FATG IT SURVEY

[Merlin]

I have just received and replied to the above survey by the FATG.
24 good questions on general IT useage.
However, Q26.

What kind of articles on IT would you like to see more of in Art Business Today

Is this a joke. There are plenty of specialist IT magazines out there covering this information every month. Plus many specialist magazines covering Home Decor. Why do the ABT feel they need to jump on this bandwagon.
I would like to see ABT cover Picture Framing techniques - hints, tips and help sections. An area that they were, not that long ago, very good at but are now sadly lacking on.
A few more:
Mountcutting techniques. Art conservation. Start up tips for Newbies. Picture Framing Forums. Retail Marketing, Gilding, Mount decoration.

The list goes on.

Or is it me? Am I missing something? They are the
Fine Art Trade Guild after all.

[SquareFrames]

Hi John,

I am in total agreement with you and have said so in my reply. Even as a committee member of the Guild, I thought this was a bit naff, and have no idea what direction this is going.....and thankfully I had nowt to do with it!! We as busy picture framers do not, and cannot afford to spend time on IT, as long as the email works, the Internet works for ordering, etc., I think thats all is necessary........am I being to naive? I do agree that ABT has to keep up with the industry trends and report such, I also think the magazine should be monthly, and not 5 times per year, and her is where some will disagree, I think its should all be subscription, and not free, yes even to members. If this was the case the price should be dropped to arond £1.99 or therabouts, we would still buy it. I would anyhow! The huge costs of producing this magazine and then to give 1000's away FOC, for me doesnt make sense. I know some will come back and say...'Its one of the benefits', but personally I would rather pay for it, and therefore have more of a 'say so' of the input, make it a magazine by the readers for the readers, then we will have no complaints.

What we need is a magazine that is full to the brim of articles about picture framing, tips, hints, show piece frames from the experts, I have even suggested a 'Job of the Issue' (as its not published monthly). I also think the magazine has to relate to its readership, and its readership requirements, so therefore articles on Gallery, Prints, Publishers, Wholesalers, Manufacturers, etc. have to be included, but all in all for me its a magazine for the industry as a whole, but the majority of whom are PICTURE FRAMERS, so a larger percentage volume of articles should reflect that. (My opinion, some will agree, some wont, whats new?)

To give you an example; Last March I help a GCF Refresher Seminar in Northern Ireland, where almost half of the qualkified GCF's turned up, a good Q&A session wa sheld at the end and one of the things all agred on was the re-introduction of the Hints & Tips section into ABT. I brought this up at a Framers Committee meeting shortly after and all committee members agreed this was a super idea. Guess what? Hints & Tips was re-introduced for the next issue, and hasnt been seen since. I am at another meeting on the 3rd November and it will be brought up once again, although I must admit we do not have any control what goes inot to what is left out of the ABT.

Steven

[Merlin]

I agree a magazine for the trade. As an example:

http://www.pictureframingmagazine.com/lateissue.html

What an excellent publication!!

[markw]

I am not sure that you can have a go at ABT for trying - after all it was a questionnaire.
I would look at the vast majority of framers who don’t use any form of technology - for them some basics might well be an opener to tempt them into purchasing a POS system or similar - to say that there are plenty of magazines dealing with the subject really fails to understand how daunting many people view computers and the fiddly bits that go with them. I am fairly computer literate but most computer mags just leave me confused – or patronised - industry specific articles would be useful in cutting away a certain amount of clutter.

Having said that I would agree with Merlin that Picture Framing Magazine is a good contrast to ABT - It has in depth articles on framing issues written by framers who know their business. Better content in PFM but certainly not as well produced as ABT which is a very good example of very high quality repro (I used to produce magazines when I had a proper job).

The question left out was forums - The FATG seems to be paranoid about control - and you can’t control the obvious criticism that gets flung at the FATG whenever its activities are publicly aired.

[More So]

Have to agree with Markw on this one.

Surely we need to be kept up to speed on any external developments which impinge on our industry. For example while there are journals which deal specifically with legal matters, I would prefer to see our own magazine explain how the laws on copyright, employment, etc, might affect the way that I trade rather than having to study law myself.

With recent developments in visualisation, CMC's, POS, gallery management, accountancy, desktop publishing, scanning, printing, not to mention the raft of opportunities offered by the Internet, does the industry not need a bit of guidance on IT, and the potential that it might have to transform the way that we conduct our business?

[SquareFrames]

Hi,

Cant win, can you? Anyone that knows me will know that I for one am the first (sometimes the only one) to stick up for the Guild, when everyone else is having a pop. I think that ABT is one of the best magazines around, and I agree that fair enough they are trying, I just happen to disagree with this time. Is that a crime on my part? I also will stand by my thoughts that the magazine lacks good quality picture framing articles, and my thoughts have always been brought up and agreed with at Guild meetings. I get 2 magazines, the ABT and PB, combine the two and you have a great magazine!

Be honest now, how many filled in the questionare? How many have filled in and replied to previous questionares? By all accounts not too many, as they have either no time or could'nt be bothered.

Steven

[markw]

Steven
Hopefully no more than two - and I will get a nice new printer.

PB seem to be lurching away from framing into "design"
ABT have done some good surveys over the last couple of years - I just dont respond when I have to spend time looking for the information - the top selling image survey being a good example.

[SquareFrames]

Hi Mark,

What makes you think you are getting the printer? Maybe, just maybe its time for it to float its way across the pond, eh?

Steven

PS

If I win a new printer, I could sell it and put the money towards a Epson 2100, and if I was to win it, I'd gleefully start drinking ....again!!!!!!