http://www.thegroop.net/yes/
The invite from Conn Fishburn, Senior Partner,
BIG/Ogilvy, read: ... "a BIG/Ogilvy sponsored event bringing together
professionals from the entertainment, technology, gaming and mobile industries.
It is the first in what we hope to be many evenings bridging LA's diverse
creative and technology communities."
How could I pass up an invite like that? Especially
an invite coming from Conn Fishburn, who has the most creative, passionate and
business-like mind I've met in a long time. Considering this networking
opportunity could result in highly creative products and/or ventures I quickly
replied, 'Yes!' and made my reservations online of course for flight to Los
Angles and stay at the Westin's Bonaventure.
I was greeted with a firm handshake from Conn. The
room was just beginning to buzz and Conn proceeds to make introductions. My
impressions of the evening: great space located in the down 'n out section of
Downtown LA, any true New Yorker would appreciate the grittiness. There was a
hint of new "old" media industry, but not the cache of the deal
making late nineties, thank goodness. I did see several younger 20-something
men roaming the event searching for some kind of deal with someone or anyone
for that matter for something or anything.
One such incident I did witness up close. While Mark
Jeffrey, author of the famous "The Pocket and The Pendant", dear
friend and wonderful escort for the evening, and I chatted about life beyond
the "new media industry", an old colleague from Mark's Super Sig days
interrupted. He seemed to desperately want Mark to give his client, Michael
consul on his new venture and fund raising. He cornered Mark pressing him to be
nice to his client but give helpful suggestions. My first question to Michael
was, "Do you have a patent?" you would have thought I cut his legs off
at this knees. I thought the days of "Irrational exuberance" were
over, but I was wrong. I get calls from investors on a regular basis telling me
they will invest in businesses that have cash flow provided by real paying
customers, products with patents, and intelligent business plans with a
strategy for profitability. Who would have guessed investors finally sobered
up, but it would seem some entrepreneurs are still drinking from the grandiose
well.
As attractive as I am...to new ventures I hated to
be the one to tell poor Michael that Columbus already discovered America. What
he really needs to develop is a product that meets the needs of consumers not
try to reinvent a wheel that already has huge market share. Perhaps before he
spins his wheels further into spiral of the abyss, he should consider some
old-fashioned market research.
After about a 20-minute conversation Mark was free
to get back to our discussion over the good ole days. Mark Jeffrey is certainly
the right person to ask for advice. He has a great track record for both stars
and dogs. His most recent success is "The Pocket and The Pendant". He
not only self published but he's also podcasting it, and rumors have it he's in
the middle of a possible deal for a TV series. Bravo and well done, Mark! But
you know what they say beyond every successful man there is a team of amazing
women with deep rolodexes willing to champion him. Mark's success has been
through the encouragement and word-of-mouth of Christine Harmel, Courtney
Pulitzer, and me, Tery Spataro.
As the evening quickly passed on, I need some nosh.
As I was digging into the vegetable platter, I met Bill Cameron, Sr. VP
Strategic Alliance ExpoMarketing Group. Bill wasn't afraid to pitch me on his
event marketing business and ask if I have any leverage with Madison Avenue.
That's a business model I can digest and I did grow up on Madison Avenue. I
gave Bill some of my valued C-level contacts. In exchange Bill promised to keep
me in the loop and give me a 5% return for me efforts. That's not a bad return
for an introduction. As I was milling around the food table I heard a rumor
that famed Razorfish CEO Jeff Dachis was going to show up, to talk about his
new project--the Producers Guild of America--but his new baby took priority.
Too bad for me, I would have loved to ask him for a tour of the room in his
home I furnished from the poor investment I made in Razorfish.
The*Party got into full swing after speeches by Jose
Caballer, CEO and Creative Director of The_Groop, and Conn Fishburn, General
Manager of BIG. This event promises score of business relationships. Over all
the combination of energy and spark of new entrepreneurial blood will breathe
life into new opportunities and this is the event to seek them out.
Other sponsors of The*PARTY included: amaula,
The_Groop, Mobile Monday, Orange22, Producers Guild of America, The*SPACE, and
Oshyn.
Photos: The *PARTY at the *SPACE
http://public.fotki.com/tery/the_party_at_the_space