About Us

My background in in providing creative services, professionally since 1974. I published Midtown Living Magazine, a local community magazine through Best Version Media from November 2015 through March 2022. Midtown Living was the first BVM publication in the Memphis, Tennessee are. There are now four local BVM magazines, including Neighbors of Germantown, Collierville Living and East Memphis Living. My services have included art direction from concept through production. I create editorial illustrations, cartoons, photography, logos, branding campaigns, page layouts, website artwork and fine arts projects. I am also a drummer and hand percussionist playing professionally in the Memphis, Tennessee area.

How We Got Started

Starting as a graphic designer and illustrator in 1975 at The Pink Palace Museum, I have a long background in graphic creation and fabrication, ad concepts, copywriting, illustration and design, pre-press, screen printing and photography. I have also been a professional musician playing drums and percussion for many years.

Products & Services
Sponsorships available for most any budget. by Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician
Midtown Living provides our sponsors with a selection of ad sizes and durations that fit most any ad campaign budget. Our Expert Contributors/Ancho...
Midtown Living Magazine by Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician
We connect local businesses with the residents in the historic districts of central Midtown Memphis through the content in the magazine. Residents ...
Midtown Living Magazine by Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician
We help local neighbors and local businesses develop partnerships and relationships of trust. Our sponsors and the residents that receive our direc...
Recommendations Given (454)
"Pamela Palongue is a natural wit with great comedic instincts. Her observational skills and..." Read more "Pamela Palongue is a natural wit with great comedic instincts. Her observational skills and outside-the-box-views make her a perfect fit for comedy, short stories, magazine articles, screen play dialogs and any content where quirky wit that makes you smile or laugh is the intent. I highly recommend her."
"Brad is a long time Memphis musician, performer and entertainer. His rockabilly style is a large..." Read more "Brad is a long time Memphis musician, performer and entertainer. His rockabilly style is a large part of honoring the Sun Recording Studio history. I highly recommend Brad for any entertainment needs. He’s a real A-list pro."
Recent Activity

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on December 07, 2022
Time management and getting organized.  (more) Time management and getting organized. 

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on December 06, 2021
We publish community magazines. This is a great idea for revenue building while bringing communities together. (more) We publish community magazines. This is a great idea for revenue building while bringing communities together.

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on October 24, 2021
I use a simple, free, downloadable version of Filemaker. Years ago I used ACT for Macs and Goldmine for PCs. I drew my line in the sand when software companies stopped selling software and consumers are forced to rent it monthly and usually are required to work only online. Yea, I am old school.  (more) I use a simple, free, downloadable version of Filemaker. Years ago I used ACT for Macs and Goldmine for PCs. I drew my line in the sand when software companies stopped selling software and consumers are forced to rent it monthly and usually are required to work only online. Yea, I am old school. 
1 Reply

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on August 12, 2021
We offer a variety of sponsorship campaigns that drive revenue to our sponsors that publish ads and articles in our community magazines delivered monthly in the mail at no charge to homeowners. One campaign option is for several businesses to share a large ad space (like a 1/2 or full page ad).... (more) We offer a variety of sponsorship campaigns that drive revenue to our sponsors that publish ads and articles in our community magazines delivered monthly in the mail at no charge to homeowners. One campaign option is for several businesses to share a large ad space (like a 1/2 or full page ad). An example would be home repair businesses. Each small business shares only a fraction of the monthly investment for a large ad exposure to thousands of homeowners always needing repairs. By sharing a co-op space each repair technician/handyman increases revenue. With our three magazines reaching 10,000 homes each month, it keeps that network of handymen repair technicians busy. Nobody eats at the same restaurant every day. That's why you see a many restaurants clustered together. It works the same for service businesses in our community magazines. To learn more contact: Allen Rankin arankin@bestversionmedia.com  

