Olivia Paranich created an independent publication run entirely by teenagers
Lame Kid Zine is an independent publication run entirely by teenagers. We are based in Plainsboro, New Jersey but have contributors and readers across the globe. Our executive board and contributors come from more than ten countries. We publish a new issue every month, and each issue has a specific theme. That way if someone wants to submit but gets a little stuck they can look at the theme for some inspiration. My main goal in starting the zine was to create a place where like-minded people could share their art. More specifically teenagers. We all know how real teenage angst is, and it’s so hard to find somewhere to fit in and feel like you belong. So, here at Lame Kid Zine we like to say that “we don’t fit in either”. This is an ode to how each of us working on the zine stands out as an individual but also how the zine itself is not your typical zine.
We have interviews, poetry, photography, playlists, drawings, recipes, anything you can think of.
Success means… doing what you love.
The best thing about being an entrepreneur is… meeting amazing people.
You can’t run a business without… self respect.
In the next 10 years I wish to be… running the zine as a mainstream magazine.
Is there one “rookie mistake” that new entrepreneurs keep on making? What is it?
I don’t know if it counts as a rookie mistake or just a rookie misconception, but teenagers seem to think that because of the internet they don’t have to put any work into a startup. Social media makes everything look so easy, and no one has any idea what has to happen behind the scenes a lot of the time. This can be with anything too, things look pretty on the surface but in the entrepreneurial world there is a lot of messy behind the scenes work. I’ve been on social media for a long time, so I knew that there was a lot of work that would have to go into it, but I still had no idea what to really expect. It’s been an awesome journey, but I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now without hard work.
What is your proudest accomplishment in 2016? What’s the biggest goal for 2017?
My biggest accomplishment of 2016 was getting the zine up and running. I feel like that in itself was such a big step for me. Publishing monthly with consistent content can be extremely difficult and the fact that we are able to make it happen month after month is so fulfilling. My biggest goal for 2017 is to start having some Lame Kid Zine sponsored concerts. I'm a strong believer in the power of the scene as a punk rock teen. I want to be able to get my favorite local bands together and raise money for a good cause. It would be a win win situation because cool music would be shared and we would be able to donate money to something important. Of course with this I hope to keep expanding the zine.
How as being an entrepreneur affected your life? How did it change the way you think about life?
My life has gotten way more interesting since starting Lame Kid Zine. I've met so many amazing people through the zine, and I go to way more events now. Since starting this zine I've had to learn how to manage my time better. I'm a high school student, so being able to balance school work with all of my hobbies and the zine can be a challenge sometimes. In the end it's made me a much more organized person. When I think about how it's changed the way I think about life I could give you a thousand points. The biggest thing is that I've learned how to humanize the people I respect and support. I get to interview some of my favorite bands for the zine, which is such an amazing privilege. Kids and teens have a tendency to idolize artists to the point where they seem untouchable. I've learned on a very surface level that we are all the same. I'm able to see everyone for who they are despite their status. I feel like more teenagers needs to realize this, because the level to which we promote celebrities is so toxic sometimes.
What are some pros and cons of having (OR not having) entrepreneurial parents?
I do not have entrepreneurial parents, so sometimes trying to figure out how to run a magazine at sixteen seems actually impossible. Luckily we live in an age where I can google anything and get fast answers. Even though my parents aren't entrepreneurs I have the pro they are both creative, and so are the rest of the adults in my life. Another positive note is that I have an enormous amount of support. Without my family and friends there's no way this zine could exist. A con is that none of us have any idea what we're doing before we do it, but it's not that bad. We learn as we go so in the end this isn't even really a con.