Previews Spotlight submission deadline?

[JohnMayo]

The deadline for sending in submissions for the Previews Spotlight used to be the same night as the Previews Teleconference which takes place each month. For the April 2013 Previews, we moved the deadline for the Previews Spotlight submissions a week earlier. I'm curious how this is working out for you all.

[BadDeacon]

Typically, I get my copy of Previews in my DCBS box, which arrives several days before, if not the day of, the Previews teleconference.

I know it's possible to record a clip without previews, but I like having the magazine to look through before recording.

Also, it makes it easier to remember to record a clip when it coincides with the Previews call, the call acts as a bit of a reminder.

[Perry]

I have no dog in this race as I never participate in the Previews show, but from the outside looking in, I feel it should be whatever makes it easier for you, John, as you are the one that has to do the most work. You're the one that has to devote the most time. Just my opinion.

[BobBretall]

An alternate question is:

How many people find the Previews Episode to be useful when it comes out 2 weeks after the Previews Magazine hits the stands (and the same week as the following months solicits are on-line)?

Also, it seems like I'm wasting my time putting up the links to the solicits in the Previews thread each month......

[Perry]

Also, it seems like I'm wasting my time putting up the links to the solicits in the Previews thread each month......

Well I know I enjoy them. Though I understand that is not really what they're being put there for. As I don't use them for the Previews discussion.

[fudd71]

I tend not to be a Previews customer but I do listen to these episodes most months and take notes on things that sound interesting.

I am not personally likely to participate very often, but I did think about it this month for one book. Unfortunately learning about that book on Wednesday night at my LCS, being busy on Thursday night and being out late at Wonder Con on Friday night, I was unable to record a clip. Had it been a week later I most likely would have recorded a clip.

[SpideySavestheDay]

I'm neutral on the issue as well. The Previews is entertaining and informative. I've purchased a few books based on recommendations from the show. There may come a time I participate (hopefully sooner rather than later) but I will adjust to any deadline set.

Bob - How about informing the community about what general websites to visit for solicitations. I notice only two sites were listed, CBR and Comics Continuum. Instead of links, let interested individuals know where to find the info.

[Royal]

Hey guys. Let me chime in here. I tend to generate a good number of my monthly review clips from the back half of the catalog, and with several of those publishers I won't know what they are soliciting on a particular month until I see the Previews catalog. It's a little different with some of the bigger publishers--obviously DC and Marvel, but also Image, Dark Horse, IDW, and the like--since they make their solicits available on their websites. With many of the publishers I tend to gravitate towards, such as Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, Alternative Comics, FirstSecond, and SelfMadeHeroes, they don't advertise online in the same manner. As a result, I feel that I only have half a leg into the monthly solicits without the actual Previews catalog in hand. For example, this month I was able to submit several clips from the bigger publishers--and much thanks, Bob, for providing links to those solicits, which was very helpful--but I had nothing beyond (alphabetically speaking) Image Comics...which was strange, since most of the clips I tend to submit to you guys tend to come from Image and after in the catalog. And when I received my copy of Previews in the mail the day after I recorded clips for the CBP Previews show, I flipped through things and saw a number of books that I would have wanted to highlight had I known about them.

Something else to consider: having the Previews catalog on hand, either in hardcopy or digital format, is useful because of the visuals. Many times something catches my eye that normally wouldn't, and it's because of the attractiveness of the graphics. You can get the visuals online, to a point, but the very format of the catalog encourages this kind of "stumbled upon" phenomenon when it comes to the graphics. So I think I might be more apt to look into, and thereby recommend, titles because of the graphic-heavy nature of the solicits. And after all, comics is mostly a visual medium.

So overall, while I certainly see the value in getting the CBP Previews show up sooner rather than later, I feel a bit hamstrung about my recorded recommendations without some copy of Previews in front of me.

[JohnMayo]

Something else to consider: having the Previews catalog on hand, either in hardcopy or digital format, is useful because of the visuals. Many times something catches my eye that normally wouldn't, and it's because of the attractiveness of the graphics. You can get the visuals online, to a point, but the very format of the catalog encourages this kind of "stumbled upon" phenomenon when it comes to the graphics. So I think I might be more apt to look into, and thereby recommend, titles because of the graphic-heavy nature of the solicits. And after all, comics is mostly a visual medium.

That is a great point. There have been a number of times I've found something that literally looks interesting in Previews that I hadn't noticed when going through the order form or the online solicitations.

[HipHopHead]

An alternate question is:

How many people find the Previews Episode to be useful when it comes out 2 weeks after the Previews Magazine hits the stands (and the same week as the following months solicits are on-line)?

Also, it seems like I'm wasting my time putting up the links to the solicits in the Previews thread each month......

Bob, your links are not a waste especially for the smaller publishers.

As a Valiant fan, I did not hear any clips for Valiant....so next month (or earlier), I will try to record some clips for Valiant & others.

[jkarguth]

I can see the idea that the middle of the month is too late to be of any good, but honestly, I put DCBS edit cart feature to good use. I know I don't say it, fellows, but your previews podcast is one of (if not the) best. Honestly, it is the kind of potluck aspect that it has, it is a truly genius implementation. I am working to be more involved with submissions after a long hiatus from the internet, and I hope that I can be.

[JohnMayo]

I can see the idea that the middle of the month is too late to be of any good...

Personally, as long as we get the episode up at least a week or so before the Previews deadline, I don't see the middle of the month as being too late to be of any good.

We've been delivering these episodes like clockwork for over five years. The advance solicitation cycle hasn't changed during that time.

Previews Spotlight #001 covered the November 2007 Previews and was released on November 15, 2007. The following week the advance solicitations were posted on CBR:
DC
Marvel
Image

The way it usually works is like this:
a) Websites like Comic Book Resources and Newsarama get and post the advance solicitations
b) The next week the full list of solicitation data is released digitally by Diamond
c) The following week Previews is released
d) The following week Bob and I would get our copy of Previews and have the teleconference.
e) The following Wednesday the Preview Spotlight would be released. In four week months, this would also be the week the next set of advance solicits would go up.

It isn't an ideal situation but it is the way this has been working since we started the Previews Spotlight episodes.

Personally, I think we offer something unique with the Previews Spotlight episodes in which we allow everybody interested to have their say about way it being offered in that Previews. The episodes are a ton of work to produce but I'd like to think it is worth spending the better part of a day on each and every month.

[Royal]

Personally, I think we offer something unique with the Previews Spotlight episodes in which we allow everybody interested to have their say about way it being offered in that Previews. The episodes are a ton of work to produce but I'd like to think it is worth spending the better part of a day on each and every month.

I second that, that the Previews Spotlight on the Comic Book Page podcast is very different from all of the other Preview shows out there. And I say that being a podcaster who has a Previews show every month. As much as I think that Andy and I do a pretty darned good job with our monthly Preview shows--of course, I'm biased--we do what about everyone else does out there in podcastland: giving only our own takes on the solicits. Bob and John bring in other voices, and basically anyone who wants to chime in can do so. I appreciate that democratic bent.