For one day only. . .
A real life Stacker News public show through the lens of Stacker News Zine
My final preparations are coming together to present a catalog of SNZ issues to the general zine-making public alongside my poetry book published last summer. I submitted SNZ early this year to be considered for showing and was accepted. I paid $20 for half of a table where I'll sit from 12 to 6 on Saturday, hopefully not receiving shunning or shaming for being an artist interested in bitcoin. I expect to have interesting conversations meeting and mingling with the other creators. My read of the sentiment amongst artists in Austin is one that is not really cozy with technology as a means to a hopeful future (but I don't really know). If that is exactly what I get to spend the day talking about, I'm gonna be super happy with that.
Beyond that, if I have the chance to show off Stacker News, why I like it, why I use bitcoin, and all things of that nature, I will be delighted!
I'll be selling the zines and books using a Cashapp business account that allows my phone to become a tap-to-pay terminal for cards. I haven't used this feature before, and it does seem a little fantastical. Would be absolutely magic to me if that works. I don't have high expectations for meeting a potential customer that wants to pay in bitcoin, but if that should be the case, I'm ready to accept bitcoin over lightning through Cashapp as well.
Stacker input wanted
The table setting I'm putting together is out of this world:
We have exactly what I think should be there, nothing more. It's not gonna be crowded out or loaded down. There's a QR code to my website, there's a price sheet, stacker news stickers for free, and the merch.
What do you think?
I should perhaps include a QR to SN. I don't know how often people casually pursue a QR code though, is there a better presentation/representation for SN generally? One idea I had was to place a monitor on the table open to the SN front page, but I'm not sure I have enough room or if internet will be reliable. Is something missing here that could make a direct impact, stopping a visitor's casual stroll to lean in and learn more? I have an empty dish to bring, I thought I'd throw some candy in there.
OR are there specific talking points about SN that you've had success with? Let me know.
My thinking is to speak only from my experience, share that up front and also admit I don't know everything. I don't want to get into sticky places in conversation, but I guess this is sort of irrational, I couldn't say why I have this sort of fear or expectation around things that touch bitcoin and concern the general public.
About TAB
Thanks to @BlokchainB for once again leading SNIRL (#1541570) at TAB, I'll have another table to present issues of SNZ. There will be much more stuff offered there as well, beside SNZ. If you're going, stop by to check out all that. If there's an issue of SNZ that catches your fancy, you'll be able to pay a Zaprite invoice I'll provide there and take it home (for a discounted price of 2000 sats!)
In other news
Don't be mad, but since I'm working to get all this done by Saturday, I'm not sure I'll have a new zine issue to give you this week. But I can be petitioned. If there is a really good story that you think deserves its place in the zine, I will get it done.
THANKS
yours truly,
plebpoet
Exciting weekend ahead!
Erm why not compile all the photos you might have taken in the process of putting together SNZ and just let them loop on PPT slides or something? This kind of moving presentation doesn’t take much time to make, but might arouse curiosity. At least that’s what teachers do when we need to show something to entertain waiting parents during parent teacher conferences haha
So exciting! Do you have much experience showing your work in this kind of setting?
Don’t be reserved about why you love Bitcoin or Stacker News. People respond to passion and hope. I think you’re right to stick to why you love it, though. No need for a generic sales pitch.
When I made issue #7 in May 2025, it was about bitcoin++, I took it to the conference and stood behind a table and sold a few then. I was sure I had a post on that but I couldn’t find it. Then at bitcoin Vegas, I just informally passed out some zines. But that’s really it. You made me think I should be a little nervous, like it’s not often I’m standing behind my own work, exposed and alone….nah jk I’m not gonna be nervous, it’s gonna be a good time. I’m thankful for the experience I’ll earn!
I'm imagining you in Vegas wearing a big trenchcoat to conceal all the zines you were covertly passing out.
hahah nearly accurate, it was a tiny suitcase
pssst... hey... wanna see some zines?
An iPad style screen that lets people browse SN sounds dope. But, like you said, it depends on the environment -- internet stability and lighting come to mind as factors that will influence the quality of the experience.
Maybe QR codes that link to particularly artistic posts on SN? There are a bunch of photography ones. And here are some links to artistic posts that I especially liked, including one of my own:
#913452
#905076
#1274883
#1464712
#1274130
This is so cool. Good luck at the fest! Austin's zine scene is pretty open-minded you'll probably get more curiosity than shunning. Have fun with it, man.
This is awesome - taking SNZ IRL to a zine fest is perfect crossover. For Cashapp tap-to-pay, it works surprisingly well, just make sure your NFC is on and test it once before Saturday. And for lightning via Cashapp, maybe print a small "Bitcoin/Lightning accepted here" sign with your CashTag QR next to the zines? Artists are curious, even if they don't pay in sats that day they'll remember it. Would love to see a pic of the out-of-this-world table setup once it's done!