Welcome to humanity.) So I see the business model as a tough one because of the nichiness (is that a word).

Today there is so much information on line, as in this wonderful forum, that I think it would be hard to find enough people to pick it up off the shelf or willing to have it mailed to their home. Magazines are all about circulation, and if advertisers are going to spend their ad money you've got to get it in front of people.

Good luck with your studies and idea.
Kathleen Ann

[DragMag]

Thanks Kathleen Ann.
This is the difficulty I'm having, is I almost think it's a little too "niche-y". Information for closet-hobbiests probably wouldn't interest entertainers and vice-versa.
What do you think would make a publication VERY good?

[Sally24]

http://www.centurianonline.com/welcome.php
http://www.girltalk-online.com/index.html
http://www.cdspub.com/LL.html
http://www.ifge.org/Article350.phtml
http://roses.repartee.tv/repinfo.php?mag=55&curmag=55
http://www.northernconcord.org.uk/cross.htm


Try these links to see some of what is currently available.

Good Luck!

[DragMag]

Thank you very much, Sally.

[Bonnie D]

I would like to see a magazine that had articles about and from those who have publicly come out and how their lives have changed. Articles about those who are in the closet and how their life is affected. A section on make-up tips, another section on wigs, styles and care, another on fashion and then a section with shopping sites and other TG sites. One section should also be devoted to SOs, their trials and tribulations of living with a TG. This magazine would have to include the whole spectrum mtf, ftm, intersex ...

Bonnie

[DragMag]

Thank you, Bonnie D!!

A few questions, maybe we can do in survey form:

1) Where do you currently get information on cross-dressing and the drag community?
2) Is there anything you can't find online that you would like to have in a published hard-copy?
3) What would make a magazine most useful/interesting to you?
4) Frequecy of publication (weekly, monthly, bimonthly, other)?
5) Perferred size? Reader's Digest-small scale? Or Rolling Stone-large scale?
6) Is the subject important enough to pay for it? If not, would you read (and trust), this magazine if you did not have to pay for it?

[paulaN]

Sally gave you a real good start on whats out there.

[MsJanessa]

All kinds of magazines for T-Girls out there---check them out they are listed above and then maybe try something a little different but the same

[DonnaT]

1) Where do you currently get information on cross-dressing and the drag community?
Online, and talking to others, either in person or online.

2) Is there anything you can't find online that you would like to have in a published hard-copy?
Not that I know of. Lots of stories, good and bad, in forums, blogs and personnal webpages. Lots of advice with respect to every aspect of being trans, is also found online.

3) What would make a magazine most useful/interesting to you?
Nothing I can think of. I've read different magazines, like Repartee and Transformations (http://www.ccgdata.com/6466-6.html). Nothing there new to me.

[Kathleen Ann Trees]

Okay, here some ideas in no particular order. Just off the top of my head.

1. Well written biographies with nice pictorals of gurls and their stories.
2. A legal page with what's going on around the country with our struggle.
3. A world section with what goes on around the world with CD's and the cultures they live in.
4. Some fluff. Best/Worst dressed lists. Why they work or don't work for us. This could be from places like red carpet events to CD conventions or pride parades. These could be focused on shoes, jewelry, etc. Also in this category could be what golf calls - "what's in the bag" - where they see what clubs a pro uses. Let's see gurls collections, clothes, shoes, makeup cabinet, jewelry from pros (Karen Hutton) to rank amateurs.
5. Our homes. How gurls decorate. This could be a whole range of stories from special closets, to cabinets, to whole rooms, offices, etc.
6. Advise columns on everything from clothes, makeup, etc all about our unique challenges and bodies.
7. Ads. It would be interesting to see how the major consumer goods manufacturers would develop ads and use their marketing monies in a CD magazine.
8. Travel & Entertainment. Where to go. What to see. Where to shop.
9. Community. Stories about family, friends, neighbors, citys, etc as they work to relate to the CD/TG world.
10. Bottom line for me is I would want it to be very tastefully done. Not a smutty format. Anyone who is interested in CD would find it informative. Anyone who doesn't know about us or doesn't approve would pick up the magazine and see how mainstream we can be.

