Thursday, January 15, 2009
DIY - Touring & Making music your full time gig
Amber Rubarth, originally from Reno, works full time as a musician touring the country, and even Europe. Check out this Article on Success Sotries by Derek Sivers and learn how she did herself in a DIY music industry.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Affordable Housing Funding
I received this message from a friend of mine regargarding the affordable housing budget which is something very important to me. If we loose this budget, more people will live on the streets draining our resources for the need, and in turn continuing the downturn of our economy. We need to make sure to always empower our own people first, encourage them to develop their job training, and education to bring back our economy and take it to a new level. The more we are there for each other, the more successful we are going to be in the future.
I am sending this message to those of you I know have a heart for those in need. One of the state's primary tools for helping them is the affordable housing trust fund. Unfortuantely, due to necessary budget cuts, these funds are being threatened. I am strongly enouraging each of you to take five minutes and write to your state legislators to let them know not to do this. Below is the e-mail I sent earlier today. Short and simplem, quick and easy.
To find out who to contact,
Senate President: Jeff Atwater atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Office Phone (850) 487-5100
District Office Phone (561) 625-5101
House Speaker: Ray Sansom
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4262&SessionId=34
Capitol Office Phone: (850) 488-1170
District Office Phone: (850) 833-9328
Dear Speaker Sansom:
As budget negotiations continue, I urge you to fully fund the state's affordable housing trust fund. This program is not just a social program that helps put thousands of Floridians in safe, decent housing each year. It is also an economic development program. Loss of these funds would create a further drain on the economy when funding would provide a stimulus. Please consider all other alternatives before using these funds to balance the budget.
Sincerely,
Brandi Day
Orlando, FL
I am sending this message to those of you I know have a heart for those in need. One of the state's primary tools for helping them is the affordable housing trust fund. Unfortuantely, due to necessary budget cuts, these funds are being threatened. I am strongly enouraging each of you to take five minutes and write to your state legislators to let them know not to do this. Below is the e-mail I sent earlier today. Short and simplem, quick and easy.
To find out who to contact,
Senate President: Jeff Atwater atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Office Phone (850) 487-5100
District Office Phone (561) 625-5101
House Speaker: Ray Sansom
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4262&SessionId=34
Capitol Office Phone: (850) 488-1170
District Office Phone: (850) 833-9328
Your State Senator in the district office – find contact info here- www.flsentate.gov
Your State Representative in the district office- www.myfloridahouse.com
Your State Representative in the district office- www.myfloridahouse.com
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Speaker Sansom:
As budget negotiations continue, I urge you to fully fund the state's affordable housing trust fund. This program is not just a social program that helps put thousands of Floridians in safe, decent housing each year. It is also an economic development program. Loss of these funds would create a further drain on the economy when funding would provide a stimulus. Please consider all other alternatives before using these funds to balance the budget.
Sincerely,
Brandi Day
Orlando, FL
Monday, December 29, 2008
What Makes a Great Board Member?
When choosing Board Members for you nonprofit Board of Directors there are a few key characteristics each Board Member needs to fill. When I recruit for Board Members for Rock for Hunger, I always make sure they meet each one of these four characteristics. These are characteristics I have come up with from my own experience in the nonprofit world from the past four years and after talking to several highly intelligent and successful mentors in the nonprofit world. Here are my four characteristics that make a great Board Member for your nonprofit Board of Directors:
1.) Passion about the Cause
There can be many individuals who may have more experience in fundraising, attaining sponsors, managing companies, event planning, and many other areas. However, if these individuals are not passionate about your cause, their experience is no good to you. We have had Board Members who have had huge success in fundraising, attaining event sponsors, and booking bands, but their passion for the cause was not as high as those with little or no experience. Now a little over a year later, I book all the bands for our annual festival, and we have a new Board Member, Lisa Dunaway, with little experience in attaining sponsorship funds, who is hitting balls out of the park all the time. Our new VP, Greg Rollett, has done an amazing job in increasing our donor base and recruiting volunteers for the organization. Again, he had no prior experience, but was just passionate about the cause, and found ways to make his strengths work for the organization. Experience isn’t everything. Passion about the cause plays a huge rule when finding great Board Members.
