You do not have to be a Blockhead

Today I read in Slate some sage advice: Don't Write for Free. Slate buttresses the point with Samuel Johnson's immortal line "No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money".

And I agree. Good prose should be paid for. (Poetry, sadly, may have to remain for the moment an amateur sport of devoted hobbyists.) If I had the capital, I'd be buying that prose and publishing it on this very website because my gut instinct is that in the end it'll have value. For now, even with the little dollars at my disposal, I will still intend to start it, though I may have to draft the Missus for start-up help.

Over the past week or so I've considered various models for getting the stories I want. Currently my plan is:

1. Post Gig to Craigslist

2. Review the solicitations of interest

3. Meet with promising candidates

4. Explain the warranties I'll ask for

5. Give assignment

6. Review report

7. Purchase the report

8. Edit the report

9. Post the report

10. Profit

Now, if you've landed at this page, you may wonder what warranty I'm talking about.

It will say:

I, <> promise that this report is true to the best of my knowledge. It is my own work. I have no undisclosed relationship with any venue, promoter, or owner.

Then, after I've read the report, I'll offer to buy it with a contract that reads:

I, <> hereby sell to Fifty Star Owl, for good and valuable consideration of $50 cash, all rights to the report I have made of my review of <> on the date of <> except that I will retain my attribution line and the right to use the published report for my portfolio so long as the use is noted as "By Permission of Fifty Star Owl."

After I own the report, I will review it, edit it as I see fit, attach links with abandon, and then wait.

So all that above is my business plan, more or less.

I should point out though that although I want to make money doing this, I also am eager to learn what people have to say about their nightlife experiences.

As luck had it, last week PhillyChitChat.com went to G Lounge's RAW Natural Born Artists party. For more information about RAW, see the link. It's a great article because it tells me about that the evening was like. That's the kind of information I want to know about.

Other Sites with Info

As I continue to search for writers interested in taking on the difficult task of preparing first-person accounts of Philadelphia nightlife, I'm also looking at sources of news and information.

Philly2Night has long been one of my favorite sites for looking up where to go. Lots of information about upcoming promotions. And, while it's rare to get an in-depth discussion of how the night went, it does often have photographs. This is extremely helpful for getting a sense of the crowd to expect when one goes out. This is its helpful listing of nightclubs.

Heyphilly.com is another site with a good list. Perhaps particularly of interest to me, they also do include editorial content. They also prominently have videos to watch and sweepstakes to enter.

A less helpful site is Clubzone, for instance, which seems to be mostly a list of locations.

Saturday's Report

Ironically, a lack of stamina did me in today.

After a truly excellent meal at Kanella, the plan was to check out the PIFA street fair.

Starting out from 10th and Spruce towards Broad, it immediately became clear that the fickle April clime was going thwart my plans. The sun was poking through the clouds, certainly, but not enough to warm the Missus, who found the chilling wind far too strong.

Once we made it to Broad, the crowds were awesome, but, still crowds, with all the frustration that implies. Generally heading north we wended our way through the crowds, passing a number of stalls. Some were selling food, such as a Parc stand with little pans of quiche for $4. I also saw a shoe stand from Aerosoles. We also passed by a face-painting stand, where little children were getting adorably dolled up.

We passed by a acrobatic demonstration, a short dancing bear, and a stage with musicians playing what sounded like Caribbean-influenced jazz.

Unfortunately, here the combination of crowds and chill sapped our will to investigate further. A shame, really, as I had hoped to take in the view from the Ferris Wheel, and catch the big acrobatic show intended for 7:30. But there is wisdom in knowing one's limits.

So on we proceeded, first to Macy's, and then, after establishing that they now have a Sunglass Hut, rather than their own sunglass brands for sale, to Liberty Place. There we took advantage of the food court for a light snack and a chance to rest our weary feet in peace.