[Reader-list] Looking for Ideas for Distribution of Reader 04

[auskadi at tvcabo.co.mz]

Dear Shudda

My first impression here is to think back to the days (late '70's) of 
the DIY (do it yourself) - punk - indie music scene. Back then there was 
a time when many of us  were trying to do something as an alternative 
musically and in organisation different from the multi national record 
companies ... people used to pay for their own recordings and make their 
own record labels and distribute the records themselves to shops that 
would take them(often on a consignment or sale or return basis) ... .... 
I spent many years walking the streets of Sydney and Melbourne visiting 
record shops and selling or leaving on consignment records, we also used 
small distributors to cover the suburbs and out of the way areas... but 
over time with different bands doing this networks where established and 
independent distribution networks evolved.

I think people like autonomedia probably are like a book version of 
that, for example rough trade was back in the late 70's.
Anyway, my prima facie idea is that maybe a combination of distributors 
(such as autonomedia or whoever) and just friends of Sarai could get 
involved. I will try and find Jim at autonomedias email for you. Thats 
one avenue... the other is that a time each of us could just try and get 
orders from local bookshops or other outlets and forward them on, and/or 
each get a small supply of books and try and find outlets for them as we 
did in the days of DIY-punk-indie music..........and of course now with 
the net and the number of web sites that we all have our fingers another 
way of walking the streets is available to compliment this ...

if anything I hope i help get the thread going

Best

Martin



Shuddhabrata Sengupta wrote:

>Dear Friends, 
>
>As you know, the Sarai Reader 04 was published in February this year, and the 
>people who have been able to lay their hands on the book are coming back to 
>us with very positive responses. Many people are also saying that it is 
>difficult to get copies of the book and that it hasnt really moved into 
>bookstores. 
>
>Would anyone on this list have any ideas, suggestions about how we might try 
>and get hold of a better distribution network for the book. Anyone with any 
>experience in distribution of books could send us any ideas that they might 
>have. Please write back to the list. Perhaps it can also generate a nice 
>discussion thread on different forms of distribution.
>
>looking forward to your suggestions and ideas.
>
>cheers
>
>Shuddha
>
>  
>


-- 
http://www.auskadi.tk/
"the riddle which man must solve, he can only solve in being, in 
being what he is and not something else...."