2.) Great Board Members are Donors
How credible is a Board Member that asks for donations, who does not donate themselves to the cause? Make sure that 100% of your Board of Directors are donors, and try to make sure they are donors before they become Board Members.
3.) Ask for Money
This is very straight forward. Great Board Members need to ask for donations and especially monetary donations. The organization and mission can not grow without fundraising. If you have Board Members who are very passionate about the cause, but are not comfortable to ask for funds, they may be better as a volunteer. Close to 70% of all funds raised for nonprofit organizations in America come from individual donors. That’s right! Not from grant money, not from major corporations, and from large foundations. Great Board Members will build your individual donor base, and it begins with you.
4.) Recruit, Recruit, Recruit,
In order for Board Members and the Executive Director to be able to focus on expanding the mission and building the donor base, you must recruit volunteers and interns. Make sure you are organized and get good use out of your volunteers. The worst thing you could ever do is have a lot of volunteers who feel useless. Be organized, delegate, and recruit to continue expanding your organization.
1.) Passion about the Cause
There can be many individuals who may have more experience in fundraising, attaining sponsors, managing companies, event planning, and many other areas. However, if these individuals are not passionate about your cause, their experience is no good to you. We have had Board Members who have had huge success in fundraising, attaining event sponsors, and booking bands, but their passion for the cause was not as high as those with little or no experience. Now a little over a year later, I book all the bands for our annual festival, and we have a new Board Member, Lisa Dunaway, with little experience in attaining sponsorship funds, who is hitting balls out of the park all the time. Our new VP, Greg Rollett, has done an amazing job in increasing our donor base and recruiting volunteers for the organization. Again, he had no prior experience, but was just passionate about the cause, and found ways to make his strengths work for the organization. Experience isn’t everything. Passion about the cause plays a huge rule when finding great Board Members.
2.) Great Board Members are Donors
How credible is a Board Member that asks for donations, who does not donate themselves to the cause? Make sure that 100% of your Board of Directors are donors, and try to make sure they are donors before they become Board Members.
3.) Ask for Money
This is very straight forward. Great Board Members need to ask for donations and especially monetary donations. The organization and mission can not grow without fundraising. If you have Board Members who are very passionate about the cause, but are not comfortable to ask for funds, they may be better as a volunteer. Close to 70% of all funds raised for nonprofit organizations in America come from individual donors. That’s right! Not from grant money, not from major corporations, and from large foundations. Great Board Members will build your individual donor base, and it begins with you.
4.) Recruit, Recruit, Recruit,
In order for Board Members and the Executive Director to be able to focus on expanding the mission and building the donor base, you must recruit volunteers and interns. Make sure you are organized and get good use out of your volunteers. The worst thing you could ever do is have a lot of volunteers who feel useless. Be organized, delegate, and recruit to continue expanding your organization.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Nordic Walking in Orlando Again
I can't believe it! So, one of my old clients got me back into Nordic Walking. I used to teach a Nordic Walking class at Lake Eola every week. They even interviewed me for the Orlando Sentinel about Nordic Walking. It was really cool. So, two weeks ago I get a Facebook message from my old client, who knows I’m pretty broke right now and offered to pay me for Nordic Walking classes. I totally forgot how much fun it was, and the great health benefits from it. Next week, I’ll be sure to write a post about it. Anyway, if you want to try something new and spice up your fitness life, join us in our Nordic Walking classes every Tuesday at 5:30pm starting January 6th. Check out the really cool video from Nordic Pole Walking USA, the company I got my certification from. Send me an e-mail to chris.goyzueta@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us. We walk near the Orlando International Airport in a really nice park over there.
Hope you enjoyed your Holiday’s!
