The Google+ Explosion

In early 2006 Myspace had more than three-times the number of users than Facebook. In four short years Myspace is almost bankrupt and Facebook now has 750 million users worldwide. Since the social network revolution Google has decided that the time is right to jump on the bandwagon. Taking some of the best elements of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and adding some of their own innovation in June 2011 Google+ was launched.

In two short months Google+ has grown to over 25 million users. This comes much to the dismay of Facebook who hoped to go public by the end of the year. This new competitor in such a small market will severely devalue Facebook’s market share. Even Facebook’s CEO has a Google+ account and carries many followers.  Many developers are overjoyed with the emergence of Google+. To develop plug-ins and software to incorporate with the social network Google is only taking a 5 percent royalty from developers, much less than the 30 percent Facebook charges.

While many people see Google+ as “just another social network” there are many technological advances you will find in Google+ that you won’t find in Facebook:

Circles: Google introduces circles their innovative way to separate and manage your friends list. Circles allow you to make sub-groups in your friends list. You could create a circle for your close friends and another for your work friends. This comes in handy when trying to control who can see content you upload.  Maybe you want to throw a work party and only want to invite your work friends, you can simply send the invite to that specific circle.

Hangouts: Hangouts are a way to live-video chat with your friends. You can create a hangout for just one friend or for a whole circle. Multiple Google+ members can live chat in one hangout simultaneously. Imagine you want to watch a football game with a bunch of your buddies who all live in different states. You could create a hangout and all talk and chat about the game live while you watch it.

Sparks: Sparks are a way that Google+ delivers content to you based on your specific interests. You enter terms that you are interested in and Google+ constantly updates you with articles, blogs, and content based off of things you tell it you love or want to know more about. For example, I love baseball so I put Boston Red Sox into my sparks. Every day Google+ will find headlines, game scores, and links about the Red Sox to keep me updated.

As you can see Google+ is shaping itself to be a major competitor in the Social Network industry. It will be very interesting to see what happens when public invites begin this fall.

For more information you can check out these articles:

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Google+adds+more+than+million+users+since+June+launch/5288426/story.html

http://webtablab.com/web/6-google-plus-features-that-you-will-find-missing-in-facebook/

http://googleplustip.com/the-best-google-plus-tutorials.html

Entertainment Law Podcasts

For this week's blog I will be discussing and reviewing some of the recent Entertainment Law podcasts I have been following. It is important to be up to date with the legalities of your industry in order to avoid possible litigation.

"Entertainment Law Update (Episode 8)" 
-Gordon Firemark
This podcast discussed some of the recent cases and legal concerns within the entertainment industry. The first case they discussed dealt with the Google Nexus One phone. They discussed whether or not Google should worry about possible intellectual property concerns. There is a book by Phillip K. Dick called "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"  In the book and the film based off the book "Blade Runner" the term "Nexus" is used. They also talk about how the term "droid" is a trademarked term from Lucas Arts. The term "droid" is used in the "Star Wars" series. They pointed out how Google went to Lucas Arts and licensed the term "droid" so that they would avoid any infringement litigation. So why didn't Google contact the Dick estate about using the term "Nexus". Google feels that people will not confuse their phone with the book, nor the film. "Nexus 6" is the name of a character in the book and film, but considering "Nexus" is a term in the dictionary defined "a robot with human features." They determined that they are not infringing by calling their phone the "Nexus One". With my own business I will be working with social media marketing and branding. It will be important to make sure our clients are aware of possible copyright or trademark infringement issues. If our client chooses to use protected material, our company could be liable for publishing their content online.

 You can listen to the full podcast here: http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/2010/01/entertainment-law-update-podcast-episode-8-rights-of-publicity-et-al/


"The Music Law Podcast"
-Mark Quail
This podcast discussed the ins and outs of the current Artist Management Field. The author spoke about the difference between an artist manager and a business manager. He talked about how once an artist starts getting serious cash-flow, one manager isn't enough. You must have an artist manager to handle your day-to-day needs, and a business manager to handle your money and investments. The first legal topic he talked about was "exclusivity". In many artist/manager contracts there will be an exclusivity term. This usually states that during the term on the contract the artist cannot hire anyone else to to the job of the manager. Too many managers can "bog down" a career, so it is important that the contract terms are clearly stated so that the artist and manager are on the same terms of what is expected.

Another term that he discussed "directions". These usually state that "if required, the artist agrees to sign a direction to cause any third parties that owe money to the artist to pay it to the manager." This clause I haven't heard of before. These directions help simplify the artists financials.

