| Greetings From Your Editor I seem to have been doing this job for some considerable time - probably about 12 years, when I think about it. That means something approaching 48 issues... 'mind-boggling' always used to seem like a silly phrase, only now...... Anyway, the last editor decided to go live in Spain for half the year so someone had to do it. A crowd of local people got together to help out and we thought we'd all take turns to write the editorial. Of course, it was never that simple - being editor of Tykes' News is definitely rather more than just writing the editorial, and I happened to have the space, the computer, the time, and, hey presto, I got the job. Fear set in. What if someone discovered I wasn't editor material? What if I couldn't do it? What if I was sued for something I didn't really mean at the time? What if nobody liked it? What if we lost loads of money we didn't have? The usual worries. And while I continued to worry, a few issues came and went. Gradually, we realised that our attempts to find new writers and new reviewers, and our efforts to make the magazine more interesting and more professional, were paying off. Subscription numbers were rising (they have quadrupled in number since I started), sales were rising despite clubs closing, and people were generally taking a great deal more interest in the magazine. I've just been looking at an Autumn 1980 copy of Tykes' News, then published by the West Yorkshire District, English Folk Dance & Song Society, and edited then by Mal Jardine although the magazine was produced at the home of Liz & Geoff Bowen in Ilkley. Liz and Geoff handed the reins to Nigel Schofield in 1986 who, in turn, passed it on to me in 1990. I cannot remember exactly when the connection with EFDSS was severed but Tykes' has been independent, financially, for many years. And it makes money. Not a lot, but last year we spent the accumulated 'profits' on a FREE quarter's issue of the magazine. The only reason the magazine makes money is because none of the people who produce it get paid a penny for their time. There are those people who write regular articles; there are reviewers; those who typeset advertisements, who proof-read text, who plan the magazine fitting everything in; those who look after the finances sending out invoices to those who don't pay up front, chasing unpaid bills, keeping accounts; those who keep the subscription database updated, who stuff envelopes, stick labels, buy stamps, heave vast quantities to the sorting office; those who design illustrations, who work their socks off to ensure your advertisement will look its best, who physically cut and paste text and ads.; those who reply to queries, collect information, and update and maintain Filofolk's web presence. I could continue for a long time describing all the jobs that are done in order to produce Tykes' News each quarter - but you probably get the idea. And we all do all this purely because of our love for folk music and arts. As editor, I try to remain impartial in any argument - it is not always so easy! I love a good controversial argument conducted on our Letters page and we've had some beauties over the years. Most of all, I try to print everything that is sent in, if space allows - including complaints! Occasionally, I have been forced to spike a few reviews usually because someone wants to pay cash for a full-page ad. at the last minute, and sometimes - as with the Spring 2002 issue - I have refused to print an abusive letter written in response to a less than totally complimentary review by someone involved in making the CD in question. That could lead me on to why folkies are always too nice, but perhaps not now. Largely I enjoy being editor - although the list of minor irritations seems to grow longer every issue. For example, there are advertisers who regularly assume it's acceptable to send in their stuff two or three weeks late and, when pressed, always blame someone else - the postman, the artist who didn't confirm, their children, the cat.....! I also abhor the pandemic misuse of apostrophes (NOT apostrophe's) in sentences like 'I do not know if its ready' instead of it's, meaning it is, or CD's when CDs is correct. Then they write 'England in all it's glory'. I suppose that's more understandable because it is correct to write 'in England's glory'. Perhaps, one day soon, the apostrophe will disappear altogether and I will be able to proof-read without getting very cross. It's obviously a sign of advancing age - now schools are teaching children times tables and how to read again, perhaps soon children will learn spelling, grammar, and maybe even Geography will include where places are on the world map as well? Another sign of advancing age is loss of memory - and I can't remember now why I started writing this. I am certainly rambling aimlessly, so it would be a considerable improvement if I were to STOP. If you are interested in folk and related arts, buy a copy of Tykes' at a folk club, in specialist music shops, or by subscription from me. If you feel the urge to write, then feel free - I look forward to hearing from you. Whatever you do, we all hope you enjoy it. ENOUGH! Carol Wood | |
