Are there any jobless folks out there in Fluther who would be interested in brainstorming about starting some kind of business?

I’m good with animals. Does that help?

@KatawaGrey My apologies. I can help with the business plan, books, etc

@KatawaGrey My degree is also in Radio, TV and Film…my experience is a little outdated as I last worked on 1” tape. But I could direct and or produce. My real passion though is in cinematography.

@Adirondackwannabe If you are working with me then yes~ ;)

I am unemployed and the economy seems to have killed the job market in CA where I live. At this point I am no longer getting call backs though I continue to send out my resume. To give you an idea of what I mean it is estimated that each job posting is flooded with hundreds of applications in hours. I have a BA but am competing for entry level jobs with displaced workers with MA and higher.

What I can bring to the Fluther business table:

I know about the art industry having been a successful fine artist till the bottom fell out of the market this year.
You name it I can paint it.
I know about copyright and licensing.
I have experience writing a magazine column.
I love technology.
I love helping people.
I know Photoshop.
I am a master at detecting spammers. (Maybe we could all become Fluther spammers?~)
I have basic knowledge of HTML.
I love to work on vintage muscle cars and am not afraid to get my hands dirty.

*References available on request. :)

After 30 years in the hotel business, I’ve often thought of creating a TV sitcom about a hotel near the corporate office. There are enough stories from real life to keep the show fresh for quite awhile. For example, if you ever want a good laugh, just read through some of the independent road warrior web sites about their hotel experiences. On the flip side, talk to any hotel employee, and they will gladly share some real doozies about guest antics.

I have no idea where to start with this project, and frankly, I don’t have the skills or inclination to take it on. I’d gladly hand over the project to the talented Jellies with the only desire to be on the consulting team for ideas and content.

@Pied_Pfeffer I like that idea! It could be like a downtown big city version of Fawlty Towers! :))

@Pied_Pfeffer: It’s funny you mention a sitcom because I was actually thinking about something like that last night. The only problem is that we are all scattered across the country globe, even so we’d have to figure out a way to do that without uprooting everyone.

@Dog: Honestly, I was thinking of some kind of creativity-for-hire business where someone could come to us and say, “Hey, do you guys do this?” and we could put together some kind of package for them, maybe a sort of advertising package. Me and @Cruiser could make commercials, you could make a company logo and/or design brochures, @Adirondackwannabe and Auggie could manage, something like that.

Though, truthfully, I think it would be pretty cool to write for a sitcom. One of my secret dreams has always been to write for a TV show.

@KatawaGrey I think we should chew on this a little more. We don’t need to uproot everyone. We all connected right here.

<———- former travel agent. I can make travel arrangements that may be needed. Though, the internet has pretty much killed that business for me. Anyone want to go on a cruise?

@jonsblond ; Actually, yes, one of these days…now I know you’re the go to girl for basic tips and advice!

Hi, Sweetie! To katawagrey…

@jonsblond: Shipping prospective clients out to see our work, should they desire, or arranging a visit for people who are to be relocated for work.

@JilltheTooth: Weren’t we just talking about your expertise with books yesterday? :)

@KatawaGrey : It’s a bit outdated, but if it’ll help…

“my experience is a little outdated as I last worked on 1” tape.”
Wow my friend. You have been out for a while. I have not touched 1” in almost 15 years.

I would luv to have a 1” for my living room.

@KatawaGrey I LOVE the idea of a sitcom. Let’s make it a holel setting and everyone comes up with a character. :)

I am a designer, editor, researcher, copywriter, and sometimes artist and poet.
And I am interested.
I am also a minor geek and occasionally help people online via Crossloop.

I do web, print, and exhibits. I love to work online from home. I have various computer skills including but not necessarily limited to CS4 PhotoShop, DreamWeaver, InDesign, [I’m not real fond of Illustrator], MS Office 2007
I have helped people self-publish in addition to designing the pubs.
I can project-manage, research, and help curate exhibits, and can manage editing projects.

@ChazMaz wow. One-inch tape! I still have some old ¾” tape of my TV graphics portfolio from aeons ago I should get transferred . . .
@KatawaGrey how about instead of ramping up Fluther which is doing so well already, create a Fluther spin-off “Fluther:the Agency” or something. Works for TV.

@KatawaGrey I think that there is enough technology available today that we wouldn’t have to leave our homes for the bulk of the work. Between web-cams, webinars and shared sites, it can be effective and cheap. The challenge is finding people who are not only interested but skilled in project management and are strategic.

