Trade Associations and Encouraging Entrepreneurial Spirit

So this week's been a bit hectic. I spent Tuesday at the NOEA (National Outdoor Events Association) Conference in Leeds which had exhibits from industry related businesses such as health and safety, big screens etc alongside their AGM and also sought to help me, build links with helpful folk. Just in case you're wondering, I have been a member of the NEAC (National Entertainment Agents Council) and they are now merging with NOEA due to time constraints of members. The question still remains though, apart from the networking opportunities what benefit do trade associations actually have?

When starting, the legal advice and also how to structure my business were invaluable. Once I have been going a few years though, the question will still remains as to its benefit. The way I see it it's like a club. If you're the member of an exclusive club you'll do favours for mates and hopefully vice versa. Ignore competitors at your peril. They can get you out of some sticky situations if you don't have something a customer needs.

And extending this idea of networking, I was lucky enough to be invited back to the University of Birmingham to be one of the few students to bring the first SPEED (Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education) programme to a close. This did just comprise of 20 or so people, but it was the event afterward that was far more interesting as we were all asked to describe our business experiences to students. We were described as entrepreneurs and it got me thinking. When do you turn from businessman to entrpreneur and is there any difference? If this were a beeb blog I'd be asking the hordes to battle it out in the comments section, but I think I might be a bit like Homer when he's the only member left in the stonecutters and so attempts to dress up monkeys and make them do war re-enactments. If you have no idea what any of the last sentence meant, don't worry about it. Here is where a more astute blogger would come up with some witty conclusion, maybe cite a Churchill quote, but to be blunt, they're just pretentious idiots.

Until next time,


Hayden

Expanding Horizons and It's Alive!!!!!

First things first. Last time I was ranting and raving about the lack of a website but now, like Frankenstein's Monster it has come to life and is attempting to take over the earth. Please check it out at http://www.xientertainments.com

I could go on and on and on about the wonders of my website but I feel as though as I may loose you half way through.

Also as we're in the middle of, y'know, that-which-must-not-be-named, I have decided to diversify my business and am looking to be the agent for actors as well. It is a bit of a different area to what I usually do, but the principles and expertise remain the same. This idea of diversifying seems to be a sensible way to get through these more difficult and am sure it'll pay off in the meantime.

Until next time


Hayden

Starting the Startup Blog

So, this is my first blog post. I first of all need to share with you my reasons for starting this. I am a startup business. Have I mentioned I'm starting? As an entertainment agent providing a whole range of performers for corporate and private events and in the past 6 months, everyone as a direct result of TV economics coverage, have been putting the frighteners on, telling me that more than usual, I'm bound to fail.

I don't believe it as there is always money to be made. I have therefore started this blog to show how a fledgling company WILL become a huge benevolent behemoth in a couple of years time.

So, what stage am Iat the moment? Well I'm just in the midst of getting my website live. Word of warning to the naive new entrepreneur don't fall into the flashy light trap. I picked my web design company as they are quite a large firm and I foolishly thought that means they get the job done. Oh how wrong I was and I have now been waiting since mid June to get a website.

This is where the screams of "you should've got a completion date from them" can be heard screaming across the interwibble, but I tried that and somehow ended up mesmerised by some marketing babble. BE CAUTIOUS

I've also been getting my product, in this case performers by any and every mean. I'm attempting to get all quality acts and it's easier said than done with quality also referring to how well they keep up contact etc. For those of you wanting to know where I get my performers from? I'm not telling you. However I have heard a certain northern entertainment agent can get you anything you want. ;) OK enough of the sell, this is me finished blogging for the moment saying good night, good luck and whatever you do, don't mention the R word (it makes matters worse)

Hayden