TheSax.Info and Woodwind Forum Calendar Fundraisers!

[pete]

TWO DIFFERENT calendars. I don't want to confuse you, much :).

Here's the deal:

1. I will still be doing a saxophone calendar, like I've done every year since 2006. This calendar is ~primarily~ a community service for folks that want me to publish really nice pics of their saxophones. It also raises a little cash for me and my other sax-related endeavors.

2. The Woodwind Forum calendar will be a complete fundraiser (see http://www.woodwindforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1233 (http://www.woodwindforum.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=580)). Yes, artists will still have the option to get a share of the profits, but I won't get any. (The only funds I'm going to get are to pay for the cost of proofs.)

-> Yes, you can contribute pics to both calendars or either. <-

Details in the following posts!

[pete]

Here's the quick details:

You send me a picture of a woodwind (for the Woodwind Forum calendar) or a saxophone (for TheSax.info calendar) in an artistic style. I edit said picture and put it in a calendar.

* You can send to thesaxinfo@gmail.com. I can handle up to 10mb attachments per e-mail.
* If you wish to snail-mail me instead, send me an e-mail FIRST and we'll make arrangements.

You also MUST fill out and SIGN a release form (available at http://thesax.info/release.pdf -- e-mail me at thesaxinfo@gmail.com if you need a copy and can't download it). I don't mind if you scan it/take a picture of it for me and e-mail it or if you snail-mail it to me, but it needs your signature: Lulu, the calendar publisher, *will not* publish the calendar without a release completed for each of the pics submitted.

Additionally, because I haven't modified the form (yet), please specify which calendar you're wanting to submit pics for -- or I'll consider you for both calendar projects.

Deadline for submissions will be September 1.

[pete]

The below is slightly different than what I've posted in the past ...

======

Picture Requirements:
As big as you can take. Lulu, the publisher, wants at least 2625 x 3375 pixels at 300 dpi and preferably 4125 x 5775 at 500ppi. For all submissions, including if you can't take pictures that big, please send me multiple EQUAL SIZED pictures and MULTIPLE POSES of your horn.

a. Use a light-colored or softly-bright (i.e., not "neon pink", but "satin") background. Dark colored backgrounds do not print well; please don't use them. For an example of what I want, check ANY photo on http://www.vintagesax.com.

b. Again, please submit *multiple pictures* of your horn in different poses. Recommendations are:

--> Left side portrait of the horn.
--> Right side portrait of the horn.
--> Close-up of the engraving/stamps.
--> Close-up of lower half of instrument, featuring the keywork.
--> Close up of upper half of instrument, featuring the keywork.
--> Close-up of whatever feature you think is nicest/most interesting.

Please do not include people or copyrighted sheet music in your pictures. I have to reject those submissions.

c. There is no c.

d. I don't mind mixing makes and models for the calendar, nor do I mind mixing and matching VINTAGE or MODERN horns. Woodwind-related pictures (for instance, toys) may be considered, too.

========

SHOW ME (well, you) THE MONEY
* The BASE price for a 12-month calendar is $19.95 for the 13.5" x 19" size and $11.30 for the 11" x 17" size (as of this moment. If these prices change, everything else will). I will, of course want to make some $ selling this, and I've kinda settled on $4.00 US. However, note that this DOESN'T mean that the final calendar price is $23.95 and $15.30, respectively, http://www.lulu.com receives a commission on every sale, so the final price will be higher.
* Profits for the calendars will be split 33/66 -- just like in the past -- between the artists and Ed or me (depending on the calendar). That means the artist that wants a share of the profits will get about $0.21 per month included per calendar sold. Hard to get rich on this, but it is a much higher % for the artists than on the 2006 Calendar. And you can say that you're a published photographer. There's A LOT to be said for that.
* People published in the calendar will have an opportunity to buy a calendar direct from me at a $4 discount -- details will be available to each artist included after the calendar is produced.
* According to http://www.lulu.com, royalty payments are done QUARTERLY. I'll get the check and disburse to the artists generally at the end of February/beginning of March.
* You get FULL credit for the pic and retain the right to use your pic someplace else. You also will have the opportunity to *put a caption on the calendar*, which can include a non-adult website or business address. Example from my 2008 sax calendar are at http://www.thesax.info/2008%2Dcalendar/, to give you an idea -- heck, one guy even posted his PayPal account.