A final word. Magazine and CD's have one thing in common. That is an image. Pictures. Appearance. We could have a very good synergy.

Kathleen Ann Trees

[DragMag]

Thank you sooooo much! You have all been so helpful, and welcoming.
I was having a great deal of difficulty getting anyone to talk to me.
Thank you again!!!!!

[CDTiffany]

I'm doing a class project for University, and we're to come up with a concept for a magazine. I'm hoping to get some information on whether or not anyone would be interested in the idea of a magazine for Cross Dressers and Drag Queens (not to buy or anything, just whether it's a good idea). I have about 5 or 6 questions as to whether or not a magazine in this field would be accepted, if there is anything like this in print already, and whether anyone would be interested in giving a potential interview for articles.
You can contact me on here, or send me an email at
writetosparkle@gmail.com.
Thanks very much, hope to hear from you all soon.

I would love to give an interview. And provide pix!
I have been doing this for 30 years, And I am a Real CD Girl!
Therapy and all.

XOXO Tiffany

[Phoebe Reece]

Actually this is not a new idea. Even the name was used a long time ago. Drag Magazine existed from around 1970 to around 1981. I even have a few copies in my personal collection. There is a tribute to it in the Winter 2006 / 2007 Transgender Tapestry magazine that was in the information handouts at the Southern Comfort Conference.
54392

[marykrissmithcd]

Sally24 has already given you alot of stuff out there. The magazine I've bought a couple of time is Transformations. Very professionally done with beautiful girls featured. You can order it on line but I found it in the CD section of an adult video store that sells porn.

[Tiffy]

Would be willing to give insight for someone who is out to family but not the world. And living with a spouse that is supportive and reversing home roles. I am my wifes housewife.

Tiffany

[DragMag]

Thank you!! I know I keep saying it, but I really appreciate all of your help so much!
Seeing as I'm still very new to the forum, is there a way to directly contact those of you who'd like to talk a little more (CDTiffany and Tiffy)?
And actually: Pheobe Reece -- do you think a library might have some archieved copies of the "Drag Magazine"? I'd love to look at them. Or maybe I should try the adult stores, as MaryKrisSmithCD suggested.
Once again, thank you all so much.

[Khriss]

sooo I was a "Cover Girl" of an issue of "LadyLike" ..
while i've asked for any copy of My pictures published there ..
I've been denied , as "older" postings ..or "Issues" are no longer available..
bumms Me , not to have a copy of that issue ..!?
"K"

[Phoebe Reece]

DragMag, Good luck finding a library with "Drag Magazine" in it. You might find some in an adult book store, but that is equally unlikely since it has been out of print for so long. Private collectors are the best source. Take a look at this website: http://www.mariettepathyallen.com/VWinventory.html Mariette Pathy Allen has a number of issues of Drag in her personal collection. You might try contacting her to find a source.

[DragMag]

Khriss, that's not very nice that they wouldn't give a cover girl back issues! They have to have some in their stock.... or at least, i'd think they would.
Phoebe Reece -- thanks for the link. I'll definitely look into it.
I just got back from class tonight - the professor was very impressed with everything I told him. Thank you all again for all of your help!!!

[BarbaraTalbot]

Jodie Wexler has been doing a mock-up of a fictional CD magazine there.

I would say based on the popularity of her threads, and my own experience on my blog as I look at things like why people visit and importantly (for your purposes, not so much mine!) how LONG they visit, how many pages the view, (holy run-on sentence batman) that the appeal of such a magazine would be visually driven. On the rare time I post photos, people stay a lot longer than say when I list a diet recipe.

You could mix drag queens in a mag for closeted CD's but not the reverse. Drag queens live it so wouldn't as likely buy it.

Cd's would want to but would be embarrassed to be seen buying it. Definitely plain brown wrapper or better, online.