For example, I envision having someone who can design and manage a web site tied to the show, where people can post their hotel horror stories, much like Scott Adams did with Dilbert.

An acquaintance wrote a play, and it got turned into the movie Changing Hearts I doubt anyone has heard of it, but just look at who starred in it. And he did the bulk of work from Tennessee except during the filming.

@Cruiser Definitely set in a large city! Some of the best hotel stories stem from celebrities and their ridiculous antics. For example, we had a very famous ice hockey player staying in our DC hotel. The guy came out of his suite in his underwear and yelled for someone to bring him some fresh towels. Or ‘Eddie Munster’ getting arrested in our Chicago hotel for refusing to pay a limo driver.

P.S. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never seen Fawlty Towers, but I know what you are talking about.

@ChazMaz I’d hate to tell you how long ago that was but back then Beta was the preferred commercial format! :O

@Pied_Pfeffer Our first episode could be on our celebrity guest Charlie Sheen naked chasing his hooker through the hotel lobby! XD

@Cruiser Oh dear…the hotel prostitute stories I could tell you. And these are 4-star hotels.

I’m about halfway done with a BA in Professional Writing. I have a lot of experience writing both technically and and formally, and I also currently work as a Peer Editor in my college’s Writing Lab, so I could be useful in the writing and editing process of whatever we create.

Great question, @KatawaGrey! Way to really use your resources :D

“Beta was the preferred commercial format!”
Yea, I started out with ¾”.

Really awesome question, @KatawaGrey – I’m heading back to school, but have a legal background, and it would be fun to put that to use. That’s all I’ll say, as I am not “soliciting” in any context.

lord, the ethics issues that this has now raised. ;-)

@iamthemob Well, obviously we are going to need legal guidance. Hint, hint, nudge.

I love the idea of doing something creative. Since I am gainfully employed (finally!), I’m just offering to pitch in wherever I can be helpful to you guys.

I have a background in administrative and accounting roles. I write, too, but wouldn’t have much time for that at the moment. If there is a website involved… I’ve got lots of experience managing. ;)

Thanks guys! This was actually @augustlan‘s idea, I just put it into words. :)

@Pied_Pfeffer: I’m actually something of an editor I like to tell myself and that’s a job that can be done anywhere as long as I can get the footage. I’d also love to write episodes and maybe direct a few, if we can even get this off the ground. :)

Of course, if we do the shooting here in CT, I have access to a lot of fresh, young media production majors who’ll work for beans.

If you guys need a web/graphic designer.. ::cough::..

30 years with the Medicare business working with customers as a rep for the company. Can you all work that in your line up? And if nothing else, I love animals!

I nominate chyna to be the lion that roars in the opening credits of the show.

@Adirondackwannabe ::blushes:: Thank you.

Sent this to Alex, he is beyond incredibly talented and has a thousand skills and needs work.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir See? That makes me crazy. Someone with such talent and can’t find a job.

I think this also addresses a “wage slave” mentality – why should we look for work when we, as fully capable people, can offer work to clients directly.

Why work for anyone, besides the people you want to?

@chyna It’s making the both of us crazy. It’s been 2 years since he’s been laid off and he’s completely over-qualified for a million jobs. He’s a computer genius, he can build anything, he is an amazing musician, I can go on and on and on…so frustrating.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir: It’s funny that you mention Alex because I was just thinking how we’d need someone to do the soundtrack.

@chels: If we want to keep this in the fluther family, and because we’re scattered all over the country, possibly the world this is probably something we’ll need to have a website for. People could watch it on our site and we could have advertisements to pay for it. :)

@chyna: How are you with PR?

@KatawaGrey Hell, he can do the website too.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir: Sounds good to me. I think he and @chels could work together and @Dog could design the visuals. And we could shamelessly sell his music as well.

Sounds good to me, woo!

Btw, I’m already kind of planning out the first episode in my head…

With the hotel theme?

@Adirondackwannabe: Mhm. I’m thinking a rich kid buys the hotel for fun and then his dad cuts him off and he has to learn how to run the hotel for real. Naturally, there would be the middle-aged host/hostess who’d been there for thirty years and knew exactly what he/she was doing, a beautiful hotel worker the rich guy hired based solely on looks but who is actually a math prodigy and maybe a relative or two of the rich guy.

editted by me. I’ll pm it.