==========

Important Final Notes:
* All submissions may also be considered for future picture projects. You'd get profit from any of those, if you so wish and you're included. If that is unacceptable please note that on your release form or e-mail me.
* I will not have a "stock" of calendars. Lulu publishes the calendars only after orders are placed.
* While I'm a nice guy 'n' stuff, your order will be placed through Lulu and everything else will be handled thru Lulu. If you have any problem not related to a picture or the content of the calendar itself, you need to contact them.

[pete]

BTB, if anyone has a significant Woodwind Event to put in the 2009 calendar -- and that could be some woodwind player's birthday, concert, patent filing, whatever -- please post here and I'll definitely include it in the calendar. The sax calendar only has saxophone events and I haven't really looked into generic woodwind "special events".

Hey, only you can make the calendars more kewl.

[SteveSklar]

do you include the "birth" of the saxophone - or when it was thought to first exist by Adolphe Sax ??

[pete]

I have Adolphe Sax's birthday/National Saxophone Day listed (Nov. 7) and the anniversary of the saxophone patent (March 21) -- although there are other "official" A. Sax patent dates.

[Gandalfe]

Hmm... maybe Eddie Daniel's, Benny Goodman, and Larry Comb's birthdays? Do we have a start date for Conn, Buescher, Couf, and Selmer businesses to name a few? I'd luv to see composer Philip Glass's name on the calendars too. :mrgreen:

[pete]

I've got the entire performance of Glass' 4' 33" embedded into each calendar: all you have to do is look at it for 4' and 33" ....

Yes, I'll do one or two "custom" dates for anyone that contributes pics to the calendar (for instance, I included the Queen of Denmark's birthday, last year), but I want to keep the other custom dates to woodwind-specific (for the WF calendar) or sax-specific (for TheSax.info calendar).

TheSax.Info calendar does have birthdates for Buescher, Martin, Conn, etc. I looked really hard for birthdates from the Selmer and Buffet clans, but couldn't find 'em, much less actual company founding dates. If you've got 'em, post 'em!

[Gandalfe]

Yeah, I was looking around and didn't have much luck finding the Buffet, Selmer, etc. dates. :cry:

[SteveSklar]

Buffet-Crampon - 1836
but pre-Buffet-Crampon 1830, or 1825 (original date)
but we're probably looking for a particular month and day ......
can't Pete just Google it ??

http://www.clarinetperfection.com/snclarinet.htm#Buffet

In 1825 a French ?luthier?, Denis Buffet-Auger, established his workshop right in the heart of Paris. He quickly became well-known in the music world for developing of the excellent 13-key clarinet. At that time, clarinets were entirely hand-made, which required a wealth of experience and craftsmanship.

In 1830, Jean-Louis Buffet (Denis? son) took over the business. He married Zo? Crampon in 1836 and so the famous Buffet Crampon brand name was created. The logo used today first appeared in 1844.

Louis-Auguste Buffet (Jean-Louis? uncle) met the clarinettist Hyacinthe Klos?, a virtuoso musician and a teacher at the Paris Conservatory. These two men, the technician and the artist, worked together. They took the idea of movable rings which the German Theobald Boehm has developed for the flute and adapted it for the clarinet. First exhibited in 1839, this new system was very successful and in order to meet the demand, the Buffet Crampon factory was built in 1850 in Mantes-la-Ville. As early as 1866, Buffet Crampon was producing its first saxophones, 20 years after the invention of this instrument by the Belgian Adolphe Sax.

[pete]

Buffet-Crampon - 1836
but pre-Buffet-Crampon 1830, or 1825 (original date)
but we're probably looking for a particular month and day ......
can't Pete just Google it ??

http://www.clarinetperfection.com/snclarinet.htm#Buffet

In 1825 a French ?luthier?, Denis Buffet-Auger, established his workshop right in the heart of Paris. He quickly became well-known in the music world for developing of the excellent 13-key clarinet. At that time, clarinets were entirely hand-made, which required a wealth of experience and craftsmanship.

In 1830, Jean-Louis Buffet (Denis? son) took over the business. He married Zo? Crampon in 1836 and so the famous Buffet Crampon brand name was created. The logo used today first appeared in 1844.

