Darren's Blog

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Week # 13 Progress

As we come to my last Tumblr post, there is a lot to reflect on the during this entrepreneurial journey. Although this business didn’t go to plan, I still ended up being more successful than initially planned. I have learned a lot when it comes to a marketing aspect, and the importance of proper time management. As I whine down on operations and focus on completing my services I have gained during the last 6 weeks, there is a lot to consider on how I can improve in the future and where this business has taken me both as an entrepreneur and from a creative aspect.  I am still working closely with my clients to make sure I can support them even after this course is done. Although I have made profit, my ‘contracts’ of creating and working with clients are going to continue in the coming months. As I am writing this post, I am just starting to work on the second video of 5 for a local choir, and just finishing up a video for a local artist. 

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Week # 12 Progress

Not much to discuss this week. I have slowed down on finding new clients. Working with the clients I have secured business with. The physical videos aren’t being done yet but I have been working closely with the choirs and musicians on getting their videos ready and trouble shooting any issues they may have. Looking forward to seeing the final product and hopefully taking this business into the next step in the future. 

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Week # 11 Progress.

Not much to update this week. I have stopped reaching out for new clients to focus on the work I have already received and can complete as much of it before the end of the semester. Again, I am happy with how I didn’t get an influx of clients so I can focus on the larger groups I got. Although I am a little upset that the response wasn’t as big as it seemed from the initial reactions of talking about this business it all worked out in the end with gaining a bigger contract to produce videos for a local choir. It shows that marketing is important even if it seems like there is lots of interest from word of mouth.

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Week #10 Business Progress

This week has been reaching out to artists and trying to gain more business. I have been very busy working with a local choir that has around 40 people taking part in their virtual performance. This has kept me very busy and makes me feel alright with not needing to get more business. I think that having gained one big contract works because I can put more focus on them. I think that the one thing that isn’t working is that doing these videos is a slow process and there won’t be a lot to show for the end of the class but there have been agreements made and profit is coming in. Since the last post, there isn’t been a lot that I learned. It’s been a lot of the same with time management but as each week goes. I definitely think as each week goes on I am improving my skills as an entrepreneur.  

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My Progress - Week #9

Slow progress but there is some. I’ve decided to change up what I offer with my services. Since many people don’t want to pay to create something they can do themselves, I’ve decided to offer a strictly troubleshooting service for those who have questions. This service will be very low cost but will still bring in a few dollars. I haven’t made any new contracts since my last progress report but with the deal I made with a local choir of 40 people, that will keep me busy and we agreed upon a price that is 3 times the amount I thought my final Net Profit will be so I am not overly concerned with this. I think that is something that is going well. I was able to make a large deal from the beginning which saves me the stress of rushing during the last few weeks. Overall I am pleased. I have made one video so far with this local choir and we are getting ready to make 4 more in the coming months. I am learning that I should have planned out more before of how much I could handle with my other jobs and commitments. But we learn from our mistakes and I am slowly learning more each week. The goal for next week is to secure me a schedule of what I can handle and what I have room for in terms of other videos.

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CyberConcert Online Customer Showcase

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My Progress- Week # 8

I am pleased with the amount of response I am getting just from the word of mouth of my business and reaching out to different musicians and artists. I believe that with the rate I am going at I can cut costs on my advertising which would give me more profit in the end. With more business just from the word of mouth then I can get find enough business to keep me busy for the remainder of the course. Once videos are produced and shared with my name attached, many will see that and will want to reach out – free marketing for me. My main concern and what isn’t working for me is the pace at getting the physical videos going. It takes time and though I will have business committed I might not get as much done as I hoped before the end of the course. I am pleased with how the project is coming along. The amount of word of mouth for it is overwhelming and saves me the stress of thinking this project wouldn’t lift off. I am certainly learning the powers of social media and how word of mouth helps to get your business out there. I am learning that I don’t need to be afraid to put myself out there more. With so, it can save me money from doing advertising.

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My Progress – Week #7

Although I have yet to start promoting my business, I have already received inquiries by performers wanting assistance in creating virtual performances. The word of mouth from just talking about the idea and having done my initial survey helped a lot. Because of this, it may help me with having to do less advertising and saving money because I can find enough work to fill my schedule for the next 6 weeks without posting an ad.  The issues that I am coming across so far is figuring out ways to properly synch the music and vocals of large groups. I need to continue to do research and do trials of this so I can be more efficient come time for actual projects. I feel like the project is coming along nicely. With already making connections with groups I know that I can make business and it makes it easier to get the business running sooner than later in the next 6 weeks. The biggest learning curve is having to put myself out there and find ways to convince artists to hire me over them doing it on their own. There is a large market of solo artists just producing online content and that is a large market I need to attract too. Personally, this project is helping me a lot of creatively when it comes to editing. Although I just got my BA in Film and Television, I am learning a lot by taking on a different type of project that isn’t just editing short films.