My company will be working in live event promotion. In certain cases we will be hiring artists to perform at events. It is important to understand the artist/manager relationship so that we will know how to deal with them. If we have a full understanding of what an artist manager does, we will know what to expect and how to avoid litigation when dealing with artists.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-music-law-podcast/id113835753



"Entertainment Law Update (Episode 22)"
-Gordon Firemark

One of the cases they discussed was about Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber's manager. This case deals with a riot that occurred when Justin Bieber was supposed to make an appearance at a mall in New Jersey. He discussed that the crowd was too wild before Justin had even arrived. They cancelled the event due to the unruly account. Braun used Twitter to notify the crowd that the even had been cancelled. However, the tweet didn't go out for over an hour after the decision was made. Due to the injuries suffered in the crowd, Braun was accused of 2nd degree reckless endangerment. I found this case unique because of the close connection my company has towards social media and live event promotion. As an industry professional I must be aware that these situations exist. When canceling or postponing an event it is important to give notification immediately. By waiting over an hour, Braun put himself in serious trouble. The revolution of social media has allowed professionals to connect with their clients directly and immediately  By not notifying the public in a timely manner, people we forced to be in a dangerous situation longer than they had to.


http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/entertainment-law-update-podcast/id313301718

Legal Liabilities Associated with Event Promotion

In the live entertainment industry, there are many legal liabilities. In order to run a successful event, one must be aware of the legal issues they could possibly face.

Liquor Service: There are many safety concerns when it comes to hosting live events. Having a large group of people in a small confined space can be dangerous, especially when alcohol is served. With Florida’s liquor license laws, it is very easy to find yourself in legal trouble. Many bars, venues, and restaurants, in Orlando have lost their liquor license due to serving to minors or over-serving customers. These type of laws are called “Dram Shop Acts.” They exist to protect the public from the poor choices of intoxicated people. I researched the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. The site has great insight into the Laws and Regulations of Alcohol in Florida.
(http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/abt/resources/alcohol_resources.html)

Pyrotechnics: In today’s live entertainment market, having pyrotechnics at a concert or event is the norm. There are strict laws and codes that monitor the use of such items. These laws are primarily for the safety of people at the venue. These controlled explosions fall under strict liability. When these guidelines are not correctly followed, tragedy can occur, leading to lengthy litigation. I researched an incident in Rhode Island where pyrotechnics were used at a concert. The pyrotechnics were not supposed to be used and resulted in a fire, which killed 39 people. It is important to be knowledgeable and careful when allowing pyrotechnics to be used at your live event venue.

(http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0302/21/bn.09.html)

Contracts:When booking artists for live venues, there are many contracts that are signed. Each individual event should have a contract that should be read and executed diligently. Both parties agree to the contract terms and if the terms are not carried out, legal litigation is likely. As an event promoter It is important that I understand every aspect of the contracts I sign, even if that involves having my lawyer look them over. This will help me avoid legal troubles. I found the following site, which provides not only examples of contacts, but printable sample contracts which can be used by business professionals. (http://www.printablecontracts.com/)

Ideo: Using Market Research to Innovate

Recently I discovered the company IDEO. IDEO is a company that prides itself in being innovative and groundbreaking. They are hired as consultants to perform two tasks. 1. To do the market research to discover exactly what the consumer wants. 2. To design a product based on that research. When developing and launching a new product line, being creative is the key. Companies like IDEO have mastered the art of creative design.


From their president Tim Brown: “Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer's toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.” 


I found the creative process that IDEO uses to be brilliant. When working, they separate themselves into small workgroups which each focuses on a single aspect of the design process. They assign a group leader and begin an open discussion about what they are trying to design. Each group builds off the work of the previous group to create a unified product. 


I read about them re-inventing the way we think about work desks. They saw the classic school desk to be obsolete. They went into schools and examined not only how desks were being used, but how the children were learning. They realized that the desks were heavy, unpractical, and immobile.


They split up into their small work groups, each focusing on a single design aspect. In the end they came up with the "node chair."

"The final product, dubbed the Node chair, has received praise for promoting student collaboration, allowing educators to reconfigure classrooms to fit different teaching styles, and enabling institutions to save money by making spaces more flexible and accommodating for varied uses." -http://www.ideo.com/work/node-chair/


The chair allows students to store their belongings, move freely about the classroom, adjust their posture based on what is going on in class, and move the writing surface 360 degrees based on their needs.


The product was an immediate success. The company had over 500,000 pre-sale orders at $399 a unit.


I believe that the creative process that IDEO has utilized could be adapted into any form of design. It streamlines the efforts of many into specific tasks and allows the participants imagination to soar. 