Hope you enjoyed your Holiday’s!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Six Steps to Starting a Nonprofit Organization
It is great to see how many inspired you individuals out there want to “Be the change we want to see in the World (Ghandi).” A lot of new nonprofit organizations are popping up everywhere every day. It is amazing to feel that the world is really going to become a better place someday. However, before we starting changing the world there are six very important things to get in place before we begin.
1. Develop your Mission & Purpose
Make sure to know what the purpose of your organization is. What do you want to do, and how are you going to do it. Make sure your purpose is unique, and not copying anyone else. In the nonprofit world, we are here to make a difference, and not flex our muscles to show that we can do it better than the other organization. Determine whether it is better for you to support and assist an existing cause, or if yours is really unique to create you own. Be sure to clearly define what your goal and objective is when you create you mission statement. This may change over time, but it should be pretty straight forward to what you plan on achieving.
2. Board of Directors
Who will be your Board of Director? The initial board is actually the only Board of Directors that the visionary of the organization will ever be able to create themselves, so be sure to select a good one. What makes a good Board Member? The have to be passionate about the cause, be a donor, must be able to ask for donations, and be able to recruit. Choose family members, friends, and older family friends who have been working in the corporate world for a long time. The initial Board should be kept small, but not too small. 5-7 members is a good number to start with. You have to make sure that the number of relatives is less than half of the Board Members. Ex. if you have 5 Board Members, you can have only 2 people that are related to each other, if you have 7 Board Members, you can only have max 3 people that are related to one another.
3. Create You Bylaws
Your Bylaws are one of the most important aspects of a nonprofit organization. They are like you constitution. It describes the roles and the terms of all the members on the boad, when you are meeting, the rules of the organization, and all that good stuff. Be sure to include a clause in there on who can sign contracts and handle money, as well as a protection of the visionary. One your Board is established, and it’s a Board of Directors full of strangers, the Visionary/CEO/President can be voted off by their own Board!!! There is only one thing you should do when it comes to your creating your Bylaws. Get this amazing book "Best Guide for Nonprofit Corporations" by Aretha Olivarez. No she does not pay me for referring people. This book is AWESEOME and helped me a ton!
4. Register your Fictitious Name
This is like Copyrighting your name with the state. This is not a trademark which means others can use your name in other states. You don’t need to trademark your company unless you operate in more than one state. Actually, you can’t trademark unless you operate in more than one state, and if you do, make sure a trademark lawyer does your paperwork. This is $500 you could loose you mess it up this very sensitive process.
5. Articles of Incorporation
Articles of Incorporation is the official paperwork you need to fill out with the state to incorporate your nonprofit organization. It differs from every state. Check with you local Division of Corporations. For Florida you would visit: http://www.sunbiz.org/.
6. Get an EIN#
Now its time to get your EIN# (Employee Identification Number). That is done through the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/ and takes less than 10 minutes. You will need this number to open up a bank account, and to fill out your 501(c)3 paperwork.
You think these six steps were difficult? Wait till you see the 27 page 501(c)3 packet from the IRS. Maybe you should take a look at that before you begin step one in this process. It’s quite an exciting time. However, you can do whatever you put your mind to. Don’t let this process hold you back. Get these steps done, fill out your 501(c)3 packet, and go change the world!!!
1. Develop your Mission & Purpose
Make sure to know what the purpose of your organization is. What do you want to do, and how are you going to do it. Make sure your purpose is unique, and not copying anyone else. In the nonprofit world, we are here to make a difference, and not flex our muscles to show that we can do it better than the other organization. Determine whether it is better for you to support and assist an existing cause, or if yours is really unique to create you own. Be sure to clearly define what your goal and objective is when you create you mission statement. This may change over time, but it should be pretty straight forward to what you plan on achieving.