I’m not interested in full-time work, but I don’t mind taking on freelance fee-based projects. I can make sure that website content, promotional copy, scripts, and other written materials are error-free, consistent, lively, and appropriate in tone and style. I have 30+ years’ worth of editorial experience across the range from putting out tiny newsletters and membership publications to editing book-length manuscripts, nonfiction, fiction, and technical. I’ve led teams and managed projects, and I’m also comfortable in a minor-to-invisible role, depending on the circumstances. Count me in if I can help.

Whatever the business or the project, it needs a clear leader and keeper of the vision, a single undivided mind that formulates the plan and the strategy. And I don’t think the project can be Fluther itself because that business already has its owners, who are developing its concept along lines of their own.

Oh, Jeruba.. :::sigh:::

New subject – my son is currently looking to buy a Funtastic Play Center franchise for our area. We have several family members currently out of work, and we need funding for this project.

Any ideas?

@KatawaGrey YAY. I <3 web design. Once everything is set, email me with some ideas and I’ll come up with a few things.

I could place a note in the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and send out good thoughts and prayers. I could translate everything into Hebrew and be the Israeli connection.

@seazen : I’m thinking we would be equally helpful. Well, meybe you a little more….

Hmm, could the show start out on the internet like The Guild? How does that show make money?

@Pied_Pfeffer: that’s what I was thinking. I think that show makes money off advertisements but now there are also DVD’s and lots of merchandise.

@seazen The translation idea is definitely something that needs to go on the list.

Can we make a note to consider not making the show Americanized but as universal as possible? The larger the targeted audience, the more more income.

Outside of negotiations, Web design, and art illustration I don’t have much. I am fairly good at research though :-P

Zen could be in it too! Zen could play the eccentric advice- giving agoraphobe who never opens the door. (He could Skype his role!)
His characters door is like the show “confessional”

@Dog: Actually, I could totally see him as being the odd guest who, for some reason, lives in the hotel rather than a house or apartment.

@Pied_Pfeffer: Honestly, I’m not sure how we could avoid all Americanization. Most of us are American and that’s what we know. And lots of American entertainment hops the pond, all of them, and is popular in other countries.

@KatawaGrey We are thinking similarly about the plot-line. Here’s what I’ve been crafting:

It’s a 4-star hotel in a metropolitan area where the corporate office resides. The hotel is owned by a handful of investors that know nothing about the business, so they hire the chain’s corporate office to manage the business.

There is a young assistant manager who has been there a couple of years and knows what s/he is doing. The general manager suddenly disappears (death, runs off with an employee, etc.) and the corporate office is looking for a new GM. They pass over the AGM and hire someone else who lasts a couple of episodes until it is discovered that they are inept. It could be the brother of the president, the mistress of the president, etc. Every couple of episodes, the GM changes. Maybe there are a few episodes in between where there is no GM and things are running smoothly.

In addition to the AGM, the regular cast consists of a witty, yet deadpan common sense executive housekeeper (someone like Janeane Garofalo) who helps the AGM maintain his sanity and hold down the fort. The phone operator has the patience of a saint when s/he takes calls from guests with really stupid questions. The maintenance engineer is exceptionally talented, and no one knows his/her gender except the HR manager who won’t tell. There is a frequent guest who has a better understanding of how the hotel is and should be run better than any new staff member. The night auditor is an accountant type who has no interest in customer service, and calls upon the security guard (think John Pennington) who handles the bizarre while just shaking his head. Throw in a chef who is passionate about their creations and flies off of the handle when a customer sends a dish back, and you have the staff.

Tap into the experiences of real hotel employees, and we’d have more than enough anecdotes to include stories on naked guests, celebrities, prostitutes, scams, drunkenness, illness, and the unexplained to hold the interest of an audience.

@KatawaGrey Can you do your magic with this as a foundation? And as to my comment about keeping it from being Americanized, forget it. Hotels around the world, if within the same service level, are pretty much the same.

Maybe @Cruiser and I can share an office. I have a Master’s in Radio-TV-Film and my experience and training is also pretty outdated. It seems like a million years ago. I never worked with 1” tape but I have a box of ¾” video tapes around here somewhere; though almost all of the stuff did in school was on 16mm film and cut on flatbed editing machines, on Steenbecks.

@lillycoyote I still have my 8mm splicing block I had to use for some school editing projects and my ¾” resume tape that is bigger than my notebook computer!! XD!

I had a dream about this business idea last night. I have no memory of the dream except for the name of the company. I saw a screen running credits before or after a show/movie, and it read: A Jelly/Jam Production.

@Dog I resemble that remark.