Contributor Compensation Rates and Our Approach to Working with You

While we certainly mention it from time to time, we wanted to have an official post for handy reference regarding contributor compensation in our magazine. This is in addition to our advertising rates, which figure into contributor compensation.

Electric City Creative understands that your time and talent is of value, and we want to be able to honor that value in whatever way we are able. We want to work with you, and will never, ever feed you the line that you'll get "really great exposure" or "a portfolio piece" in our publication, as though that should be payment enough.

That said, Electric City Creative does not have financial backers. We publish our magazine out of a love for creative culture in the Great Falls area, and we really do believe in doing our part to highlight what the city has to offer. No one got into this for financial reasons, but we understand that it's important to provide benefits to the creative community that helps us grow.

With that, here is how the magazine will compensate ALL contributors -- writers, photographers or any other work provided for us:

1. We can pay in ad space. The amount of work provided for us will determine the size of your ad, and that ad size will be agreed upon between both parties. We understand that each job requires a specific amount of work, and we want to do right by you.

If you do not have a specific service you need to advertise, you are able to use your ad space for something else. In our previous publication, SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine, we had writers and photographers advertise their non-trade-related businesses or even just friend's events they wanted to help promote. We can work something out.

2. All ad revenue is split equally among contributors. If there is paid advertising within an issue, the money from that advertising will be split among all the people who helped create that issue. Editors receive the same percentage as a contributing photographer or writer. We believe this is fair. Since we do not publish under a traditional print model, our bills are few, and any profit should go back to the people who helped create the magazine.

Also, on the side bar of this page, you will notice a PayPal "Donate" button. All funds raised through this button are also equally split between all contributors.

3. All work is credited. You will always receive credit for your work, and you always retain copyright. When we ask to use your words or your images, we are asking for one time usage. Your work will not be used without your permission in other ECC materials.

4. We will never ask you to send in "unprocessed" work. This means that photographers will not be asked to send in their original unprocessed files, nor will photographers be asked to send in every single shot they took during an event. This is on par with asking a writer to send in their rough draft. At the very least, it is bad manners to ask this of contributors.

We trust you to send in your very best work. We trust your vision for your work, and would not have asked you to contribute were we not already aware of your aesthetic. While all writing does undergo basic copy editing, the writing will not undergo massive changes without consulting the writer.

Communication and professionalism are of utmost importance to us when working with our contributors. After all, you are part of the creative community, and you have worth.

Thanks for reading.

Print Edition of ECC #4: BRANCH now available

If you are interested in purchasing a print edition of Electric City Creative Issue #4: BRANCH, it is now available for purchase through MagCloud. Click on the above image for more information.

Again, thanks for reading!

Electric City Creative Issue #4: BRANCH

Holy cow, am I ready for this winter to be over. In all likelihood, so are the rest of you. Cold temperatures with little reprieve since October can wear on anyone's state of mind. Luckily, Great Falls did not descend too far into hermit-dom over the past few months, so we have plenty to talk about in the fourth issue of Electric City Creative: BRANCH.

In this issue:

- An interview with Cory Smith, founder of the clothing and sports sponsorship company, 221 Industries.

- A profile of photographer and hair stylist Phil Procopio.

- A new photo editorial by Tyson Habein, "Alleyways + Sky."

- First Friday Art Walk coverage from January and February, including Great Falls High and CMR artists, Uptown Gallery, Lodestone Gallery, My Viola Floral Studio and more.

- Liner Notes: "Finest Worksong." This issue's column discusses listening to music while writing. Writers out there: Do you listen to music while writing? Does it depend on the type of writing. (PS: If you ARE a writer, are you interested in writing for the magazine?)

- This issue we also have contributing photographer Jeanelle Dascher, who provided photos from 221 Industries' Fight Against Youth Cancer charity event at the Heritage Inn.

Now: Go forth and read!


Sara Habein


PS: Don't forget Habein Studio's new micro-press, Nouveau Nostalgia. Our first title, Flawed Machine, is available now.

