An Interview with Action Cat Zine, October 2024
Give me a rundown of the zine! What inspired you to start such a project? How did the idea come up/what did the first rendition of it look like?
Action Cat Magazine began as most things, a random idea in someone's bedroom. It was founded by a tightly knit group of friends passionate about the idea of creating a community centered around uplifting fellow artists, especially our LGBTQ+ peers.A fun fact is that we named our magazine after a song by Gerard Way!
Each issue has been a “learn as we go” experience. Our team has a wide range of creative talents, with some members learning the ins and outs of Adobe InDesign while others interviewed musicians such as Gatlin, Reggie Pearl, and Finger Foods, to name a few. We take great pride in the final product of each issue; they’re like 50-page love letters to the southeastern alternative community.
Why specifically focus on creatives in the south? (Why do you feel that highlighting artists and building accepting communities in predominantly conservative areas is important?)
With a large LGBTQ+ and minority population, focusing on creatives in the South is essential because this region is often underrepresented in broader artistic dialogues, despite being a rich cultural epicenter. The South has a long history of storytelling, craft, and music, and its unique voices deserve recognition.
Showcasing artists in predominantly conservative areas helps foster visibility and acceptance, creating spaces where LGBTQ+ and minority communities can express themselves freely. In these environments, building inclusive, creative communities is a form of resistance against the stereotypes and isolation that often characterize Southern living. By showcasing diverse perspectives and supporting these creatives, we attempt to challenge misconceptions and celebrate the resilience and creativity that exists in the Southeast. Doing so not only empowers local artists but also contributes to a larger movement of redefining Southern identity, ensuring that these voices are heard on a larger scale.
Tell me about the creative process of the prints! How are submissions/content chosen, how does the publication itself go from an idea to a physical product?
Both our staff and executive board contribute work that appears in the final magazine. We typically release open calls for submissions for creative writing and, on occasion, visual art. Our Editor in Chief then reviews each submission before approving them for publication.
After the board votes on the selected visual and textual pieces for inclusion, we create a tentative table of contents and start collaboratively developing the magazine's layout. Our design process is quite intuitive, but we often adhere to a collage or paper-like aesthetic. The transition from brainstorming to the finished product usually takes around five to six months due to the large number of contributors and the scope of the events we cover in each issue.
How are events organized? How do you go about event planning when choosing venues, bands, etc. ?
We have a dedicated event planning department where our community staff helps source venues, artists, and musicians for potential features. Our President and Social Media Manager work together to finalize the details. For our smaller events, we issue an open call for bands to submit their work for our consideration. While we strive to stay updated on both new and established musicians in the scene, we occasionally miss some! We aim to create as many opportunities as possible for emerging artists to gain recognition. For our larger issue release parties, we receive so many submissions that we end up needing to scout for bands privately to ensure everything is as organized as possible.
Where do the print zines end up? (Where do you sell/donate them?)
As we're relatively new to the scene, our distribution is primarily limited to local stores, such as Crying Cat Books & Records in Murfreesboro, TN. Since we print in small runs, we mainly sell our zines at regional art markets, house shows, and pop-up shops. Currently, we're reaching out to businesses across the Southeast to assess their interest in carrying our third issue, and we’re always open to collaboration! We really admire Quimby’s zine shop in Chicago and hope to expand our reach there in the future.
How does the staff operate? Are specific roles assigned? How are they carried out?
Every member of Action Cat Zine, from the board to the department staff, must submit an application and be voted onto the team. Our board consists of an administrative team (President, Vice President, Editor in Chief, Treasurer) and the chair of each department (Journalism, Visual Arts, Photography). With a small dream team of five on our board currently, we often help each other with various tasks.
Each department chair is responsible for leading meetings with their teams, delegating tasks, and ensuring all work is completed by the set deadline. Our President hosts board meetings on a biweekly basis to debrief on departmental activities and make plans for the future.
What are a few highlights of the project so far? What keeps you motivated to continue with Action Cat?
Our second release party, specifically, stands out vividly. We hosted it at a house venue in Murfreesboro, TN, back on March 24th 2024. It was a beautiful day, we had a large yard full of vendors and people listening to the bands. Sitting in the grass with my friends and fellow board members soaking up the sunshine, it was an excellent and successful day.
Seeing people engage and connect with the magazine has been incredibly encouraging. We love helping the dreams of musicians and artists come true and appreciate the organizations we support. We believe in the importance of community love and support, so we’re thankful that our followers are as receptive and supportive as our team is.
We’re endlessly blown away by what people can create when they put their minds to it. We’re so proud of anyone who is courageous enough to pursue their passions and create every day. You truly are the light in this world, and that inspiration drives us to keep creating Action Cat Zine. If our magazine can serve as an umbrella for a little more love and community in the Southeast's arts and music scene, then we will have succeeded. We’re dedicated to helping build this vibrant community, assisting artists and musicians, and fostering connections that uplift everyone.
What do you hope to accomplish with this project? What are some future goals?
With Action Cat Zine, we want to create a space that shares different voices and artistic expressions focused on empowerment and social issues. Our goal is to inspire creativity and encourage conversations that challenge common beliefs. By featuring a variety of perspectives, we hope to show the importance of working together for change.
In the future, we plan to own a venue or event space where we can host Action Cat-sponsored events, such as zine-making workshops, community relief efforts, and art galleries. We aim to be a safe space for individuals to express themselves and connect with others. We also want to work with more artists and community members to expand the zine’s reach, organize workshops to help people share their stories, and create themed editions on important topics like environmental issues and mental health. Ultimately, our goal is to build a supportive community that fosters meaningful change.
What is your process in terms of advertising/marketing? How do you build excitement around your events and drive for publications?
We’re fortunate to have both our President and Social Media Manager as marketing and advertising majors, along with a board experienced in working for local and national non-profits. We heavily utilize Instagram's advertisement system, recognizing it as the most effective platform for our purposes, despite our reservations about Meta.
Since many of our staff are college students, we also promote our events with physical flyers placed in on-campus buildings where we study, as well as around cities like Birmingham and Nashville. We aim to engage with a diverse audience by exploring various avenues for publicity.
To build excitement, we focus on selecting great bands, choosing appealing local venues, and keeping our pricing model accessible. Each magazine release party feels like a mini festival, featuring multiple vendors and activities throughout the day. We also hold a raffle for free admission and a magazine prior to the event to draw in more participants.
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