Banter Magazine

Banter Magazine is an Isle of Man based entertainment magazine, which launched on 1 April 2009. The founders are lifelong friends Stuart Steen McFaull and Mark Roberts who describe the magazine as "fresher than a corpse". The self acclaimed (but ultimately correct) "Island's Best Magazine" came about thanks to a mixture of Jack Daniels, disillusionment in their respective monotonous jobs and identifying a gap in the Manx market.
Background
Stuart (aka Steen, McFaull, Ginger Boy, T-Bone and Geoff) and Mark (aka Markus, Andy Abraham, C-Bass and Keith) gave up their full-time jobs in mid 2008 to begin work on their as yet untitled magazine project. Working titles were "Stump", "Jam Magazine", "Yessir Weekly" (despite being a monthly publication), "Skeet", "FIGS", Eh Up!", "Chimps etc", "Sirloin", What?", "Dog", "Swine", "Magazine", "Bearded Spine", "Bearded Swine", "Beards and Pine", "Bull Spoon", "Pickled Eggs", "XYZ", "Dwarf", "Shazam", "Haphazard", "Hoden" (testes in German), "Beef!!!", "Shabba", "Peaches and Cream" and their personal favourite - "Jive Talkin". After much debate, they decided to go ahead with "Banter" on the basis that it represented the ethos of the magazine which was about providing an amusing, informative, fresh and original entertainment spin on both Manx and UK happenings, whilst also making use of a word which most people hate. The primary focus of Banter is to promote Manx young talent, be it musicians, actors, writers, artists or cheese makers. The two editors write all of the material in the magazine unless otherwise stated. At present there are numerous freelancers who provide their contributions - normally in soapbox features 'Nelson's Column' or 'Banter Ranter'. Stuart and Mark refer to themselves and the growing cult fanbase as "The B Team". Stuart likes to be known as Steen but many people know him as Stuart also. This is confusing and needless, but he persists with it regardless. He sports a mass of curly red hair and beard combo and thus is the most identifiable man this side of Geneva, with his closest look-a-like being Charles Manson. Mark Roberts likes to think he has dark dark dark brown hair but many believe this to be a dirty rotten lie. "Everyone knows his hair is as black as his skin" said a close ginger friend who chose to remain anonymous. Numerous skills were brought to the business by the founders such as Steen's ability to sell sand to the Egyptians and of course Mark's creative side, having successfully reinvented the wheel in the late 1980's.
Content
Regular features in Banter include: 'When I Grow Up' - an interview with usually, an Isle of Man based person, with an interesting and unique job; 'Giggity Giggity' - Reviews of the most exciting and audibly erotic local bands; 'Drive Talkin' - a blog of sorts whereby the hapless learner driver regales the reader with their shoddy attempts to drive; 'Mystic Greg' - the so-called 'anti-horoscope' where a mystical and bearded astrologist gives you his pearls of wisdom; 'Love/Hate' - news happenings that have irked and delighted the B Team; 'Banter Ranter' - vitriolic rants about everything from swine flu to Bob Geldof; 'Shirley Not' - comedy news stories normally animal related; 'Heroes of Banter' - In praise of comedians, actors, musicians, confectionary makers, etc who Banter identify with and respect more than their own unborn children; 'Banter Does' - where the intrepid editors get their hands dirty and try something new, different and more often than not, foolish; 'Frameus Fashion' - Banter fashion correspondents Katy Tucker and Delia Gibson bring their hilarious and sage-like fashion advice to the fray as well as regular competitions, 'sign of the month', crosswords, a 'Things to Do' list of all activities taking place on the island in the forthcoming month, regular recipes in the shape of 'Feed Me' plus many other ideas in the pipeline. Rumours there will be a one-off special dedicated solely to facial hair have yet to be denied. Early cover stars include Swound! Flight of the Conchords and Conor Cummins - all of which have publicly declared Banter for being the sole reason for their success. Readers are continously asked to get involved by sending in their stories, pictures and underwear if desired.
Distribution
Early concepts for Banter were it to be issued as a free publication with 15,000 copies distributed throughout the island. However, due to the well-timed collapse of the economy, Banter decided to start out at a slower pace. 5000 copies were distributed of early editions for sale in all Manx newsagents, some high street outlets such as WH Smith and also at the Isle of Man Sea Terminal and Ronaldsway Airport. Issue 1 cost 75p but was increased to £1 from Issue 1 onwards due to greed. New editions continue to be released monthly across the Island's newsagents on the 1st of every month, with copies flying off the shelves thanks to drafty windows and poorly insulated doors.
Publicity Stunts
The Banter logo is a cheeky chimp donning a fez and cymbals. Known as 'Chimpy', this cheeky scamp gave Stuart and Mark the opportunity of a lifetime: to dress up in full chimp attire, seemingly at will. During the build-up to their debut issue, they sported said chimp outfits (including fez) and danced to the sound of car horns at the busy Quarterbridge roundabout. They also held aloft signs urging drivers to "Honk for Banter Love" and also informing each and every one of them that "Banter Loves You". Both McFaull and Roberts confirm this love is still very much evident. For Issue 2 they found themselves at the Ramsey Hairpin on the famous TT course, again greeting traffic on their way to work. But this time sitting in deckchairs, reading novels and carrying umbrellas as the heavens rained down upon them. Forthcoming publicity stunts may involve an actual chimp on loan from the wildlife park - and a canon. Their Facebook group - imaginitely titled - Banter Magazine, has proved to be a roaring success largely thanks to publicity videos and harrassment. The pair also frequently entertain the students of the Isle of Man Secondary Schools in their chimp suits and encourage the pupils to get involved by writing and designing articles for the magazine or submitting photography for publication in return for Banter T-Shirts and other merchandise.

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