Louis-Auguste Buffet (Jean-Louis? uncle) met the clarinettist Hyacinthe Klos?, a virtuoso musician and a teacher at the Paris Conservatory. These two men, the technician and the artist, worked together. They took the idea of movable rings which the German Theobald Boehm has developed for the flute and adapted it for the clarinet. First exhibited in 1839, this new system was very successful and in order to meet the demand, the Buffet Crampon factory was built in 1850 in Mantes-la-Ville. As early as 1866, Buffet Crampon was producing its first saxophones, 20 years after the invention of this instrument by the Belgian Adolphe Sax.
Mmm. Those aren't dates. Those are years. :P

[Gandalfe]

So I've submitted the only pictures for this project so far? I've submitted:

1. 1880 piccolo with ivory head
2. 1800 boxwood clarinet
3. Matched set of Leblanc Symphonie VIIs (A & Bb) in rosewood
4. Tarogato
5. Soprillo sax
6. Bass Sax to low A

So it looks like this calendar will not be a success. Pity. I luv these works of art that surely wouldn't happen without many, many hours by our intrepid Pete. :cry:

Oh, I'll make do with the sax calendar. They are way cool too. But this would have been a nice production to gift and save. I actually framed some of the pictures like the Silver Sonic King sax from the 2007 calendar.

[Connical]

Hey Pete. I went to Lulu looking for the 2008 calendar. Did you publish an 08 ? If so, are they still available and where can I find one ?
I already have the 07.

[Gandalfe]

They are all here: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=559631 8-)

[Connical]

Thanks, got the 08.

[pete]

At this moment in time, with one month to go, I only have Gandalfe committing pics to the WF Calendar. That means that there will be no WF calendar.

Or Gandalfe has to step it up and submit more pics :).

Also, at this moment in time, there will be a TheSax.info calendar. I do have sufficient submissions for that, although I will be e-mailing some folks.

Jim: I sent you an e-mail about lots of stuff. However, I didn't get pics of the boxwood clarinet.

[Ed Svoboda]

Is there anything in particular you are looking for?

Maybe you guys could give some advice on how to take decent pictures of horns.

How about a shot of 100+ mouthpieces? :lol:

[pete]

The sum total of my photography knowledge is in http://www.woodwindforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8970&postcount=3 -- although Jim asked me to critique his photos and make some suggestions. I did, but they aren't "generic" suggestions.

I would be amused by a shot of 100+ mouthpieces, if you can do it in an artistic way. Seriously. It'd be outstanding if, for instance, you could work in all the pitches of sax (or at least SATBB) in the background, too.

=========

Regarding the WF calendar, if I start getting submissions for it AFTER this year's due date, I'll just hold them until I have enough pics for a calendar. No biggie.

[Gandalfe]

I would be amused by a shot of 100+ mouthpieces, if you can do it in an artistic way. Seriously. It'd be outstanding if, for instance, you could work in all the pitches of sax (or at least SATBB) in the background, too.That be a cool picture, 100 mouthpieces. One of these days I mean to get my SSCsSACmTBBa stack in one picture.

[pete]

I think you'd have to borrow a Conn-O-Sax and a few slide horns, too.

[Ed Svoboda]

I'll see what I can do.

100+ mouthpieces and a bunch of horns.

[pete]

That'd be fun.

[pete]

Just a note.

I've been working on the 2009 TheSax.info calendar. I've got a few really nice submissions for it and I've asked some folks to use pics that they submitted for earlier calendars that I haven't included yet.

REMEMBER: the deadline for picture submissions is September 1.

If you've been waiting, send 'em in now!

[pete]

The deadline has come and gone. Here's what's going to happen:

* I'm currently in Week 3 of my 5 week college course. When that's over, I'll be looking at some of the final submissions (ones submitted in the past month) in more depth.

* I'll then have my crack team of critics (my wife and me) look at the assembled pics and then we'll make a pick of 13: 12 months and the cover.

* I'll post the names of the folks selected and their horns. The rest of the pics will be first-shot for the '10 calendar!

* I will probably have the entire calendar assembled and ready to go by October 1. Samples will be posted when they're ready.

