MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount

Subject: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 05:44 PM

I'm trying to find the best method for production that's cost effective but attractive and very usable. After all, there are some darn good recipes in this book and I think you'll actually cook out of it. (Not to mention all those foodie tunes you might want to play.)

Since I haven't done the layout work yet while waiting for submissions to come in (7 days left!), I have quite a bit of flexibility. If we order 200 copies or more, there will be a significant savings. We don't get much of a price break until well above that number, although the more that are ordered, the cheaper it gets.

So first, I need a headcount to see how many are likely to actually sell. At least SOME pre-paid orders are a must; the cost of printing the whole run is higher than yours truly feels comfortable coughing up alone. Price will probably be $15 (if we reach 200 copies). Maybe $17.50.

Second, how many would like to purchase an additional CD at about $5 to go with the cookbook? If there's enough interest, it could be worth making that, too.

Third, is there anyone that would like to handle the physical distribution in the US that maybe has a postage meter or has days free to get to the post office? I can do the distribution, but I don't think orders will get as quickly as you might like.

Fourth, how about distribution in the UK? If there are enough orders overseas, I suspect it will be much cheaper to send a big box over and have the individual ones get mailed out or distributed from there.

Let me know!

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 09:08 PM

Me 1

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 10:17 PM

Me 2

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Janie
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 10:44 PM

Me 3

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Allan C.
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 10:56 PM

One for me

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 11:01 PM

I'll take one (are you finished taking recipes? I've posted any number at Mudcat, but none on the list where you're actually collecting them. Guess I'd better go check it out. We made our homemade mac and cheese tonight. . . )

SRS

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: maire-aine
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 11:12 PM

Yes, please. One for me.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Peg
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 11:15 PM

oh yes...I can send a couple more recipes, too.

peg

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Melani
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 11:26 PM

One, please.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 24 Apr 03 - 11:29 PM

I'm in for one. The CD doesn't interest me though. Did you come up with a name for the book yet Nicole?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 02:35 AM

Yes BANKRUPTCY is spelled without an I

"Publish" it on the net - keep the printing company and distributor out of it - reap purely profits.

Sincerely
Gargoyle

Nope - no I in gargoyle either

Ever read the story of the The Little Red Hen?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: MMario
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 08:20 AM

I'll take at least two.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: jeffp
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 09:42 AM

You can count on me for 1 or 2. I'll have to codify a couple of recipes over the weekend to send you as well.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 01:13 PM

SRS - I harvested a lot of recipes off old MudCat Bookbook threads (since they were submissions), but not the other food threads.

Note to self: (15)

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: GUEST,McGrath of Altcar
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 01:17 PM

Would you be interested in a recipe for Cumberland Tattie Pot? It is THE meal that accompanies hunting sing-songs in the Lake district. Some claim it was John Peel's favourite food. I'm not surprised. It is delicious. I can also send a lovely song (not in the DT) Which mentions hunting from the old Beagle Inn which is in.... tattie pot lane!

Good idea!!

McGrath of Altcar

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Bearheart
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 01:34 PM

Want one for sure. Will you do extras?
Bekki

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: MMario
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 01:35 PM

Mc of A! Please POST the song as well - pretty please?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 01:55 PM

An additional CD? What's on this additional CD???

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 02:42 PM

Extras? Well, you can order as many as you want. Only 8 months to Christmas, after all :)

Yes, I'll order more than the headcount, but I want to get a ballpark figure and set a budget goal. Then, I'd like to get anough pre-paid orders to pay for the whole run and then some, then any more that sell after that will be icing on the cake.

The CD would just be a PDF version of the cookbook, probably with an index. Some folks expressed an interest in one, but the majority favored a physical book. If there's enough interest in the CD, maybe it could be an add-on option. I don't want have CDs available by themselves, because we need to rack up some orders to get the price down and the profit to MudCat up.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Alba
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 03:17 PM

One for me Nicole pleeze:>)

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 03:18 PM

Suggestion... instead of mailling a CD... why not make the PDF available for download? That way you can still charge the extra 5er... but you don't have to 'ship' anything... people can go and down the PDF themselves and either print it off, or burn it to CD themselves...

