[Nick Griffin]

Only slightly off topic, but mildly pertinent to this discussion…

Everybody knows that the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, was a college dropout. Arguably one of the world’s most clever men, Steve Jobs, was too. It’s astounding to see the list of those who didn’t finish, or even start, college.

For example:

Ansel Adams
Paul Allen
Woody Allen
Richard Avedon
Lucille Ball (half of the team that INVENTED the sitcom as we know it)
Steve Ballmer
Warren Beatty
Carl Bernstein (Investigative reporter of Watergate fame)
Richard Branson
Warren Buffett (I believe the world’s 2nd or 3rd richest)
Robert Byrd (US Senator)
James Cameron
George Carlin
Charlie Chaplin
John Chancellor
Winston Churchill
Grover Cleveland (US President)
Noel Coward

… and we’re not even out of the C’s. Google “college dropouts” if you want to see the whole list.

Wonder if ANY of these people would make it through HR’s first level of screening.

For what it’s worth, with the exception of two independent study courses I designed for myself, my college simply wasn’t teaching any of the things I — at the time — wanted to know. So I found the funding and built the music department a rudimentary recording studio while working on air and eventually managing the campus radio station. These are the places I started learning what I do for a living today.

[Nick Griffin]

[Mark Suszko] “”They call me MISTER Tibbs!”

(Had to get that out of the way.)”

Just don’t call me late to dinner.

(Had to get that out of the way, too.)

Being the “Griffin” in Griffin Communications makes it fairly clear where I fall in the pecking order, but the real “tell” is how you act whether its on set, in the edit suite or in their conference room. And while I like the shorts and Hawaiian shirts 90% of the time, the $2,000 custom-made suits at meeting time also set the tone for who’s who. It’s also very helpful to position oneself as a peer of, not beneath, the top executives.

But that’s just what works for me. Your mileage may vary. Member FDIC.

[Nick Griffin]

[Emre Tufekci S.O.A.] ”
He says in poorly recorded video…”

Yea, I noticed that, too. But I’m betting the people buying in don’t even notice the room echo.

[Emre Tufekci S.O.A.] “We have a 7 percent royalty and a 2 % advertising/marketing fee that you pay monthly.”

So basically this guy has become what he describes as a huge success in the video business by inventing a franchise for people who want to work at home with “no experience necessary.”

And Thanx, Emre for not mentioning this company by name. None of us need the BS of getting hassled by this guys legal team. Of course they probably started their law firm as a franchise, too.

[Nick Griffin]

Mark-
Thanks for weighing in on this. However when is being “focused, driven, and dedicated to succeeding” not a factor in any business with any level of education? My bitch is with the fact that they lure in innocent children and their gullible parents with the idea that these for profit institutions are the equivalent of accredited, academic institutions. They’re not and many learn this too late. Check out “What’s This Degree Worth?” in the August 9-15 issue of BusinessWeek. Subtitle says it all: “Goldman Sachs made millions through its stake in EDMC, whose schools peddle arts degrees costing up to $100,000. Some dept-crippled students are crying foul.”

Sure there are some exceptions — rare as I said before — but they are just that, the exceptions whose own innate talent was perhaps aided by these schools, but may just as easily have shown through if they worked at it on their own. Maybe they would go even further if they’d gone to a school which provided some modicum of history, philosophy, science and — dare I say it — college level English, ie.- reading and writing. Hell, I wonder where I’d be if I had devoted more time to creative writing classes and less to radio.

As to the home video franchise with which I started this thread, I’m not calling it a scam. They no doubt have people who have bought in and believe that they received a decent return for what they paid. But I will reiterate: $62,000 for an FCS set-up with training and a heavy dose of inspiration? To me, that’s more sad than scam.

[Nick Griffin]

We are of one mind on this, Mr. Zelin. “Hey kids,” goes the ad and subsequent selling job. “Why have a boring life when you can work in the exciting world of TV production … Music recording … Fashion design,” etc. Nevermind for every 20 kids there may be half or fewer actual jobs at the other end of a $100k+ “education” and those that do exist pay entry level wages. Sure there are the few rare exceptions, but they are just that…rare.

Oh… and guess who’s a huge investor in some of these education “businesses?” None other than Goldman Sachs.

[Nick Griffin]

Technically, no. You should have permission, if only to make sure you don’t tick off the customers of your customer.

Practically? May be a different story. What’s the distribution of your finished product? If it’s an internal use thing, like a video for a sales meeting or new employee introduction piece you’re probably OK. If it’s to be public, probably not OK. At the very least get the opinion of your main contact in the company for whom you’re making the show.

[Nick Griffin]

[Mike Cohen] “A baggage handler is trained to handle production cases less gently than suitcases ;)”

Truer words have never been spoken. I’m also convinced that FedEx gives new employees a course in case throwing. Which, at least beats UPS where I’m there must be a course in losing stuff… at least MY stuff.

[Nick Griffin]

Every business is different. The 50% deposit (or more) in our business is for new people or those who have proven to be less than timely in their payments. Once we get to know them, and have a relationship, that changes.

We deal mostly with companies and organizations who provide an ongoing stream of business. They expect, and are invoiced, for entire net amounts virtually always after a job is done. It’s expected and a workable system as long as they continue to play nice and send checks.

Years ago we were serving as the radio production house for a less than reputable ad agency. (Hey, I was young. I didn’t know any better.) Their philosophy of business was to draw out their payables as long as possible. For us this meant that the only time we would get paid was when they needed to book the next session. I mention this because it’s the perfect example of a company who should be required to pay at least a sizable deposit up front EVERY time.

[Nick Griffin]

Yes. But too late now to ask for a 50% deposit. A P.O. can’t protect you from late pay.

[Nick Griffin]

Err, duh! Thanx for the math lesson, Michael. But one doesn’t come after seven. 3.0 comes after 2.7 in the software world in which the vast majority of companies live.