Print Edition of Issue #3 Now Available Through MagCloud:

Electric City Creative Issue #3: EXPAND

Holy cow, it's true! Electric City Creative is back with a new issue. You may have been wondering what was going on in our neck of the woods, releasing only 2 issues since July. Aren't we supposed to be a monthly publication? Yes, but sadly, that is not feasible at this time. Due to lack of staff and other writing commitments, Electric City Creative will now be a quarterly magazine until further notice.

Our new publishing schedule is as follows:

February 2011 - Winter, Issue #4
May 2011 - Spring, Issue #5
August 2011 - Summer, Issue #6
November 2011 - Winter, Issue #7

And so on.

But wait a minute, you say. If the Winter issue is supposed to publish in November, then what are we doing with Issue #3 in December? That's a good question, and I don't have a good answer for you other than an apology. That said, I hope you enjoy the new issue. As a reminder, the layout looks more magazine-like if viewed with 2 pages side by side. Play with your PDF reader page view settings.

What will you find in Issue #3: EXPAND?

-Tyson Habein goes on a road trip to some of Helena's art galleries. At the Holter Museum of Art, he sees work from Jennifer Li, Barry Hood, Russell Chatham, Dudley Dana, and the exhibit "Outside the Box: The Art of Wood." Over at the Turman Larison, he sees contemporary pieces from Christine Joy, Phoebe Toland and Linda Stoudt.

-Profile: Photographer Stephanie Elliott. Though Stephanie now resides in London, England, she grew up in Great Falls. She also contributes this month's photo spread, "Scenes From Home," taken during a recent trip back to Montana.

-First Friday: A roundup of several of the art exhibits that took place since September. Included are Paris Gibson Square's "Spirit of Women" event and their night of "Speed Painting." Montana Arts Association, Gallery 16, Portal Gallery, Lodestone Gallery, Amazing Gallery and Winston Publishing are also featured. Artists featured include jewelry-maker Hallie J. Wilson, photographer Ali Winberry, curator Bob Durden, painter Deeling Gregory and sculptor Judy Ericksen.

-Po' Girl at Machinery Row. Sara Habein talks about one of the best live shows to hit Great Falls. Photos by Tyson Habein.

-Liner Notes: This issue, Sara ruminates on musical hunches and the thrill of discovery.

Read All 34 pages HERE. As always, thanks for reading. A print edition through MagCloud will be available soon.

Electric City Creative Advertising Rates

Electric City Creative is a new magazine dedicated to creative culture in the Great Falls, MT area. Available for free online and with print editions for purchase through MagCloud.com, the publication taps into our growing arts scene and is reaching new readers every day. We are dedicated to highlighting what this area has to offer and are looking for advertisers who want to support that vision.

We offer the following rates for advertisements per issue:
•Full Page Ad: $75
•Half Page Ad: $50
•Quarter Page Ad: $30
•5 Issue Ad Package, Full Page: $319
•5 Issue Ad Package, Half Page: $213
•5 Issue Ad Package, Quarter Page: $128
•Custom ad design available, contact for rates

Launched in July 2010, Electric City Creative now publishes 4 times per year:

November 20th (Fall)
February 20th (Winter)
May 20th (Spring)
August 20th (Summer)

Ultimately we'd like to become a monthly magazine, but we will grow over time and add staff as we go.

Digital media is stronger than ever — it's free, it has unlimited circulation, and it can help your business reach a whole new audience. Best of all, your money will help support our local creative culture. Email us to set up your advertising today. Thank you!

Sara Habein
Editor and Publisher, Electric City Creative
electriccitycreative AT gmail DOT com


(Remember: All contributors get a free 1/4 page ad in the issue in which their work appears, and all other ad profits split between the contributors for that given issue.)

Print Edition of Issue #1 Now Available For Purchase

Electric City Creative Issue #1: LAUNCH Issue 1: #1: LAUNCH

Electric City Creative's first issue includes:-An interview with Great Falls own bestselling author, Jamie Ford-Coverage of July's First Friday Art Walk, with work from Ron Ukrainetz, Lisa Easton, Tim Willey, Megan Eaves, Jolene Monheim, Mercedes Brown, Theresa Gong, and Darlene Sanford-Sara H…