Just an idea...

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 03:29 PM

It's an idea, but the PDF file will be very large (30-40MB at least); most people couldn't download it. I guess it depends on how far I could compress it down.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 03:33 PM

Wow... that is big.... not a big deal for anyone on a real connection, but I wouldn't wanna dial-up it...

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Ed.
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 03:50 PM

Nicole,

I don't wish to be negative, but I'd doubt that you'd get 200 takers.

History here suggests that only half the people who say that they'll buy something 'mudcat' actually do.

Speak to (or PM) Max, Dick Greenhaus and Amos (who have all done mudcat fundraisers) to get a better idea on likely sale figures. I think it might be a little smaller than you expect.

I really don't understant how the PDF file could be 30+ MB. (Unless it's a 10 000 page master work)

Let me know how you're doing it (here or via PM) and I'll try to advise on pdf.

Sorry for not posting the most optimistic message. It is however realistic.

Ed

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 03:56 PM

I was gonna ask, "Are there even 200 people who come here?"

Heh

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 04:35 PM

I know, Ed. I'd LIKE to get 200... but I don't think I will. We're looking at a production cost of $11 each for 100 copies, and $7.50 for 200. (Not including mailing the suckers.) That's a big difference; $11 is too high to make enough money off the project to make it worthwhile, so a lot of corners will get cut to bring the cost down. Hence, the head count. And the pre-orders. Before I do much too much work that might have to be redone.

The PDF size will depend a lot on how many graphics and layout elements I include. If this were text only, then yes, the file would be pretty small. Last project like this I did, a 16 page Distilled EPS file was almost 5MB. On the other hand, I just converted a 56 page user manual to PDF from MS Word with minimal images, and it's just over 100kb.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Ed.
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 05:03 PM

Nicole,

You obviosly know your pdf, so ignore that part of my post.

However, I think you'd do well to get an uptake of more than 50 at the price you suggest

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: GUEST,Burke
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 06:00 PM

I know you're still collecting recipes, but how big are you expecting this to be?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 06:16 PM

Probably 5.5" x 8.5", 100 double sided pages, coil bound. (-Ish.)

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 06:58 AM

Count me in for one. Though I enjoy NOT COOKING, I'll see if I can submit something.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: gnu
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 07:15 AM

I now count 18. Please help Nicole out by counting off as was started early in the thread. Sooo.... who's 19 ?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Hollowfox
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 09:43 AM

I'll definitely take one, probably two. I'll take a cd if it's made available.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 01:45 PM

Mary, if you're not a cook, submit a photo or a drawing or poem about food or something like that.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 02:24 PM

Catching up on unanswered questions --

M of A - yes and yes, please!

RR - Sort of. I'm still pondering it. I keep coming back to "Whiskey Before Breakfast (And Other Meals from the MudCat Cafe)."

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 09:14 PM

Nicole, how do you feel about a famous recipe as long as I give credit to the author. I'm thinking of the famous mint julip recipe by a former mayor of Louisville or the Hot Brown Recipe from the Brown Hotel in Louisville. Then I can get my hands on a silly recipe of how to cook a camel. Maybe I should just stick with cornbread.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Amos
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 11:01 AM

There's a couple of Texas recipes in the current Texas folklore thread that make muh mouth water. From JohninKansas..

A

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 01:55 PM

I think we need to stick with original material. While it's unlikely anyone will ever care about a little fundraiser cookbook, stanger things have happened. If you've never had lawyers sic'ed on you, you're missing a lovely experience.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 03:16 PM

My cookbooks are packed -- can I get an extension until the middle of next week? Please?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 03:38 PM

Sure. As long as I don't get too many late recipes, I should be able to fit stuff in.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 04:27 PM

Put me down. Is that 19?