ESPN College Game Day Shoot at Full Sail

Had a BLAST today at the ESPN College Game Day shoot at Full Sail!! It was a great experience to see how ESPN handles an event this size. I got to goof off with all the mascots, meet some cheerleaders, and even appeared in the shoot! All in all, a great way to spend the afternoon!

Drew King Interview (Negotiation and Deal Making)

Drew King is a Professional Surfer, BMX, and Motocross rider from Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Besides being a multi-faceted athlete, Drew is a businessman and a philanthropist. He has used his athletic talents, charisma, and popularity to raise thousands of dollars for charities. Recently, he rode a BMX bike over 150 miles to raise money for autism awareness. 


"I really want to help other people’s lives in the best way I can and if I have the means to do so why not help someone else. I’ve been really fortunate in my life and I want others to feel the same thing when I wake up,” -Drew King


Due to his achievements and talents, Drew has gained many sponsorships over the years. I interviewed Drew about how he and his agent negotiated his contracts.


"When getting a sponsorship my agent and I set up what contests I go to and how much money I get per contest. I get paid based on where I place in the contest." 


Drew negotiates how many contests he will participate in, how much he gets paid for travel, and which contests he will participate in. With his latest contract, his sponsor LOST wanted him to participate in twelve contests this year. Drew only wanted to participate in the three biggest events that year. Through negotiation they worked towards a mutual benefit:


"It came down to the fact that there are so many contests a year. I'm a full time college student. I'm not going to participate in a small contest that won't give me enough exposure. I will even turn down some events that will pay me more, in exchange for ones that will give more media exposure." -Drew King

Drew agreed to surf at 5 events that year and only events that were hand picked by himself.

When he was negotiating with the shoe company DC, they wanted him to ride certain contests and relocate to California. Drew wanted to be able to stay in school and ride any contest he wanted. While DC was one of the biggest shoe sponsorships available, he knew that he had LOST and Rockstar in his back pocket, so he turned down their offer. The other sponsorship offers Drew had were his BATNA in the negotiation.

Instead of DC, Drew with with OSRIS for his shoe sponsor. They were willing to let him surf any event he wanted and we'rent pressuring him to relocate. Their offer gave Drew less money and exposure, but it gave him the autonomy he was looking for. Drew's sponsors also allow him to branch out and participate in any sport he wishes. Whether it be surfing, BMX, MX, rally cars, or skateboarding, Drew is always participating in something. He loves the freedom to participate in what he wants which is why he chose the sponsors he did.

In conclusion, I received an immense amount of insight from interviewing Drew. I learned first hand how negotiation and deal making is used in professional sports. When Drew is negotiating his deals with his sponsors he practices many of the tools we have talked about in our class discussions. 

http://www.lostenterprises.com/

http://www.dcshoes.com/

http://www.osirisshoes.com/

http://www.hercampus.com/school/umaine/campus-celebrity-drew-king

http://www.fatbmx.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8338

Success in the Night Club Industry

I have been working on a business plan for starting my own live entertainment venue. The location will serve as a full bar and host a variety of national musical acts. When working on this project I have discovered just how profitable this industry is. I discovered that the average drink at a bar is based off a 300% price mark-up, and according to the Distilled Spirits Council: "The distilled spirits industry generates around $100 billion in U.S. economic activity annually,"


According to Entrepreneur.com: "Successful new bars can be in the black within the first six months, and they can go on to recover their initial investment within three to five years."


However, like any new business, many bars fail. There are many reasons a nightclub can fail including, poor location, lack of capital to keep business going, and the owner having lack of knowledge about the business. Entrepreneur.com says that "you have to look at yourself in the mirror and decide if your the type of person who can run a bar."


Both of my grandfathers owned restaurants when I was growing up. Ever since us grandchildren could walk, we were busing tables, washing dishes, serving water, and greeting guests. This industry is in my blood. Another thing that will help is the fact that I am a night-owl. I am the most productive after midnight and have no problem working late hours. I am young, single, and don't plan on starting a family any time soon. This lends itself to being able to commit long and late hours to my business. 


I have been a musician my whole life. I have played live concerts and attended shows for the past 10 years. I know how to run a concert and I know what types of concerts are profitable. I feel that with this business I am combining my passion for nightlife, music, and money. After thinking hard and long, I believe that I am the type of person that can succeed in this industry. 

While my youth could be a huge advantage, it could also become a disadvantage. I am not nieve enough to think I know everything about the nightclub industry. When seeking an investor for my business, I plan to seek out someone who has succeeded in the hospitality industry, more specifically the restaurant or bar industry. They will not only be able to provide me with capital, but hopefully act as a business partner and mentor. 




http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/startupkits/article41460.html