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on August 01, 2021
We have three in-print community magazines in the Memphis Metroplex. Our magazines are delivered in the mail monthly reaching homeowners with happy stories and local news. We have more magazines going to print soon. BVM has an amazing print and digital media platform serving small businesses... (more) We have three in-print community magazines in the Memphis Metroplex. Our magazines are delivered in the mail monthly reaching homeowners with happy stories and local news. We have more magazines going to print soon. BVM has an amazing print and digital media platform serving small businesses everywhere with over 1,000 publishers all over the U.S. and Canada. Many BVM publishers are on Alignable. It’s a powerful platform for making B to B connections and connections for B to  consumers. Travel safe! Allen Rankin

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on December 02, 2020
Thinking about the next five years or ten years is a better perspective. There will always be pandemics, floods, hurricanes, wars, famine, etc. Staying focused on long term goals and peeking over the maze as often as possible will get most business owners moving forward. The stock market rises... (more) Thinking about the next five years or ten years is a better perspective. There will always be pandemics, floods, hurricanes, wars, famine, etc. Staying focused on long term goals and peeking over the maze as often as possible will get most business owners moving forward. The stock market rises and falls. You can only look at it over a long period of time to draw conclusions where it is going. Running a business is much the same. Making daily decisions that consciously include their effects on long range goals keeps tasks arranged to avoid backsliding. Its not easy, but researching and hard work daily bring success.
1 Reply

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on November 17, 2020
We are grateful for Best Version Media producing a wonderful remote-guided presentation of our magazines to show potential sponsors on their computers allowing us to avoid physical contact during the coronavirus peaks. We are finding out with people staying at home more, our magazines are being... (more) We are grateful for Best Version Media producing a wonderful remote-guided presentation of our magazines to show potential sponsors on their computers allowing us to avoid physical contact during the coronavirus peaks. We are finding out with people staying at home more, our magazines are being read more than ever across the U.S. and Canada. We are grateful we have a platform for local businesses to continue branding to our homeowners that receive the magazine for no charge in the mail each month. This gives local business an audience to brand their products and services, educate and inform with their submitted articles. BVM helps bring people together in print when they must stay apart for their health.

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on September 17, 2020
Thank  you for publicly taking this stand. Black lives matter and black businesses matter. We are all buying and selling to and from each other. We are all the same. Peaceful, purposeful, solidarity resisting systemic racism grows communities in compassion and understanding.  (more) Thank  you for publicly taking this stand. Black lives matter and black businesses matter. We are all buying and selling to and from each other. We are all the same. Peaceful, purposeful, solidarity resisting systemic racism grows communities in compassion and understanding. 

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on September 17, 2020
At the beginning of the shut-in period from the pandemic, our parent company, Best Version Media, designed an online remote-guided review we can present to our prospective sponsors of our magazine we share online while we talk on the telephone. We normally prefer face-to-face meetings, but the... (more) At the beginning of the shut-in period from the pandemic, our parent company, Best Version Media, designed an online remote-guided review we can present to our prospective sponsors of our magazine we share online while we talk on the telephone. We normally prefer face-to-face meetings, but the pandemic forces us all to adapt with Zoom meetings, Facetime, What'sAp and various other ways using technology to reach our markets. We care about our sponsor's health and well being as we also care about our reader's safety. We are all in this together. We bring neighbors together with the magazine they receive in the mail, at no charge. We give our sponsors a platform to tell their stories and get to know their local communities. 
1 Reply

H. Allen from Creative Services/Artist/Cartoonist/Musician Answered this on September 14, 2020
There are a lot of gold nuggets in this article. Alignable is a well-crafted platform for B to B and B to C connecting. I have made many connections and closed many sales that started on Alignable. We are all buying and selling to one another. Sharing value is the first step to finding the right... (more) There are a lot of gold nuggets in this article. Alignable is a well-crafted platform for B to B and B to C connecting. I have made many connections and closed many sales that started on Alignable. We are all buying and selling to one another. Sharing value is the first step to finding the right business relationship that grows mutual gain and partnerships for success.