Hello there! Three things in this email:

1. 🗞️ A call for for Print Dealers to sling zines at Billy’s June shows

2. ✨ Some personal news — I got laid off, which might be a good thing

3. 🧮 The top states for the zine (we mail to all 50 states and 8 countries!)

🗞️ Print Media Dealers!

I’m taking volunteers to hand out copies of issue 6 in Grand Rapids, Rosemont, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Lexington. Sign up here.

• Btw, did you order our latest issue yet?

Print Media Dealers of yore have told me they had a lot of fun meeting new people and introducing them to the wonders of niche physical literature.

Volunteers will receive a very-exclusive-and-not-for-sale “Print Media Dealer” shirt. We’re deciding whether to give them away for free or offer them at cost.

We’ve been lucky to have so many volunteers, but the cost of free tees piles up fast. Also, I want to make sure you actually want another t-shirt. (Those pile up fast, too.)

✨ Some personal news

I found out earlier this week that I’m being laid off from my day job. (As are my boss and most of our team.) So it goes.

Lucky for me, I’ve got four paid and health-insured months to land on my feet and explore what might be next. Lucky for you, I’ll be pouring some of that time and energy into obsessing over the next issue of the zine and goofing around on Instagram.

If you’ve been following the Train Songz subplot of me rambling about zine economics, you know I don’t factor my own time into the cost. The $11 price per issue simply covers paying contributors, printing, mailing, and basic expenses.

That model was built during the comfort and stability of W-2 life — and for now, I don’t plan on changing it. If and when it’s time to flip that switch, we’ll know. But that time isn’t now.

🫡 If I could ask for a favor…

Know anyone hiring? I’d love an introduction.

Train Songz is a solid representation of my skillset and what I actually do professionally — though I’ll admit my day jobs tend to involve fewer locomotive-themed memes and zines. (Love is all about compromise.)

If you see what I’ve built here and think someone might want to work with me, hit my line:

• 📧 conductor@trainsongz.net

• ☎️ 405-225-6629 (Train Songz Anonymous Tip Line — Text Only)

I’m open to full-time or contract work. My background is in leading social media and editorial strategy for companies in entertainment, tech, music, real estate, and finance. I’m totally open to new industries, too. I have fun bringing my bag of tricks to atypical places. (Amtrak, are you listening?)

Anyway — don’t worry about me. I’m excited to do something new, and I’m proud this side project might help me get there. Just gotta dig a little deeper in the well…

🧮 We love us some datums

I got a DM on Instagram the other day from a curious cat requesting a visualization of where the zines go, and I promised to include that in our next email. Here ya go!

Old heads around here remember North Carolina and Colorado have been duking it out for the #1 spot since the first issue. Congratulations to North Carolina for holding the lead! Denverites, if you’re sad from your loss, head on over to your local axe-throwing brewery and let it all out…

That’s all I got for now. I’m gonna enjoy an unemployed Friday. You’ll hear from me again next Friday, when our merchandise pre-orders open. Be well!

-The Conductor