It’s important for us all to save money wherever we can. This is especially true for business start-up’s....and I’m really not one to go spending when there could be ways around getting my wallet out (bet all my mates reading this are propa chuckelin to themselves, hearing me admit this....I’m a great person to go to the pub with!). So at the early stages of creating my business, I’m looking at ways I can reduce my expenditure whenever possible.

I’ve spent a long time trying to find up and coming artists to create the art for my band T-shirts and album artwork. I’ve used Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to get in contact with artists and explain that although I cannot pay them at the moment, there would be a number of opportunities they will benefit from by designing various works for the business. Their work will be profiled and discussed through my blogs and videos on the fishbowl website, helping them raise their profile and get their work noticed. Once the money starts coming in, I will begin to pay artists to do this work, and I will always try and involve those who helped me out in the beginning.

I am also in a fairly unique position to help those designers find further work. As I am based at the Hive Enterprise Development Centre I am always meeting new people setting up businesses who are on the lookout for good designers. This word of mouth advertising I can do on their behalf, direct to their exact target market can be invaluable and I will do all I can to spread the word for them. I have already secured one of the designers I have been working with a contract with another company, so it’s already been beneficial for them!

I have also been in contact with the heads of art at Nottingham Trent Uni. They have been kind enough to forward an email to students on their courses outlining what I am looking for in the artists and the benefits I can offer them. I’ve had some great responses and have found a number of really talented artists who are beginning to create some amazing art pieces for Sharabang to use. As soon as things are ready, I will post their work up here and see what you all think of it! If anyone else fancy’s getting involved, email me at mjjstockman@gmail.com for more info. Although I can’t pay (quite yet!) there are still a load of benefits for getting involved!

Labels: design, fishbowl1, nottingham trent, students

Off to London to try to sign another band and meet the website developers.

Labels: fishbowl1, matt, new artist, video diary, website

Well...good news from the off! Met the two targets I set myself in the previous blog! So, I’ve now got the basics of the contracts sorted and have a pretty good idea of what I want on each page of the website. I now need to turn the concepts within the contracts into a legally binding document. For this I will begin by consulting my mentor and having him check it through and will then seek legal advice to ensure it will all stand up in the courtrooms! Then it will be signature time! Can’t wait until this is done and I can get really my teeth into promoting the bands. In relation to the website, I now need to decide on the general concept and aesthetics, let my developer know individual page requirements and it can then begin to be built!

Been spending a lot of time trying to find designers for band T-shirts and album art work. Been using Facebook and other social networking sites to let people know I’m on the hunt and have had some really good responses. I began by getting in contact with friends who I know are into their art and asking if they would like to help out or know anyone who could be interested. I have also joined local art networks and posted on their wall a bit of info on what I’m looking for and leaving my email address. Had a fair few responses, but if anyone reading this would like to get involved or know people who could, leave a message in the comment box below and I will be in touch!

I have also started filling in the forms to register as a business. I thought it may be quite a tricky process, but there’s lots of info on the web from HM Revenue and Customs and business link’s websites. Had it almost completed but will check a few things with my mentor tomorrow before sending the form off. So lot’s to be getting on with at the moment...keep eyes here and on Twitter for more updates soon.

Labels: brand design, company formation, fishbowl1, matt

Been a busy boy this past week! Went to London for a couple of meetings with my web designer and another band I'm trying to get on board. So....how'd it go? The meeting with the band turned into a real nice dog walk around Camden! Gave us a good chance to talk about what I've got in store for Sharabang Music and what I can do for them.

They're definitely interested, which is fantastic news! I've loved this band since I went to their first ever gig a fair few yonks ago, and have followed them massively ever since. They are truly phenomenal! Many times before, it looked like they were going to 'make it', whatever that may mean..but it never quite happened. I wholeheartedly believe this is due to not having the right people behind them, but Sharabang could really achieve something special with this band. The deal I will be entering into with these guys will be a different one to that of my other artist I'm in talks with. It's going to be slightly more complicated to sort out, but everyone keeps telling me how starting out in business would never be easy! So, once again, it's time to properly sort out these contracts.

What's making things really tricky is that as I am creating a new and unique business model, there is no 'standard' contract or template for what I'll be doing. Today is a Thursday; my aim is to have everything I want from the contracts written out in plain English by Monday. So check back on Monday to see if this target was met!

Also met Steve Lamacq and had a good chat with him about this band! He loves them and is big keen to hear their new material! Would be good getting ol' Lamacq on our side! Once again, won't be announcing who this is until contracts sorted, but may treat people to an exclusive listen to a work-in progress of Sharabang Artist 2 soon!

Web design....spent about 5 hours with our designers creating ideas for the overall look and style of the site. Really happy with what we've come up with. I had no idea about how we would go about getting started on this side of things, but Matt from the designers was excellent at drawing out what I wanted and turning these into great designs. For me, this was really important, finding a company to work with that would listen to my unstructured ramblings and thoughts and use their expertise to pick out what would work and turn my rambles into a reality. Next step is for me to work out exactly what I want each page to have on it. Want to set another target here.....going to aim to have this done by Wednesday...looks like it’s bye bye weekend this week! Hopefully I’ll report back saying both targets met. Let’s see, eh!?

Labels: deadlines, fishbowl1, matt, setting targets, website, website designer, writing contracts