DAY 4

… a slight tangent…

The Important of Networking, and Following Through.

Today I had the privilege of sitting in on a brainstorming session with Jason Blanchard and members of the Malibu Connection. They reminded me the importance of being in a good and supportive network. I bring this up today because, for a long while I let networking and friendships fall to wayside. This was a disaster for my freelance career, luckily I was still staying in contact with a few people at Full Sail or otherwise I might not even have the job I have now.

  I’m not bringing this up to say “Hey, that guy didn’t do it and he’s telling me too!” The reason I bring it up is; I saw how far some people have got busting their hump and staying in touch with people. This is more of a “I let it slip, and now I’m behind.”

DO NOT DO THAT!

You can conceivably take thirty minutes a day doing correspondences and maintain a good relationship with people. Social gaming, email, texting, or any other passive form of communication can be the bulk of the load, with selective phone calls, face time (not the app), or get-togethers composing the rest. Remember to rotate the passive and aggressive for people, otherwise you will fall too far out of their sphere of influence and become “just another person they know.”

I’m not advocating using people; this is actually quite the contrary. If you are investing time on a daily basis in a relationship, it becomes more. Will it be a friendship? Who knows, but it will gain meaning in your and that person’s life. During that time your lives, and goals, will become more intertwined. This creates a win for everyone. I am very much about everyone winning, or at the very least not losing too bad.

TODAYS ASSIGNMENT:

Create three networking lists and set aside 30 minutes a day for correspondence.

The first is the daily list, about 20 minutes of your correspondence time. These people are the ones that you are already working with, or it they are part of your “next prospective gig”. No more than 12 people.

List two, is the weekly list, about 5 minutes of your correspondence time. These are the next 5 people you want on your daily list.

List three is the dream list. These are the 5 people you “dream” were on your list (or their gate keepers) and you’ll contact them once a month, till they bump up a list.

If you realized this list will grow and the time you take doing it will expand, you’re partially correct. You’ll come to learn that not everyone needs/wants daily correspondence. That will allow you and extra slot. Some people will become everyday friends; they won’t need to be on the list… you see them all the time. You get the idea.

So go out there… be awesome. Cue montage.

-       Bill

A final note, a special thanks to Jason Blanchard.

DAY 2

An Explanation… and a Warning… and a Name.

  Here is a little more about what I am trying to accomplish, time frames, and more of what my 1000 Fan Journey may look like.

  What I am trying to accomplish is simple, over the next 365 days (it’s a leap year) I plan on gaining 1000 fans. A “real” fan, by my definition, is someone willing to spend $50 (USD) on your passion in a year and tell their friends about that passion leading to that friend checking it out. It’s not hard to imagine talking about something you really like and spending $50 dollars on it.

 For example:

You make cupcakes and sell them for $5 a piece, to be a fan you would by 10 in one year… less than 1 a month.

You are a musician and sell your CD/Download for $10, a t-shirt for $20, and two tickets for a live show for $10.

You make comic books and sell them for $2.50 each (monthly digital download) and T-Shirt or print for $20.

You get the idea.

  Some of you may already have read or heard about the “True Fan” concept. I first heard of it over two years ago from Kevin Kelly in his blog, The Technium, at http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php . It is a great read by the way. Over the last couple of years I have been adjusting it and tweeking things here and there into what I think the “new media artist” needs to survive.

  One of the things I don’t quite think is needed is the “non-use of old media routes”. I believe that the 1000 Fan Journey is a stepping-stone to more, while allowing us to live and grow in-between.  After having worked on a national morning show for three years, I understand the power of traditional avenues and the need for them at some point.

  Also the “True Fan” concept, spending $100 a year, is more of a Fantastic Fan and the Average Fan is around $20. Leaving a Casual Fan at $10 or less. Now there are Super Fans, greater than $100, but I believe that we shouldn’t actively try to convert True Fans into them. If your content is great enough, they will evolve on their own.

  Over the next year I am going to prove, or disprove and revise, my theories updating you all the way. The updates will be twice a week at least and hourly at it’s craziest. Using Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and possibly a third connection. Over the next few days it will migrate from my personal page to a page all its own.

ASSIGNMENT:

Define what kind of thing you are going to make. Comic, Cupcake, or Jell-o Monsters, it is up to you really. If you’re stumped, ask you First Fan what they think. Post in the comments what you plan on making.

Lastly a WARNING! (or 2 really)

1^st - If you are a current Full Sail Student, please do not give me any money. Talk about this all you want, try it, like it on Facebook, and follow it, but do not give me any money. Currently I am an instructor there and this would be a conflict of interest. Doing anything with the 1000 Fan Journey, with no financial investment, is up to you, but it will not improve your grade or standings in anyway.

2^nd – This will take time and effort to create and maintain, as does anything worth having or being a part of. If you can’t invest the energy in it now, start planning for when you can. If you think this is the right path. Remember it took me two years to try.

DAY 1: Jan 1 2012

An Introduction

Greetings Everyone,

 Let me start by saying Happy New Year! This is year is going to be challenging, full of hard work, and sacrifice… but should reap the best rewards yet. Over my years on this rock I have come to recognize a few things, and I want to share them with you.

 First: Find your Foundation.

 I am Christian. If that offends anyone, if it hurts someone, if it causes you to stop reading… I question why? Personally, I don’t shove my faith or ideals down anyone’s throat and I am not going to start now. The reason I bring it up as it helps to define me as a character and creator. That is information you need to know, if you’re going to attempt this journey with me.

 In the dark and hard times, and there will be many, I will be praying for the strength and wisdom to get through them. You, if you are not Christian, will need to find your strength or rock to lean on. For many years I didn’t use God, and my passion and strength wasn’t enough. Again, this is me. You cannot build anything strong on a weak foundation. Our beliefs, wither they are religious or in ourselves will be the strength we need to survive our journeys.

On to number Two.

 Second: Find Your Passion

 My Passion is Storytelling, more specifically storytelling using Transmedia. Let me define Transmedia for you, as I see it. Transmedia is taking the same Brand, Intellectual Property, or Story across three of more forms of media, using that media’s strong points, utilizing the same continuity and canon. This year I will be bring a story to life through at least 6 forms of media. Hint, Comic Book and Short Film are two of them. Your Journey could be very different. If your Passion is music, art, comics, baked goods, or hair care… you can still take this journey.

 This journey is about finding people who share a passion for your passion.

Every installment will have an assignment (otherwise how could we ever get things done?)

TODAYS ASSIGNMENT: Get your FIRST Fan!

 This may sound cliché, but call your Mom, Dad, family member, or significant other and tell them about your passion and what you plan to do this year. If you’re like me and never followed through on everything you should have, and don’t want to tell them… for today find someone else. BUT they are on your “Hit List”, more on this later, and you will be getting back to them.

 Today though, is about getting your first fan. So suck up the gut, and do it.

It could sound something like this

“Erin, I’m going to tell my story this year. No, its not just some New Years Resolution… its just time. I really want you to be apart of it.

 “What can I do?”

“Just tell people about, tell them about how this journey is affecting us and how hard I’m working on it.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

…. Insert awesome montage here…

Till next time, be Awesome!

- Bill

UPDATE: Jan 2 2012

She agreed to be my First True Fan. Mental Note, tell wife what you are doing BEFORE you launch it.