2. Board of Directors
Who will be your Board of Director? The initial board is actually the only Board of Directors that the visionary of the organization will ever be able to create themselves, so be sure to select a good one. What makes a good Board Member? The have to be passionate about the cause, be a donor, must be able to ask for donations, and be able to recruit. Choose family members, friends, and older family friends who have been working in the corporate world for a long time. The initial Board should be kept small, but not too small. 5-7 members is a good number to start with. You have to make sure that the number of relatives is less than half of the Board Members. Ex. if you have 5 Board Members, you can have only 2 people that are related to each other, if you have 7 Board Members, you can only have max 3 people that are related to one another.
3. Create You Bylaws
Your Bylaws are one of the most important aspects of a nonprofit organization. They are like you constitution. It describes the roles and the terms of all the members on the boad, when you are meeting, the rules of the organization, and all that good stuff. Be sure to include a clause in there on who can sign contracts and handle money, as well as a protection of the visionary. One your Board is established, and it’s a Board of Directors full of strangers, the Visionary/CEO/President can be voted off by their own Board!!! There is only one thing you should do when it comes to your creating your Bylaws. Get this amazing book "Best Guide for Nonprofit Corporations" by Aretha Olivarez. No she does not pay me for referring people. This book is AWESEOME and helped me a ton!
4. Register your Fictitious Name
This is like Copyrighting your name with the state. This is not a trademark which means others can use your name in other states. You don’t need to trademark your company unless you operate in more than one state. Actually, you can’t trademark unless you operate in more than one state, and if you do, make sure a trademark lawyer does your paperwork. This is $500 you could loose you mess it up this very sensitive process.
5. Articles of Incorporation
Articles of Incorporation is the official paperwork you need to fill out with the state to incorporate your nonprofit organization. It differs from every state. Check with you local Division of Corporations. For Florida you would visit: http://www.sunbiz.org/.
6. Get an EIN#
Now its time to get your EIN# (Employee Identification Number). That is done through the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/ and takes less than 10 minutes. You will need this number to open up a bank account, and to fill out your 501(c)3 paperwork.
You think these six steps were difficult? Wait till you see the 27 page 501(c)3 packet from the IRS. Maybe you should take a look at that before you begin step one in this process. It’s quite an exciting time. However, you can do whatever you put your mind to. Don’t let this process hold you back. Get these steps done, fill out your 501(c)3 packet, and go change the world!!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Billboard Hot 100 Turns 50
The Billboard Hot 100 turned 50 this year August. In the article on Billboard they also list the Top 100 song of All Time. Below I listed the Top 10 songs of all time. I’m surprised to see the choice of song by Mariah Carey for the Top 10. Wasn’t “One Sweet Day” with Boys II Men the longest running number one hit of all time? Then Chubby Checker makes it not just into the top 10 but all the way to number one of All Time. What happened to the King who before Mariah Carey broke his record for number one hits on the Hot 100 this year, had the record for most number one hits by a solo artist? I love Chubby Checker, but Elvis needs should be in the top ten too maybe we could take out “Macarena," who made the Top 10 of All Time. However, I do like “Hey Jude” by the Beatles making it to the Top 10 of All Time. Great song!
Billboard Top 10 Hot 100 Songs of All-Time
10. “Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton
9. “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
8. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
7. “You Light up My Life” by Debbie Boone
6. “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
5. “Macarena” by Los Del Rio
4. “How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes
3. “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin
2. “Smooth” by Santana
1. “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
Number One Last Week on the Billboard Hot 100: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyonce
Billboard Top 10 Hot 100 Songs of All-Time
10. “Un-Break My Heart” by Toni Braxton
9. “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
8. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
7. “You Light up My Life” by Debbie Boone
6. “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
5. “Macarena” by Los Del Rio
4. “How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes
3. “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin
2. “Smooth” by Santana
1. “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
Number One Last Week on the Billboard Hot 100: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyonce
Thursday, December 4, 2008
A Blockbuster Deal! Two Reasons why Live Nation & Blockbuster deal are Brilliant
A brilliant deal between two major entertainment companies! Live Nation the leading promotions company in ticket sales in the entire world has inked a three year deal with Blockbuster. Hard tickets to Live Nation event will be available for purchase at over 500 Blockbuster locations throughout the country. Check out the full article on Forbes. Here are my two main reasons this is a brilliant deal!