[pete]

OK, woodwind fans. Here's the 2009 line up, in no particular order

1. Matt Stohrer, 1920's Conn New Wonder Eb alto (rose gold plate, heavily engraved)
2. AH Visser, 1939 SML Modele Super Standard Eb alto (silver plate)
3. Christoph Huxoll, 1970's Buffet S1 Bb tenor (silver plate)
4. John Talcott, 1950 Selmer Super (Balanced) Action Eb alto (silver plate, custom engraved by Jason Dumars)
5. Charles W. Gray, COMPILATION*: 1969 Buffet SDA Eb bari (low A, silver plate), 2005 Cannonball "Big Bell" Global Series Bb tenor (silver plate), 1952 Selmer SBA Eb alto (silver plate), 2001 Buffet Festival Bb clarinet (wood), early Weissman C piccolo (wood), 2000 Pearl 761RBE C flute w/Weissman head (silver plate) -- and power tools.
6. Peter Gaylord, 1920's Buescher True Tone Eb alto (silver plate)
7. Jim Glass, Jr., COMPILATION: 2006 Eppelsheim Bb Soprillo (lacquer) and 1880 6-Key, Ivory headjoint piccolo.
8. Rob Verdi: Dolnet curved Eb sopranino (lacquer) and 1920's Lyon & Healy Perfect Curved Bb soprano.
9. Pierre Haftek, COMPILATION: 1960's Beaugnier-made Vito Bb soprano, Eb alto and Bb tenor (all lacquer)
10. AH Visser, 1930's Conn 6M (New York neck, lacquer)
11. Christoph Huxoll, COMPILATION: 1920's Conn New Wonder C soprano (silver plate), Bb soprano (gold plate), Bb tenor (gold plate)
12. Pierre Haftek, COMPILATION: 1960's Pierret-made Parisian Ambassador Eb alto, Bb tenor and Eb baritone (all two-tone)
13. AH Visser, 1960's Buescher Model 157 Aristocrat Bb tenor (two-tone)

*COMPILATION = several horns in one (submitted) shot.

I'm thinking of putting one of Mr. Visser's horns on the cover or Mr. Gray's compilation. I have to play with sizes a lot for the cover and those are the biggest pictures submitted.

Note: Matt Stohrer and AH Visser have been contributing a LOT of pics over the past four years that I've been doing calendars. I'm trying to catch up and I've already had Matt in more often than Mr. V. (I really appreciate the pics, folks).

(Interestingly, I think I've had a Jason DuMars-engraved horn in the calendar every year, too.)

I also tried very hard to get anyone in that sent me pics that looked good and were close enough to the sizes I needed. If I didn't include you this year, you'll be my first choice for next year!

Picture samples will be available when I finish making them. Might be another week or so, depending on how much time I have -- that's also why the dates, above, are incomplete :). I can say that the big calendar and small calendar will again have different poses for some horns, because of size issues. I've gotta say, though, both calendars look really, really nice, if 2008 and earlier are any indication.

[pete]

All righty, then.

Samples are now uploaded on my website: http://thesax.info/2009-Calendar

1. People that contributed, please check to make sure that the attribution on your picture is what you wanted. If they're incorrect, contact me immediately at thesaxinfo@gmail.com (and you can copy saxpics@hotmail.com, just to be sure I get your e-mail) or PM me.
2. There are two directories, "large" and "small". This reflects the two different sizes of calendar. Note that I occasionally used different poses for large vs. small.
3. Sample pictures are significantly reduced in both size and quality, so you can see them on a 1024x768 display.
4. I've included full-sized, full-quality samples of the cover. Note that the large cover (http://thesax.info/2009-calendar/large/cover-final-large.jpg) is 10mb and the small cover (http://thesax.info/2009-calendar/small/cover-small.jpg) is over 4mb.

I still have to upload the files to Lulu.com and play with the 2009 holidays, so the calendars aren't ready, yet. I'll announce when they are.

============

An aside: Lulu.com sent me an e-mail the other day that boiled down to, "The economy sucks. We're having to raise prices." I am not going to be changing the amount I said I'd pay to the calendar contributors -- it's unfair to you to change it at the "last" moment. I'll also try really, really hard not to increase the final overall calendar price over previous years.

[Gandalfe]

Nice job Pete. Once again you've done a masterful job. It really must be a labor of luv. 8-)

[pete]

In this particular instance, most of the formatting of the calendar was done under the influence of (prescription) drugs :P.

One of the gentlemen that contributed pics to the calendar is interested in showing to the world how pretty some of the stencils out there are. Another mentioned something about showing the world that there's more to vintage sax than the Mark VI.

