Turn it down

This story was updated on Oct. 13 to remove the last name of one of the zine writers. 

Self-publishing a DIY magazine, or “zine,” takes a lot of work. I should know. In June 2008, local graphic designer Kara Swanson and I self-published a free Lansing-focused music and art zine called — get this — “Turn it Down!” The release show for the zine featured 15 area bands and drew about 200 locals to the now defunct Basement 414.

Then, in early 2009, City Pulse approached me to write a local music column under the “Turn it Down” moniker. Thanks to that one-issue zine, for the past five years City Pulse has dedicated this page to highlighting local-music shows.

That’s why this week’s Turn it Down is devoted solely to 2nd Annual Mid- Michigan Zine Fair. It happens Saturday at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing. According to event organizer/zine writer Ethan Tate, a variety of zines are on hand to peruse and generally cost between 50 cents and $5.

“The fair is packed with a wide variety of people sharing really wonderful and hilarious and oftentimes deeply personal things in the form of zines,” Tate said. “Zines are absolute labors of love and people pour their souls into them. Its really amazing to see dozens of them all thrown into one room.”

Tate said zines can give a voice to anyone with enough drive to print one up.

“Many of the folks making them dont have much of a public voice otherwise,” he said. “Its a way for them to tell their story, however strange or marginalized that story has been.”

Joshua Barton, a zine creator and another one of the event’s organizers, said Lansing has a rich history in the zine market.

“Theres stuff Charlie Nash published in the ‘80s and ‘90s here in Lansing that was known nationally,” Barton said. “One of his zines, ‘Queer Magnolia,’ was referenced in a notable book on zines, Stephen Duncombes ‘Notes from Underground.’ Tesco Vee and Dave Stimsons ‘Touch and Go’ was a big deal for the national hardcore punk scene. In the most recent wave of zine making, Em's ‘Ghost Lungs,’ Peachy Presss ‘Peachy Keen’ and various titles by Smash Printing Press (Tates operation) have gotten some exposure.”

Barton said he initially became enamored with zines in the late ‘90s, before the Internet ruled.

“Zines were incredibly important to music scenes before the Internet matured, and still are for many scenes,” Barton said. “I got into them on a deeper level through my work at the MSU Library, cataloging the zines there and connecting with other zine librarians in the country.

“Zines have a long history of building and sustaining the fabric of underground communities,” Barton added. “Its still happening today, right here in your own town.”

Beyond Lansing, Tate said it’s thriving across the state. In 2013 alone, the Mid-Michigan Zine Fair, Grand Rapids Zine Fest and Detroit Art Book Fair all had inaugural events.

“Last year self-publishing seemed to explode on the scene in Michigan,” Tate said. “It was so rad to be a part of that.”

For those looking to publish a zine, Tate offered some advice: “Just grab some paper and pens and start writing,” he said. “Zines are amateur by default and the community really embraces those who arent technically skilled in writing or illustrating or design. Its just about being as true to yourself as possible.

“So just write and draw out your feelings and make copies of it. The actual layout aspect can be kind of confusing but just Googling something like ‘how to make a zine’ will get you a pretty good demo of how to lay it all out.”

Mid-Michigan Zine Fair

Noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 @ Hannah Community Center (2nd floor) 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing FREE, all ages midmichiganzinefair.tumblr. com