Steven Savage – Page 1244

News of the Day 8/5/2009

August 5, 2009 by Steven Savage

Career:
Why some people hate personal branding

Economics/Geekonomics/Freakonomics:
What a double-dip recession could be like – and what could cause it – Chart filled, but even those not economically inclined can get an idea of what we're looking at. The author feels there's enough instability to create a dip in 2010 (I was betting more on macro-issues creating one in 2011-2012). However he's got some good points. Rough summary – keep a weather eye out for 18 months on the economy.

Media:
4 Kids Entertainment has put itself up for sale – Apparently following on cuts last year. Still they have a lot of properties so I expect the company will survive. They're definitely in the don't-send-a-resume category for now, I'd say. Also, they DO have a lot of brands,so once their future is sorted out, they could really put out a lot of media within those brands.

Publishing:
Sony cuts prices on it's e-book titles – Making it competitive with Amazon.com, and continuing the surprisingly lively e-book batles. Side note – it appears companies are postponing softcover and e-book releases to make more money on hardcovers.

Technology:
Apple didn't like a dictionary app in the App Store because of offensive words – A strange story, but part of what could be a trend – people now talking about rejected apps in the App Store. Brought on by the Google Voice mess. I don't know how many apps get rejected, but now that the spotlight is on them, we'll find out more – watch to see wht it means if you're a developer or in IT in general.

Tablets not going to be so hot after all? – A few points about this potential market. I'm going to agree they won't be for everyone – and that they're best when the tablet-function is OPTIONAL and has a keyboard, etc. That won't stop the hype and the developer considerations.

More on the Microsoft-Yahoo deal – Including Yahoo have options to opt OUT of part of the deal. As Microsoft is hiring past Yahoo employees I don't think this is likely, but this does give an idea of just what's up.

Google spends a ton of cash for video compression technology company – Which tells me they're still focused on video, but I'd say this may be more than YouTube – it could play well for Anrdoid and other technology efforts.

Video Games:
Playspan releases a tool for developing a huge variety of payment options for social media and games – Not noteworthy? Try 50 methods in 30 countries. This is subtle, but it could give Playspan a big edge in the market since the technology sounds easy to adapt. In short – resume worthy.

-Steven Savage

What Is Professional?

August 5, 2009 by Steven Savage

"But I'm not a professional," many people say to me when I discuss their careers.

I hear this a lot. Aspiring artists, writers, publishers, coders, etc. They all figure they're not professional now, but at some point in the future they'll be pros. Until that point they're not professionals – and thus they figure no one will talk to them, they can't join professional groups, etc. Professional comes with some special future achievement like the right job or the right degree.

I think that's B.S. Professional is an attitude.

Convention Ideas: Roundup

August 4, 2009 by Steven Savage

This is a compilation of all the posts done on this blog about adding “fan-to-pro” elements to conventions. I will be updating this over time.

If you wonder why conventions are a big idea, I did an entire book career events at cons – and the reasons why I did it explain it better than anything!

GENERAL:

The list of Profan Panel Ideas.

SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS:

Convention Types:

Comic Cons – Comic cons have a unique foundation – but also are evolving n ways that career-minded fans can take advantage of.

Guests:

Invite guests that aren’t ‘typical’ – but are of professional interest
Invite local guests that are relevant to people’s career interests
Invite recruiters
Invite business owners.
Invite people from local or local branches of professional associations.
Invite and involve student associations.
Invite retirees who can share unique perspectives and experience.
Invite a range of talent and experience on the same panel, so you can get different perspectives.
Invite people with a part-time fannish business.

Events:

Throw a networking event.
Involve your Attendees.
Have a career table
Advanced Portfolio reviews
Visit a local business
Do events for parents, teachers and mentors
Do events on certifications.
Focus on tools.
Focus on what NOT to do, or other failures and mistakes.
Address must-use technology specifically and in general for progeeks!
Have attendees come together to make actual product.
Go and have a little fun with career-oriented gameshows and other entertainments.
Do events that focus on part-time businesses.

Organization:

Miscellaneous

Try a Minicon or a Proto-Minicon.
Try doing other events year-round.
Leverage local workshops for help and even entire events.
Add career-oriented prizes to your various gameshows or and events.
Explore different kinds of ways to bring people job information – video, webinar, and more.

CONVENTION SPOTLIGHT:

Ani-Magic, the Autumn Dream – Making a convention an entire professional-skill-building experience.
Anime Saint George – Finding good trades for guests, diversifying professional guests, and keeping people informed on how to break into industries.
Anime USA – Leveraging geographic advantages, specific deep focuses, and having a staff with professional ambitions and experiences.
Daishocon – Getting speakers that wrote “how to” guides and paying special attention to teaching people how to break into careers.
Erie-Anime-Experience – Tying history, guests, and ideas together.
Hal-Con – Cultivating diversity on all panels, and working with guests and attendees for unique topics.
Iowa Icon – Leverages classic ideas, an intimate setting, and specific focus.
Mobicon – Leverage your guests and keep your staff primed to develop good profan events.
Odyssey Con – Covers areas of professional writing not everyone thinks of, and “subcontracts” events from other conventions.
Queen City Kamikaze – Calling on local talent, local education, and making career-specific events.
Templecon – Trying a few things no one else tries – including some contrarian elements!
Tigercon – Making guest-sharing deals and adding academic elements.
WindyCon – Following in the steps of WorldCon and doing manuscript review for writers.

– Steven Savage