At the end of the month, I’ll be locked in a room for 54 hours, participating as a mentor and adviser for LA Start Up Weekend. I definitely feel honored and inspired to be among the great thought leaders and creators who will be leading the project development teams. I even got a new head shot! Everyone’s welcomed to attend. Details below…
Mark your calendars for April 30th – May 2nd, and get ready for an even bigger and better Startup Weekend.
Founded in 2007 by Andrew Hyde, the weekend is a concept of a conference focusing on learning by creating. It is known for its quick decisions, ‘out of the box’ thinking (oh no, the buzzwords are attacking!), unique facilitation technique and letting the founders show what they can do. The program has already met with success in Boulder, Toronto, New York, Hamburg, Houston, West Lafayette, Boston, DC and more.
Startup Weekend recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more to a 54 hour event that builds communities, companies and projects.
The participants that attend a Startup Weekend decide what they want to tackle over the weekend and come out at the end with several developed companies or projects. Attendees are responsible for bringing the same desire and passion to the project and walk out of the room with the task at hand, in a short 54 hours. Sound intense? It is.
Tickets will go on sale 3/21, and there are only 75 spots, so buy your tickets early!
Be sure to follow the Twitter Hashtag #LASW
by Chris Denson
At Genius Effect, we root for everybody. We’re on the side of everyone with a story to tell when it comes to creating effective media and reaching an audience. With that in mind, its important to know some of the do’s and dont’s in effectively navigating the boundless number of tools that are available to us. With the internet and technology bridging the access gap for media creators and marketers, there are several new-jack rules to follow. Here are a few sure fire ways to be sure that you’ll fail in whatever you do in today’s marketplace:
1.) Ignore Trends. There are so many companies and individuals who remind me of the proverbial “in-my-day” old man. They don’t “like” Facebook. They don’t know how to use a blog. Twitter is dumb. “I don’t need to know what everybody’s doing all the time,” they say. On the contrary, you need to know EXACTLY what everybody’s doing all the time. Proven many times over, including Barak Obama’s recent Presidential campaign, “change” has become the norm and audiences everywhere are growing and changing more rapidly than ever before. If you get too comfortable in your methods, or don’t make the attempt to incorporate your product in the culture of change… you’ll be short changed every time.
2.) Be a One Trick Pony. I hear over and over, how “we’re gonna sell the cd on these websites,” or “we’re gonna put the videos on YouTube,” or my favorite, “we’re gonna build a social network!” “Good for you,” I respond as if talking to my 4-year-old who just tied a ribbon in her own hair (lest I remind you that it ain’t pretty). Media creators must understand that putting something on the web is not marketing something on the web. Placing something on the internet requires just as much attention and push, if not more, than any traditional marketing campaign. Why? Because there are MILLIONS of products vying for the same eyes that you are. How are you going to bring people to your video or website? What value are you providing to your audience? How do you keep the audience engaged after they encounter your product? What’s going to make them love you? Remember, at the end of the day, you are a needle in a haystack. It’s on you to help people find out that you’re not like the rest of the hay.
3.) Create No Dialogue. Social media is about two things, and two things only: Sharing and Discovery. People love to be the first to know and the first to tell. And they want to do it all the time. Find ways to give your audience that opportunity. Too many media creators do a big push for a particular campaign, and then after the first three weeks or so, have nothing left to say. Which is fine until season two rolls around. Or the sequel. Or the newer version. Or the next event. Or the new line. At that point, instead of multiplying and building on the presence you’ve already established, you’re attempting to re-engage the audience. And in today’s climate of change, anything can catch a consumer’s eye if it’s not on you. Build campaigns that have longevity and relevance and offer a chance for individuals to intellectualize your message, speak it to others, and come back for more.
4.) Forget That REAL People Exist. Real people are not just on line or on electronic devices. Real people are still in grocery stores. Real people still go to the movies. These spooky individuals are all around us, walking the streets and eating in restaurants, and even speaking to one another. Basing a campaign strictly on internet based interaction is a huge mistake. It’s kinda like internet dating. At some point, the person you’re courting is going to make sure you look like your pictures. People still need to know that you’re as good as you seem. Find ways to tie live events and experiential marketing into your online push is essential. It gives the audience even more of an incentive to go back and tell the world about you.
5.) Don’t Make Friends. In the multi-media world, strategic relationships are an imperative. This is not Jesus in the desert, folks. Hardly any one goes it alone. Where would Hulu be without the networks as buddies? Where would Twitter be without Ashton Kutcher and Diddy? Where would the Nissan Cube be without Heroes (which is probably my favorite use of branded entertainment this year)? The most successful people and businesses – especially when using social media – surround themselves with others that are better-versed and have a longer reach than they do, in one area or another. Make friends. Think of the unique qualities you have to offer, and how those compliment your “friend’s” efforts and skill sets.