I've mentioned it a couple times, but the entire idea behind saxpics.com (when I owned it) really wasn't to do detailed history or model comparisons, but to show off the pretty pictures. The calendar projects give me an opportunity to do that.

The interesting thing is how many folks say something like, "I'm not a professional photographer ...." and then still contribute a picture of great beauty.

The problem I have is that I'd love to do an entire calendar on ONE make and model, so you can see all the fun variations. Maybe some year ....

[pete]

I *just* finished doing the edits and "holidays" for the large-format calendar and I ordered a proof. I should get it in about a week.

The small-format calendar is uploaded. I have to finish the edits and "holidays".

Lulu changed some of their software (again), thus the delay. Should be ready for the beginning of November, so that people not in the US can get one by Christmas.

[Gandalfe]

I have been holding off on my calendar purchases waiting for this to happen. Thanks again Pete!

[pete]

I finished the 11" x 8.5" calendar last night. Lulu had decided to upgrade their software again, so I was contending with that.

Hopefully this doesn't mean that the layout of the calendars is now different.

I also got confirmation that my 13.5" x 19" proof shipped. I should get that by the end of the week.

[pete]

That was ... not fun.

I got the proof back and almost every picture had formatting that was off.

Took me awhile to fix. I want to get another proof before I release it for sale. Sorry, especially for you non-US folks that have sent me e-mails, but I want to make sure that the pictures do look right.

1. Note that, for the BIG CALENDAR. the price has gone up $4 from last year -- and $3 from last week. Seriously. That means that the price is $28.83 US BEFORE shipping -- cheapest US shipping is $5.90.

I haven't changed my profit per calendar -- $4 (which is shared among those who wanted it) -- it's just gone up in price.

I did look for another on-demand calendar publisher and the cheapest I found was $35, so I guess $29 is a bargain, of sorts :roll:.

2. Note that, for the SMALL CALENDAR, it looks like the overall price has only gone up about $2 to $17.72. I have to wait until my proof comes back to make sure.

I'll be watching sales (when I start them) very carefully. That's a lot of $, even for a really beautiful calendar. While, last year, large calendar sales vs. small ones were about even, I'd be willing to bet that small might outstrip large, this year ....

[pete]

Now, the SMALL calendar came out almost perfectly. Had to tweak a few things, but no biggie. That means ...

THE SMALL (8.5" X 11") CALENDAR IS NOW ON SALE! (http://www.lulu.com/content/4612532)
(The big 13.5" x 19" calendar will be ready in a few days; I haven't gotten the proof back.)

New preview, with all the months and holidays: http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=4612532

* Final price: $17.72
* Cheapest shipping (US): $5.90 (takes about a week)

Remember, it takes them 3 - 5 days to print the calendar. See also the last dates to order before Christmas (http://www.lulu.com/en/help/index.php?fSymbol=shipping_faq).

There are discounts (http://www.lulu.com/en/help/index.php?fSymbol=buying_in_bulk), through Lulu, if you order more than 26 small calendars or 5 big ones.

Banners and such, if you'd like to advertise the calendar for me, will be available in the somewhat near future.

As always, if you're an artist in this year's calendar, you can get a significant discount on the price, but you have to e-mail me. I'll actually send out the details to everyone when I can. I'm a bit worn out ....

As always, if you spot an error, I can fix it. Please e-mail me at thesaxinfo@gmail.com or saxpics@gmail.com and I'll get right on it.

[pete]

I'm really glad I waited to get a second proof. The big calendar's beautiful.

The big (13.5 " x 19") calendar is now available at http://www.lulu.com/content/4478897

* Final price: $28.83
* Cheapest shipping (US): $5.90 (yes, the packaging is very enthusiastic)

Remember, you can get bulk discounts from Lulu.com for ordering more than 5!

As I've mentioned in the past, some of the poses in the small and large calendars are different because of size constraints. Heck, I think I have some of the saxophones on different months for the different calendars, too.

I've also changed the pictures from the original samples. New samples can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=4478897 (again, Flash is required).

[pete]

FWIW, I'm extremely happy with how Jim's Soprillo and piccolo picture came out in the big calendar. I had to really fight with the sizes. My wife was even impressed with the result.