As far as adult stores the mags there would be of lesser interest to I would guess 1/2 of the CD's. Much as a magazine for woman wouldn't look to penthouse for cues, so therefore would the whole CD porn industry not be quite the same as a magazine you described. Those magazines are more for the CD "admirer" than for the CD's themselves. Now that isn't to say that CD's themselves like any other group of men have a subset that are very much admirer's of other CD's, just saying thats a different market and less broad than the whole.

I think you will find that we are pretty chatty girls here for the most part. 2 more posts and you are officially in the club. Heels and a skirt are not required for membership and to send PM's to members but 10 posts are. good luck!

[Shannon CD]

As I always do, I did a quick search on ebay to see if any back issues of Drag Magzine might be available. TONS of racing magazines came up, but I did have a little luck. There is one magazine for bid called "In Drag"

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-IN-DRAG-BOYS-WILL-BE-GIRLS-MAGAZINE-GAY-INTERES_W0QQitemZ220155940933QQihZ012QQcategoryZ28 0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I imagine that if you check back every now and again you will eventually find what you are looking for.

As for your magazine might I suggest a monthly article written by a mental health proffesional detailing psychological and social issues regarding the transgendered.

In my humble opinion, a magazine with this subject matter (Drag) could appeal to all types of TG's, whether closeted, straight, hobbiest, professional drag queens, or what ever. "Nichiness" shouldn't matter as long as you include something for every niche. For example, "Guitar Player" magazine appeals to all levels of musicianship and transcends all genres of music.

Good luck.

[DragMag]

I didn't realize a certain number of posts allows me to PM. Thanks Barbara! You also gave me a lot to work with!! Thanks for the link to your blog as well - I think you're definitely right about the Photos = time concept.. People are definitely visual. I think a magazine like this should be very image heavy.

Shannon, I agree with you - I've spoken to a couple performers here in Toronto, and they said that they'd like the same things that a few CD have mentioned on here. I think including something from all of niches could definitely increase a potential interest in such a magazine. Oh, and thanks for the eBay idea! I didn't even think about that!!

[DragMag]

Me again, the professor just sent us this week's assignment: Come up with an idea for a "Theme Issue". I'm thinking something along the lines of a Make-Up issue. I know there's a shopping magazine, here in Toronto, that does "Shoe" issues. I'm thinking for a a "Drag Magazine", I could do issues dedicated to Make-Up, Hair, and even shoes.
Do you think there is enough material to dedicate an entire issue to these ideas??

[Beth785]

My one concern for trying to market such a magazine would be that many of us here who live with an so or family members who are unaware of the cding, would the cder want a magazine delivered to the house with the fear of being outed or even buy a product at a bookstore/market/adult store with a fear of being outed to even a stranger? That might be a concern to the marketability of such a product.

[Joy Carter]

Hi Ya DragMag

I understand this is just a class project "?"
I'd think if you would look at some fashion and makeup magazines for
real girls", then apply that format to "us girls" then you would have some interest.
Then profiling girls/spouses would also be of interest. Their lives and how they enjoy/cope with their world.
I'd suggest you read some of the forms here to get ideas on what interests us and what diversity you find among our "culture".
Oh and CragMag, no porn.:thumbsdn:

[ronni]

I'd subscribe to it

[Samantha B L]

Hi Drag Mag, It all sounds like a good idea. I do know for a fact that there have been other Drag and CD'ing publications going back a long time into the days when these things weren't discussed much. It wouldn't be the only Transgender Publication on the market,there are others,and you'd have to keep pretty busy to stay afloat from a financial standpoint and work hard to keep it interesting. But it could be done and I say the more the merrier. I would certainly buy it. But not through the mail. I would pick it up at a business which is about 10 miles from where I live. I am very interested in fashion and beauty tips. Something that all crossdressers are interested in are advertisents for clothing,wigs,jewelry,makeup,lingerie,hoserie,shoe s,boots.Many are also interested in informational tidbits about CD freindly hangouts and stuff like travel clubs and reviews of CD oriented entertainment and movies. To tell you the truth,Drag Mag,I'd subscribe by mail but I've had stuff come to me brown bagged but labled "ADULT MATERIAL ENCLOSED"and family members of mine threw it away before I got it. Thanks for your time,Samantha