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 07:34 PM

I'll take at least one.

Mike

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 02:43 AM

1 book for me, and a CD.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: rich-joy
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 05:55 AM

I'm up for one - despite the exchange rate to Oz $ !!!
Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 11:56 AM

Note to self: (24)

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 21 May 03 - 03:34 AM

Refresh - Hey catters, no one else interested in such a fine enterprise? Rally for support and order in masses!

Wilfried

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Kim C
Date: 21 May 03 - 09:36 AM

I want a cookbook. :-)

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Bearheart
Date: 21 May 03 - 01:15 PM

Did we get a final price? Where do I send my money?

Bekki

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: open mike
Date: 21 May 03 - 02:49 PM

i'd like one--are you in receipt of my cobbler recipe?
we can have order blanks at the gathering...
we have patches for sale and order blanks for
t-shirts.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 25 May 03 - 10:31 PM

I can't get a final price until I get a final product, but $15 looks like a pretty safe bet at this point. Good progress has been made, but what with jetting off to Europe and trying to relocate myself and the office... well, I am setting the weekend of the gathering as my deadline for a rough draft to preview and having final ordering info ready for Mudcat.

I got your recipe, Laurel.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 26 May 03 - 02:03 AM

Hi, Nicole - Have you considered the possibiliy of electronic publishing to keep the costs low?
You could zip the book for download and so avoid the postage, too.
The zip-file could be password-protected, access only for catters who have paid their (I hope smaller) fee.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 26 May 03 - 01:55 PM

It's been discussed, Wilfried, but most folks wanted an actual cookbook that you could cook out of. Printing out 200 pages on a typical home inkjet would, for most people, cost more than the physical cookbook itself.

On a related note, only 2 or 3 folks have expressed an interest in a CD so far, so it seems unlikely that there will be a CD version. It doesn't seem worth the extra 30-ish hours of work to produce the CD.

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: DougR
Date: 26 May 03 - 03:42 PM

I'll buy one Nicole.

DougR

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: michaelr
Date: 26 May 03 - 09:17 PM

Nicole -- I think skip the CD; most (as would I) would prefer a real book. Spiral-bound is great as you can flip it around to the page you want, and Kinko's can do that if you don't have the apparatus at home.

See you at Concow Lake?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: JennyO
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:24 AM

Are you still taking orders, and can you send one to Australia? (but only if it is a book).

BTW, I think spiral bound is an excellent idea.

Jenny

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:36 AM

I'd happily take one but you durned yankees put such weird measurements in like sticks of butter and spoons of molaseseseses...

Seriously (I have figured out mosty of the conversions) I'd have one. Paper or CD.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: NicoleC
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:42 AM

Right now I'm just getting a headcount so I know how many to print up. Sending overseas is no problem, but there may have to be a bit more postage.

DtG, some of the recipes are in weird overseas units. "Grams?" What are ya'll thinking?! :)

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: GUEST,peter ffoulkes
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 12:56 PM

In April 03 McGrath of Altcar wrote:

"Would you be interested in a recipe for Cumberland Tattie Pot? It is THE meal that accompanies hunting sing-songs in the Lake district. Some claim it was John Peel's favourite food. I'm not surprised. It is delicious. I can also send a lovely song (not in the DT) Which mentions hunting from the old Beagle Inn which is in.... tattie pot lane!"

I have been trying to get hold of the words / music to "the Old Beagle Inn for years. If anyone out there actually has those I would be extremely grateful if you would contact me.

Many thanks

Peter ffoulkes ([e-mail])

A decent recipe for Tattie Pot Pie wouldn't go amiss either!

Subject: RE: MudCat Cookbook Details Cost/Headcount
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Nov 04 - 01:14 PM

Peter, it's a bit unlikely that McGrath of Altcar would find your request in this cookbook thread. You'd get better results by either starting a new thread requesting the song, or joining as a member so you can send McGrath a Personal Message.

Cheers,
Michael