Fanfare: The Magazine for Serious Record Collectors

[Guest]

There has been some discussion (under the Gramophone thread) of the US magazine Fanfare. Having at last made the effort to subscribe, I thought I would write my initial reactions in a new thread.

Since it did not seem possible to buy a copy from any UK shop, I sent an email to the Fanfare website, asking how I could see a specimen copy. I received this reply, within minutes:

Thank you for writing today about your potential subscription. Because Fanfare is sold by subscription only, my advice is to take out a one-year subscription for $75. The first issue (May/June) will be mailed promptly, and you'll soon know if the magazine is for you. If for any reason you're not satisfied, keep the issue and I'll send you a full refund.

Sincerely,
Joel Flegler
Editor


You can't be fairer than that, so I took out the subscription. The first issue has just arrived: 540 pages in a format which is the size of a large-paperback book. I have only sampled a few pages yet, but the tone is very appealing. Any advertising is well away from most of the reviews, so the pages are clear and uncluttered - and the reviews I have read so far (including Kuijken's Brandenburgs and one of his Bach Cantata discs) seem spot on.

I will report back when I have read more, but first impressions of Fanfare are extremely favourable (or should I say "favorable"?) Thanks to those who gave me encouragement to try the magazine; I recall that we even have some contributors on this forum. I think that this will go well alongside IRR as one of my sources of new CDs.

[Don Petter]

There is so much in it that I could never say I read it word for word, but there is more than enough meat that I do read to justify my subscription. Glad you seem to be liking it, VD.

[MickyD]

There's no doubt that the Americans know how to treat customers well; I have had similar efficient and rapid service when dealing with other American periodicals. Haymarket should send their editorial and subscription staff to the USA on a customer service course!

[Don Petter]

Vodka is confirming my experience with Fanfare - If you email with any sort of enquiry you will get a reply direct from the proprietor/editor - no messing about! It is indeed refreshing to get such service these days.

[pastoralguy]

Thanks for the advice! I've contacted them too re. a subscription and hope to hear soon.

Thanks again for the positive vibes...

[VodkaDilc]

There's no doubt that the Americans know how to treat customers well; I have had similar efficient and rapid service when dealing with other American periodicals. Haymarket should send their editorial and subscription staff to the USA on a customer service course!

I can't help thinking that the key point is that the quick and helpful replies come from the proprietor/editor, as suggested by Don Petter. IRR is similar - and even Gramophone was when the Pollards were running it. As ever, it's the personal touch that matters; we get a reply from the owner of the corner shop, when we are lucky even to get an acknowledgement from the big supermarkets!

[VodkaDilc]

I've now been subscribing to Fanfare for over two years and find it a very useful supplement to IRR. However I am finding that I am having to draw the line and start making some extra shelf space for other things. If anyone would like about 15 copies of Fanfare, roughly mid-2011 to the present - and if s/he can collect from the depths of North Oxfordshire - please send me a message. I hope this does not break any board rules - I would not expect any payment. They are each the size of a large paperback, so posting them would not be practical.