My Correspondence W/ The Nicksfix

[ricohv]

I wrote the Nicksfix w/ some suggestions and received a very thoughtful response. I will post both:
Dear Mr. Kinney,
I wanted to offer some ideas for the Nicksfix. There seems to be a fair amount of fans who feel Stevie is very removed from her fans and question whether she evens writes the very short answers to her Q. & A. Perhaps when there are forms for Christmas or birthday greetings at the Nicksfix, the e-mail addresses from senders could be automatically collected. Stevie could then write a short note to those fans that could be sent out to that list. Or perhaps a note automatically sent to those who send in questions that read something like "Hello and thank you for your interest in sending me questions at the Nicksfix. I am sorry time does not all me to answer them all, but I will try to get to as many as I can. All my love, Stevie Nicks.".
I'm not sure how much direct contact you have with Stevie but it seems like she could even dictate a short response for people who send in questions, birthday greetings and Christmas greetings in a very short time. I also am not terribly computer adept but I would imagine there are programs that could collect the e-mail addresses and send the responses to them directly.
Personally I have sent fan letters over the years and sent messages and questions through your forms numerous times. I've never received any type of response. I understand that Stevie would never have time to answer every single message she received, but I think many fans would be overwhelmed to even receive a group e-mail.
Just a thought-thanks for your consideration and for running such a great site.
Sincerely,
Ricoh Vigen
p.s. I was also thinking maybe on the Nicksfix you could have a section about your experience as a fan, what led you to making the site and then how it went on to become the "official site", and your experience of meeting or working with Stevie. Was she what you thought she'd be like? Do you work with her much personally? Does she have much input as to what is posted on the site? e.g. Does her camp supply you with pictures for the "weekly picture" or ever come up with ideas or information for the site to keep it interesting and fresh? These are just curiosities that I think I share with other fans. Thanks again!

John Kinney's response:

Hi Ricoh,

Thanks for the comments and question. I know Stevie's answers are often short, but I think it's just a time issue...she tries to do as many as she can with the time allowed. I usually send her a batch of maybe 20 and she answers them all and sends them back. I then post them slowly over a week or so. Stevie does answer her greetings as a group response typically. She just did that earlier this summer for her birthday. I usually ask her to do it in her own handwriting so people know it's her answering and not her assistant. I'm happy she does this forum and I won't make too many suggestions that she change the way she does it.

We have about 5000 questions in the queue now for Ask Stevie so I'm not surprised that yours may not have been answered. She agreed to answer them as her time allowss and I'm OK with that. She often takes time to share other things with her fans such as her 911 journal and the recent Thanksgiving message to the troops. I think she does OK. Here are some of the replies I mentioned:

http://www.nicksfix.com/birthday_note_2004.htm
http://www.nicksfix.com/stevies_journal.htm
http://www.nicksfix.com/thanksgiving2004.htm
http://www.nicksfix.com/letter_to_troops_mar18_2003.htm
http://www.nicksfix.com/birthday_note_2002.gif

Stevie also goes through a lot of fan mail. I get a handfull of cards and letters every day and I box them up and send them to her when I fill up a box. I'm sure she's overwhelmed, but she took time to send autographed photos to many of them while catching up after the FWMac tour. They had really piled up.

Regarding my experience as a fan...I actually prefer to work behind the scenes. The tourbook for Stevie's last solo tour had a page devoted to the Nicks Fix and told my story there. That's really more attention than I am comfortable with.

Another feature we will be adding over the holidays is the "Ask the backup singer" section, where fans can ask questions of Sharon and Lori. I have had a lot of interest in this in my personal polls.

I hope this answered most of your questions. Thanks again for your comments and suggestions..they are always welcome.

regards,
john

I just thought thought I would post these as it does make me beleive Stevie writes her responses and I beleive John wants to keep that credibility. I'm looking forward to the "Ask the Back-up Singer" section!!!