Signspotting © 2000 - 2008 | SITE BY FIDJELAND
first child, I thought I'd substitute funny signs for my column. I figured this would be an easy swap since editors were regularly complaining about the shrinking news hole, yet voicing a demand for more fun, edgy material. About six newspapers began to run Signspotting weekly.
The signs started coming in. First, about 10 per week. Then 20. For five years I downloaded and cataloged signs, paying $50 per week out of my own pocket. With web design and maintenance thrown in I watched the project grow about $20,000 into debt.
Signspotting, the book proposal, had been informally accepted by the Lonely Planet's US office three years after I began collecting them. LP's US office thought it had potential and wanted to push it through headquarters for a global release. During this time the tragedy of 9-11 struck, which not only grounded all flights, but also all humor projects. About 18 months later, Tony Wheeler visited Stockholm and I interviewed him for an inflight magazine, where I was serving as travel editor. I had
Signspotting, the book proposal, had been informally accepted by the Lonely Planet's US office three years after I began collecting them. LP's US office thought it had potential and wanted to push it through headquarters for a global release. During this time the tragedy of 9-11 struck, which not only grounded all flights, but also all humor projects. About 18 months later, Tony Wheeler visited Stockholm and I interviewed him for an inflight magazine, where I was serving as travel editor. I had
met him a few times previously, but this was our first chance to chat without near constant interruption. After the 30-minute interview, he had nothing planned so I took him kayaking around Stockholm. I mentioned briefly that LP was still
sitting on my Signspotting book proposal during the kayak trip, but he didn't respond and I didn't want to push the issue. Later that evening at my apartment where he joined my wife and me for dinner, I pointed out the floor-to-ceiling cabinet filled with sign photos taking up half of my work space. He didn't seem interested so I didn't say another word. About a month later, he emailed me out of the blue with a "new idea" that I could put together a funny sign book for them. "Funny you should mention it," I wrote back.
sitting on my Signspotting book proposal during the kayak trip, but he didn't respond and I didn't want to push the issue. Later that evening at my apartment where he joined my wife and me for dinner, I pointed out the floor-to-ceiling cabinet filled with sign photos taking up half of my work space. He didn't seem interested so I didn't say another word. About a month later, he emailed me out of the blue with a "new idea" that I could put together a funny sign book for them. "Funny you should mention it," I wrote back.
Doug Lansky
Photo Editor