[Gandalfe]

I can't order because I keep getting this message, "The postal code you entered doesn't match any address in our shipper's database. We couldn't match what you entered to any address in our shipper's database." Funny, it worked last year. :roll:

[pete]

As always, if you're an artist in this year's calendar, you can get a significant discount on the price, but you have to e-mail me.
:P

I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating:

I, myself, do not print the calendar. I also do not ship the calendar or know anything about your order. Lulu.com takes care of all of that. I just put the calendar together.

Lulu actually does have a decent help system at http://www.lulu.com/en/help/. They also have a live person available -- and no, you don't have to be a Lulu member to use it. Just use any ol' e-mail address.

If you're not someone who contributed to the calendar, you're havening problems, you want to buy lots of stuff and Lulu.com isn't helping, you can e-mail me and I'll take care of the order.

[Gandalfe]

Um, not concerned about how I'm gonna get the calendars. I'll figure it out. But you will lose most of your customers because of this problem. So I figured you'd be interested in knowing. I'm just one data point. If others are not having this problem, feel free to disregard.

[pete]

Thanks, but I can only say, "I don't have a problem when I do it". I've ordered them for myself and ordered them for other people, even overseas.

There is no way of me knowing if other people have a problem, unless every person reports to me and I don't have that kind of bandwidth.

The *best* suggestion is to talk to Lulu Help. I completely and totally agree that they might have a problem, but if you don't go through their help line and describe the exact steps you took, they can't fix the problem.

[Yamahaaltoplayer]

I'm really glad I waited to get a second proof. The big calendar's beautiful.

The big (13.5 " x 19") calendar is now available at http://www.lulu.com/content/4478897

* Final price: $28.83
* Cheapest shipping (US): $5.90 (yes, the packaging is very enthusiastic)

Remember, you can get bulk discounts from Lulu.com for ordering more than 5!

As I've mentioned in the past, some of the poses in the small and large calendars are different because of size constraints. Heck, I think I have some of the saxophones on different months for the different calendars, too.

I've also changed the pictures from the original samples. New samples can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=4478897 (again, Flash is required).

What samples?

[pete]

What samples?
The ones that are on the website. http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=4478897 (big calendar) and http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=4612532 (small calendar).

You can't see it if you don't have Flash (http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/) installed.

EDIT: I tested it in both IE 7 and Firefox 3.0.3 (portable edition) on the PC and Safari 3.1.2 on my G5. Looks fine on all three (sorry; don't have Opera installed on my machines).

Screenshot of the page attached.

EDIT 2: Ya like my bookmarks toolbar? :D

[Yamahaaltoplayer]

The ones that are on the website. http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=4478897 (big calendar).

You can't see it if you don't have Flash (http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/) installed.

Screenshot of the page attached.

I have Adobe Flash Player 10. And everything loads and is there except the preview.:???:

EDIT: I have IE8 Beta 2. And I thought the previews were of the Woodwind calendar. I saw the screenie. It's the same one as the one in the link to thesax.info. I was looking for previews of the Woodwind calendar. But nice job! I would buy one.....

[pete]

If you're using IE 7 Pro or Firefox's FlashBlock -- which I do -- that could be your problem. Turn 'em off.

Do note that it takes awhile to load. They're big pics and I've got a really, really fast connection (1.5 megabytes/s download; yes, it's kewl).

You can see my original samples at http://thesax.info/2009-Calendar/ and that will show you the horns, at least.

===========

Editing after your edit: there is no specific woodwind calendar for this year. There weren't enough submissions to make a calendar (see post #16). So you get all sax, all the time :).

[pete]

* DON'T USE INTERNET EXPLORER 8 BETA TO ACCESS LULU! You WILL have problems. Hey, you're supposed to have problems with beta software :).

* I was asked about shipping to Canada. The costs are $10, $15.68, $75.83 or $82.73 to Calgary, depending on how fast you want it there. (Me, I'd choose the $10 or $15 option.)

[saxmanglen]

INTERNET EXPLORER 8 BETA has pushed me into using Mozilla Firefox more and more.

Looking forward to another fine calendar Pete.

Thanks for all your hard work.

[Yamahaaltoplayer]

* DON'T USE INTERNET EXPLORER 8 BETA TO ACCESS LULU! You WILL have problems. Hey, you're supposed to have problems with beta software :).

* I was asked about shipping to Canada. The costs are $10, $15.68, $75.83 or $82.73 to Calgary, depending on how fast you want it there. (Me, I'd choose the $10 or $15 option.)

