Blowing Out The Candle
By Adam D. Miller

This issue of Being There marks one year since we took a chance and ventured into the online music and film community.  Our first issue, published in August 2004, included three features that helped us gain a few readers, some reviews of things we were interested in writing about at the time, and columns that we had devised, unsure of whether they would work or not. 

Looking back at Being There’s first year, it’s amazing how things have evolved.  While many of the core staff members have remained the same, those later added have proven integral to our operations, as have talented freelancers from all over North America, and even a few from overseas.

For many of us, Being There has given us the opportunity to interview musicians and comedians who we’ve collectively admired.  In our first year alone, the list we have is pretty remarkable: Steve Forbert, Jolie Holland, Robbie Fulks, Andrew Bird, The Sadies, Shivaree, Kristin Hersh, Tommy Smothers, Lewis Black, and Greg Proops.  And that’s just the bigger names.

When we set out on this frontier in August 2004, little did we realize that we would be sticking our noses into a very exclusive business, one that we are still trying to feel at home at in many ways.  But special thanks in particular must go to those who took a chance on us, even early on.  Thanks to our label contacts, who were willing to send us promotional copies before we had anything to show for ourselves.  Thanks to our families and friends for helping us spread the word.  Thanks to people like Joel Plaskett and David Celia for granting us interviews early on.

Most of all, thanks to our readers.  We knew a niche existed that wasn’t being completely satisfied by the music/film publications out there, and you proved to us that you are out there, interested in what we have to say. 

Who knows what will happen in Being There’s second year.  But for now…

Thank You.