1. Blockbuster is convenient, fye not very convenient
If we take a look at the current locations that sell hard tickets to events for Ticketmaster, pretty much your only options are the box office or fye. At most fye stores you have to deal with the hassle of parking at busy malls, and taking an extra long walk to get your tickets. It will usually be an experience of at least 30 minutes of your time. Who in the world wants to do that? I’d rather spend the extra money of purchasing my tickets online.
However, now you add the convenience of most Blockbusters being at a plaza of your local grocery stores, and now you can go do your weekly grocery shopping, and take a stop by Blockbuster to pick up your concert tickets. Or you may be doing your weekly movie night, and while renting a movie at Blockbuster, you see that tickets are on sale for Nickelback (newest Live Nation artist who recently signed a 360 deal), and you conveniently pick up your concert tickets too. Currently approximately 10% of ticket sales are from hard tickets purchased in pre-sales. In the 3rd Quarter of 2008 Live Nation produced over 28 million ticket sales. At 10% that would have been over 2.8 million tickets sold at Blockbuster. Add your $4 service charge, and you got over $10 million in revenue for just one quarter. That is if Live Nation hard ticket sales don’t increase from their 10%, which I believe they will with the added convenience. Sweet deal for Blockbuster!
2. Advertising & Promotion Opportunities
Imagine all the new advertising and promotions opportunities Live Nation will have to promote their artists like Madonna and Nickelback, and the thousands of shows they put on nationwide. Rent a DVD and get a free demo, sticker, mp3 download from Blockbuster.com. The opportunities are endless. This will also open up opportunities for Blockbuster to promote the newest movie releases, newest movie rental technologies, and much more. This is an Entertainment Marketing person’s dream opportunity. I know I would love to take on that position. Sweet deal for Blockbuster, Live Nation, and all bands involved!
I could go on and on, but I got stuff to do. To wrap this all up, ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!
1. Blockbuster is convenient, fye not very convenient
If we take a look at the current locations that sell hard tickets to events for Ticketmaster, pretty much your only options are the box office or fye. At most fye stores you have to deal with the hassle of parking at busy malls, and taking an extra long walk to get your tickets. It will usually be an experience of at least 30 minutes of your time. Who in the world wants to do that? I’d rather spend the extra money of purchasing my tickets online.
However, now you add the convenience of most Blockbusters being at a plaza of your local grocery stores, and now you can go do your weekly grocery shopping, and take a stop by Blockbuster to pick up your concert tickets. Or you may be doing your weekly movie night, and while renting a movie at Blockbuster, you see that tickets are on sale for Nickelback (newest Live Nation artist who recently signed a 360 deal), and you conveniently pick up your concert tickets too. Currently approximately 10% of ticket sales are from hard tickets purchased in pre-sales. In the 3rd Quarter of 2008 Live Nation produced over 28 million ticket sales. At 10% that would have been over 2.8 million tickets sold at Blockbuster. Add your $4 service charge, and you got over $10 million in revenue for just one quarter. That is if Live Nation hard ticket sales don’t increase from their 10%, which I believe they will with the added convenience. Sweet deal for Blockbuster!
2. Advertising & Promotion Opportunities
Imagine all the new advertising and promotions opportunities Live Nation will have to promote their artists like Madonna and Nickelback, and the thousands of shows they put on nationwide. Rent a DVD and get a free demo, sticker, mp3 download from Blockbuster.com. The opportunities are endless. This will also open up opportunities for Blockbuster to promote the newest movie releases, newest movie rental technologies, and much more. This is an Entertainment Marketing person’s dream opportunity. I know I would love to take on that position. Sweet deal for Blockbuster, Live Nation, and all bands involved!
I could go on and on, but I got stuff to do. To wrap this all up, ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