Hey! It works now! I forgot there was a "compatibility view" button for webpages that only work on earlier versions of IE. Looks like the picture layouts are a little different than the ones on TheSax.Info.

[pete]

Hey! It works now! I forgot there was a "compatibility view" button for webpages that only work on earlier versions of IE. Looks like the picture layouts are a little different than the ones on TheSax.Info.
Yup.

What generally happens is that people send me pics that can't be resized exactly the way I'd like: they're too tall, too fat or just not big enough. Combine that with Lulu's ever-changing display size and it's easy to see why the originals are generally not the finals.

I also try not to resize anything more than 125%. The reason for this is because the image will start to look less and less clear.

[pete]

OK, I'm a-gonna call the 2009 Calendar sales complete, for the year.

(Yes, they'll still be available, of course, but I get very few sales after the end of January.)

Total sold, not counting to the artists that contributed is, I think, 80 (Lulu.com's new reporting thingy sucketh muchly). That's less than half of 2008's sales, but was expected with the economy and the slight rise in the price of the calendar.

I will try to get some info together for the 2010 Calendar(s) and my book project in just a bit.

Just to let the people that requested payment know: after I get my check from Lulu, I'll start splitting it off. I think that'll be by the end of February.

[pete]

I actually think I'll start a new thread. Un momento.

[pete]

Final calendar tally was 85. I'll be sending checks off to people (well, PayPals) in approximately a week.

[pete]

I've sent out PayPals, today, to all the folks that asked for a share of the 2009 calendar profits (who were actually in the calendar, of course). There were a couple folks that asked me to donate their shares other places and I've done that.

Again, thank you all. (If there are any problems/questions, please e-mail me at thesaxinfo@gmail.com or saxpics@hotmail.com.)

For my other projects, please check out http://www.woodwindforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963

[jbtsax]

I wonder why those who send in pictures are given a share of the profits from the calendar sales in the first place. I would think that the honor and privilege of having your saxophone displayed would be payment enough. Even a complementary calendar to each of the 12 participants whose pictures are chosen would be more than enough IMO.

John

[Gandalfe]

I wonder why those who send in pictures are given a share of the profits from the calendar sales in the first place. I would think that the honor and privilege of having your saxophone displayed would be payment enough. Even a complementary calendar to each of the 12 participants whose pictures are chosen would be more than enough IMO.

JohnNo worries John. The profits won't even cover a free calendar. I think Pete insists upon doing this just to be fair.

[pete]

I wonder why those who send in pictures are given a share of the profits from the calendar sales in the first place. I would think that the honor and privilege of having your saxophone displayed would be payment enough. Even a complementary calendar to each of the 12 participants whose pictures are chosen would be more than enough IMO.

John
I do it as a bit of incentive. I think most amateur photographers would just say, "I'm gonna be published? That's good enough!", because that does look good on a resume. However, if I sell an obscene amount of calendars, a share of the profits isn't a bad thing.

However, the maximum amount I've sold in a year was a little more than 180. If I can sell close to 400, I can start thinking about putting ads in The Saxophone Journal or something: IIRC, ads were $1600 for a 1/2 page. With that kind of advertising, I might be able to sell a lot more. In that case, you'd have a really good reason to want a share of the profits.

I also do it because I want to be very up-front with costs and such: there's a profit of $4 on each calendar sold and I take 1/3 of this. 2/3 goes to the people who want profit sharing, or 21 cents per calendar per month included (there are 12 months plus the cover). So, as an example, if your Buescher 157 was featured for February 2009 and that was the only month your pics were featured, your profit share was a little under $18.

Hey. You can buy a large pizza and drinks.

I also give the people that contribute pics the opportunity to buy an unlimited amount of calendars at a $4 per calendar discount. I'd like to say, "You gimmee a pic, you get a free calendar," but this is all on-demand publishing: I have no stock, so I can't give out freebies.

With the profits I've had from teh calendar, I've purchased some computer equipment (easier to upgrade stuff if you're a computer tech!) and software (discontinued copy of Dreamweaver MX for $50! Score!).

Now, if enough folks contribute pics this year for the Woodwind Forum calendar to be created, I'll be taking no profit at all: my profits would go toward running this forum, minus the cost of a proof or two (and I generally need two). I have no idea how I'm gonna do profits on the book. In both of these cases, though, if you submit pics, you will have the option of profit sharing. I think it's only fair.