6.) Don’t Dissect Your Audience. Today we know more about our audiences than ever. Unlike television’s Nielsen Ratings, we have an almost instant ability to know everything about each individual enthusiast, from exact zip codes, lengths of engagement, level of interest, to type of computer, ISP’s, referrers, most popular regions, and every other intricacy you can think of. In most cases, we can find out exactly what they are saying about us, as soon as they say it. With this newfound wealth of information, we are now able to access market segments that only a few years ago we may not have known existed. This instant access allows for on-the-fly changes, adjustments, and an ability to tweak components of your campaign that speak directly to individuals as well as the overarching masses.
All in all, the internet is not our sole form of presence, but is a compliment to a larger world that we create and pull others in to so that they can discover and share valuable information about us. If we recognize that it’s not the whole, but a piece with many changing pieces within, we shall see a successful future.
Hey Everybody,
Here is some information on the Independent Television Festival taking place in West Hollywood’s Laemmle 5 on Sunset over the next few days. If you ever wanted to know the ins and outs of going from concept to pilot to major distribution, this is a MUST attend. Not only that, it’s a great network of established and up-and-coming powerhouses in media production. And to top it off, Genius Effect’s own Chris Denson will be a featured guest on the Multimedia Entertainment Panel on Wednesday August 5th.
If you’re around tonight, the Gala Event Kick Off is this evening with all kinds of complimentary food and drink. Press, Celebrities, and need-to-know professionals will all be in attendance. Bring business cards, bring ideas, bring an appetite, bring an open mind! … and don’t forget to iron your clothes.
See below for details!
_________________________________________________________________
The Independent Television Festival is a festival for independently produced, original and innovative television pilots and webseries. It is the only festival for independently produced television pilots in Los Angeles, ITVFest prides itself on being for and about the pilotmakers.
In July 2006 ITVFest opened for business with the mission of altering the way the industry views television production by exploring the creativity that goes into independent production. In the inaugural year, the festival welcomed almost five thousand interested industry audience members, giving them the opportunity to experience the finest in independent television.
With the support of institutions like Budweiser, Current TV, Showbiz Software and Studio System and the talent of pilotmakers from all over the world, ITVFest proved that the world of successful independent production is not merely limited to the silver screen. ITVFest, in fact, quickly became a viable platform in which directors, writers and producers can showcase their original visions for the small screen.
At ITVFest, creative people can not only showcase their work, but also gain notoriety and opportunity through their independent television efforts. Pilotmakers showcased at ITVFest have gone on to get script deals with NBC, web deals with atomfilms.com, development deals at Leverage and Starz!, representation from UTA, 3 Arts and others and much more. Check out here to see some of the success stories that come from the festival. Winners of the third ITVFest also walked home with $5,000 in production support each.
Now in its fourth year, ITVFest stands poised to once again serve as catalyst for change in the ever-evolving television industry. Creativity is paramount at ITVFest, and being based in Los Angeles, the hub of television production, the festival provides the people who need to see your work the opportunity to do so.
by Chris Denson
During the last couple days here in LA, there’s been a tremendous police crack down on people who are operating their phones while driving. Five-O have been posted up on corners simply waiting for the light to turn red and giving tickets to people twiddling around with their phones. Texting, talking, YouTube-ing, downloading, “shazaam’ing,” taking self portraits, or whatever else today’s phones are capable of. I don’t yet know the number of tickets they’ve issued thus far, but when a friend of mine calls me from another part of town saying he’s seeing the same thing – at the same time (and we’re both on our phones) – then there’s definitely the smell of a universal trend in the air.
This got me to thinking. We as a society have become so obsessed with being connected that the government has had to institute LAWS to keep us safe from ourselves. And even still, those laws are broken tens of thousands of times over each day. Even my cab driver was on the phone while toting me around town. So not are we doing this while we’re in the car, or even simply on our phones, but everywhere we go, we are connected to what’s going on with everyone and everything at every moment. Facebook at work, YouTube in the bathroom (I’m guilty), IM’ing during business meetings, catching up on show clips during dinner, Playstation web browsers, and let’s not get started on Twitter or Twitpics!
As a business, its imperative – and often provides a better ROI – that you find ways to reach your audience, no matter where they are. It makes very little difference what your business is – you have an audience. Whether you publish books, have the #1 television show on the planet, design doggie clothes, sell homes, or you’re Joe the Plumber, your audience is there, and they are passionate about your business. Not only are they passionate about your business, but they’re obsessive about exploration and connectivity, in a way that the world has never seen. Gone are the days of the family gathered on the couch to watch how Frosted Mini Wheats brings out the kid in you. Today we’re bringing the kid out in you by offering online games, video contests, branded entertainment, cool in-store events, weird viral videos and a balls out funky good time no matter where you are. THEN you’ll eat the cereal. And after that you’ll keep coming back for more. Even if it means getting a traffic citation to do so.
