Well, here I am. The new editor of this fine magazine you are reading. And I’m over my head…again. But I’m not afraid, because most of my career has been spent being thrown into the fire. The fact is that, for the last 10 years, I have just been designing stuff, and nothing in my workload was stressful. Sure, there were challenges and long hours spent tweaking designs to bring my ideas to fruition, but I never stayed up late wondering how the heck I was gonna pull something off. Then came this new gig offer.
Opportunity Knocks
In November, I got a call from Terry Lowe, the publisher of this magazine. We usually chat about once a year, so I figured he was calling to catch up. He started out by saying he was looking for a new editor, as Justin Lang was stepping down. As I thought with the departure of Richard Cadena a few years back, who is the sucker that Terry is going to find to take on this gig? I was at a loss. I could not think of a single person qualified to take this position. I asked Terry who he had in mind. He replied, “Well, Nook, I think you’d be kind of good at it, what do you say?” All I could think was, “You gotta be kidding me. I have no training in this field.”
But then I started thinking and chatting with my wife. I had a few days to ponder. The truth was, I was getting bitter as I got older. The creative spirit was still there, but the challenges of learning something new were all gone. Life had become routine, and I had grown tired of the extreme lack of loyalty displayed by the stars in the music business these days. I did not wish to waste time submitting designs to acts so they can choose between my art and that of my friends. I think that, quite possibly, my subconscious was looking for a way out. And like so much in my life, I found a door opening up right in front of me. But it wasn’t just a new gig; it was a whole different life.
Opening a New Door
When I think of an editor, all I can think of is Perry White or JJ Jameson, the editors on Superman and Spiderman, respectively. Am I to become one of those mean-spirited men, always chasing a headline? Nope, that’s not me. The only other popular editor I know is Hugh Hefner, and he did everything his own way. I like that spirit better, but again, that’s not me. Truth is, I have no idea what kind of editor I will become because I never once thought about this gig and have absolutely no idea what I am doing.
But that’s the beauty of it all. I’m being thrown into the fire again, and my mind is overflowing with creative ideas. I wake up at 2 a.m. sweating in my dreams because I have no idea how I am going to do this job and wondering how the heck my predecessor accomplished all the stuff he did week after week. It’s been a good 10 years since I’ve had this feeling. I had become complacent since my phone is always ringing with work opportunities. It just seems that, for my whole adult life, people have been fanning the flames, daring me to succeed or burn. After meeting my crew of PLSN workmates at LDI in November, I was pretty certain that I am the only one who doubts my own ability. But I am confident I will learn and nail this job.
So as I walked the floor of LDI, I was totally uncertain of what I was doing. Sure, I’m taking names while perfecting the art of the grip and grin. I went to college to learn journalism and study English lit, but never took any course in putting together a magazine. This just serves to remind me of how many people opened doors for me before I was qualified for a job. I was sent out as a dimmer guy before I even knew how to patch one. Sent out as a ground rigger before I could tie a bowline knot. I got my first touring gig when the traveling audio crew chief fired a crewmember — all the while staring me down, asking if I could drive a Ryder truck. I lied, but by the next day I had mastered that task. Of course, that was a lot easier than taking on the editorial position for a prestigious magazine. I cherish this opportunity, and dare you to throw another log on the fire. I embrace the flames.