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Where Will I Get the Money?

If I were to take this business to the next step and needed more financial assistance, the main financial source I would turn to is “Government Grants and Subsidies”. Many different grants focus on the arts and there have been new ones popping up that assist with COVID-19 related business. But to focus more on the art aspect, there are several Provincial and National run grants such as the Ontario Arts Council, The Canada Council for the Arts and Trillium. With CyberConcert being an innovative approach art form that assists with artists, I think it would be a good opportunity to apply for these grants. A key feature that The Canada Council for the Arts has is a grant that explores into projects creations. These projects are ones that are still in a work of progress. If I find that the other grants don’t see CyberConcert as a full set in stone concept, that would be a good one to turn too. By the time I would apply to them, I’d have a clear detailed plan for what CyberConcert does and the full cost of running it.

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Business Operations

Starting the business will be a fairly easy process. Without needing to purchase any physical products or securing a space, the only main step is to reach out to performers who are interested in collaborating. Following my survey in the Feasibility Study, 100% of them said they would be interested in creating virtual content.  The sooner I can reach out to performers, the sooner I can create profit and get creating virtual style performances to reach my goal of 10 videos by the end of the 14 weeks. To keep my initial cost down, I will reorganize my already owned hard drives and reserve one for storing media files associated with the business, this will save me roughly $75 - $100. I am also saving money because I have already acquired the software needed to edit and mix the videos. To help launch the business and connect with these artists is to create an online presence and using my initial $50 to put towards advertising to get the word around. I already have connections with many performances and musicians so this can make it easier to find those who would like assistance in creating content online. I will start by creating an Instagram and Facebook page, which seems to be the most popular way to advertise and promote yourself. As the business grows and I find I am creating enough revenue, I can invest in another hard drive to store the files from the growing and invest in other software or equipment if needed.

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Creative Advertising Exercise

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Customer Persona

SINGER SARAH

About Her

Singer Sarah is a 24-year-old musician who writes original music. She primarily plays and writes songs with her guitar, but likes to explore in the different string and percussion instruments when she gets the opportunity. She enjoys spending time on patios are various restaurants and supporting other local artists who perform on patios and other smaller venues. Since Sarah has no professional recording devices, her only way of sharing music is during live performance opportunities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah lost all remaining performances for the rest of the year, leaving her creativity and financially stressed.  

Use Case

Singer Sarah uses CyberConcert for two main reasons.

1. To find a way to let her create, share and experiment with new music. It also allows her to explore different instruments and blend them in pre-recording settings. She is given to opportunity to share her work with more than just a small group on a patio or in a smaller venue and her songs can be recorded to view over and over.  

2. Since Singer Sarah has no professional equipment, we can be an assistance to help her use what she does have and edit and mix to give her less stress on trying to do it on her own with little knowledge of this area.

Previous Solution & Pain Points

Before CyberConcert, Singer Sarah was posting low-quality videos recorded on her phone to her Facebook and Instagram using no editing to create a more professional looking video for her brand. With having no way to perform live before of the COVID-19 pandemic she was struggling to find ways to share and was doing it with the only way she knew how – using an iPhone.

Benefits

Singer Sarah will have the opportunity to share high-quality videos done in a professional matter without the stress of trying to figure out how to do it herself. With full technical support and low service rates, she can continue to explore her art, share online and have a bigger social media presence with higher quality pre-recorded videos until she can sing live once more.

Buying Trigger

Singer Sarah used a service that we provide because she saw that the services by CyberConcert are for what Sarah is struggling with right now. Unlike a video production company that focuses on many different genres of media, CyberConcert focuses on one thing – helping artists out, and with the low rates, Sarah knew she could trust us with helping her create music.

Buying Process

Singer Sarah simply sent us a message on Facebook asking about more information on our services. After sending her a proper email outlining our services and the process, Sarah agreed to start with a one video package to start with. We had an online video chat and talked about what equipment she has and how we can make it work. We talked about how long her song is and what instruments she wanted to use for it. Sarah then recorded the song using the webcam on her laptop and a cheap recording device she hasn’t touched in years. After sending the media contents to us, we edited it and in a short time, emailed her a link to download a high-quality edited version of the song for her to share on the web for everyone to see.

Choice Factors

1. Financially Accepting – Singer Sarah liked the low rates to help produce the video. This led her to not have to spend a lot but gave her something to share and hopefully grow her following.

2. Safe – With no in-person contact needed, Singer Sarah was able to perform fully from her home studio and simply sent a message if she had any questions and needed help to troubleshoot.

3. Convenient – Singer Sarah liked the convenient relaxed process. After recording and sending it over, she didn’t need to worry about anything else for the editing stage and when it was done all she did was share.

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Case Study

4. Critique the sales approach Michael is using. Suggest alternative.

Michael’s approach to his sales was definitely flawed from the start. Although this piece is more to critique his sales approach is it important to mention his advertising used and how it had no face to it. Simply a job, price and number and no other information.

Because of his lack of creative advertising, it would have been smart for Michael to hand out the flyers him-self instead of hiring two kids to distribute them for him. This is for two main reasons. One, he is already hiring people without knowing that he will produce any profit from his business. This already has negative revenue on his business. Since it’s just his neighbourhood, Michael could have easily done it himself. This leads to the second point, if Michael went door to door at first with the flyers, people could have put a face and name to it and perhaps be more intrigued by the business with the lacklustre advertising.

As well, Michael’s approach to going door to door was wrong on so many levels. Michael should have developed a pitch using elements from a message map. To give a brief pitch to his potential client, then if needed he could expand upon his business. With using this, Michael could have had a scripted and quick method of his sales approach. By going to each house and finding flaws and being negative to each potential client, it doesn’t sell himself as a business that can do positive for someone.

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Local Competition

Although there isn’t anything locally that specifically focuses on what CyberConcert goals are, there are many local production companies that can easily jump on bored and work with artist.

1.     RFP Media

RFP Media is a fairly new production company in the area, but have already really put their foot in the door. With a beautiful new office space that has editing suits, sound mixing studios and more access to high-quality equipment. Although they have a very flashy website that lists all their services with portfolio examples, the eye-catching website has nowhere that list what their rates go for or start at. RFP Media is also present on all major social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin). With this, they can reach out to a wide variety of clientele. With regular posts and video updates, they do make sure they make a presence in the community. Overall the biggest strengths would be the eye-catching website that makes you want to explore more of what they do, as well as the presence on social media platforms to reach out to the community. The weakness would be the actual business side of listing starting rates for their business and their services. RFP Media Website: https://rfpmedia.org

2.     More Than Common Productions

More Than Common Productions is a company that has worked a lot in audio-visual production, which would make them an easy go to for doing audio-visual work for an online concert. Unfortunately, that seems to be their biggest and only strength. More Than Common has very little presence online which would mean their only clientele would be from people who know of them or heard of them down the grapevine. Their website is horribly laid out and very hard to manage and navigate through. Although they do have a page that list their packages and rates, it is only for weddings and not any of their other services. More Than Common Productions Website: https://www.morethancommon.com

3.     Patrick Gilbert Productions

Patrick Gilbert Productions is one of the most well known and most used production companies in the area. With working in all areas, Patrick Gilbert has really made his work notable. He has a very clean website that is easy to manage and showcases all his work. From doing many videos for the city, his name is seen on almost every video posted to promote the city. Although he only has is a website and Facebook page, his following is strong. Patrick Gilbert has done music videos before which would make him the biggest competition. The biggest weakness for him would be that although his website breaks down his services and showcases his high-quality work, there is no real layout of rates and pricing for each offered service. Patrick Gilbert Productions website: http://www.patrickgilbert.com/index.html

Final thoughts: I think from reviewing what these businesses offer and looking at their strengths and weaknesses, it would be that I need to make sure I have a presence online. Especially since my business relies heavily on social media and sharing online, it's important that I can be seen and known and all major platforms. As well as to make sure I have a clear eye-catching website that lists my services and rates.

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CyberConcert Message Map

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Financial Planning

Strength: I have always been very cautious and reasonable when it comes to my finances, making sure I always have enough to keep myself financially comfortable.

Weaknesses: Being too cautious has led me to not making purchases that can be beneficial to me in the long run.

Sales/Negotiation

Strength: I always educate myself so I can be well-informed on the service or product and can be more of assistance for the customers.

Weaknesses: I can be a people pleaser and have a hard time saying “No” or properly negotiating with someone because I don’t like dealing with conflict.

People Management

Strength: I believe I am someone who can manage a group and accurately make sure that the vision or goal can be accomplished. From being a director for several short films, this has helped me oversee a large group and lead them to success.

Weaknesses: Unfortunately, I do not deal with conflict well. I often shut down and push it off to the side. I also struggle to fully express myself which makes it difficult to get a situation resolved.

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First Post

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog. Looking forward to giving updates along the way. Make sure to give it a follow.