The Audition

Been writing my audition script. Then, everything changes when I say it out loud (you try it) Incorporating tips from info session: we've perfected a product; we have a track record; we know our audience; we know our potential. Time to figure out what to wear. Yikes. Been a whole lotta years since last I auditioned. I used to know what to wear, how to 'make-up' and how animated to be or not to be. After much on-ing and off-ing of various outfits, hauled out the ancient Hi8 camera, shooed the cat off the bed, pressed record, shooed the cat again and talked into the camera. Rewound, watched, grimaced, and repeated. Finally happy with classic white collared shirt, and red sweater, script almost memorized, I head to the bathroom and shoo the cat away to apply make-up. Once again in front of camera, with cat on lap, shoot, rewind and see where I messed-up on the make-up. I'm exhausted. I head to CBC clutching script, make-up bag, and pick up mega coffee.

I've got it and they want it

I pitched to Richard Maerov: tall good looking, and island of calm in the waves of people wanting to know how to get on Dragon's Den (soon to be launched in US as Shark Tank). Richard looked into a television screen in his brain: "A patient education television network in hospitals... that'd make good TV.. and an established business? Woah. We don't get many of those" .....Yay hurray. Then, to Tracie Tighe, tightly focussed Exec, I answer, You betcha I can audition next week. OMG Total excitement. Am on Audition Script, as soon as I figure out Audition wardrobe.

Watching and listening in the information Den

While working up what the heck I was going to run by the DD producer, I observed and eavesdropped. The scruffy young fella sporting what looked like a hand-knit knapsack had been two ahead of me in the registration line. Guy between us asked "What's your product?" Scruffy point to his knapsack. Guy between us said "Oh yeah. I've seen them around" Scruffy wilted before our very eyes: "You can't have. It's an original." As Mayor David Miller walked through the crowd to the front to give his welcome speech, a well-groomed young man took advantage of the several second 'delay' to try to pitch Dragon Robert Herjavec on something that looked like a small skateboard. A woman said, to no-one in particular: "Look at that: he's just gotten right in there to give his pitch. " I note a man and woman circle each-other warily. Man says, "You were on last year weren't you?" Turns out they'd both pitched last season.. and were part of what I realized were 'Dragon Heads': devotees and groupies who come to as many Dragon events as they can. I learned that while the Dragon's were all 'in' on guy's pitch, he decided against taking their money. The woman also had the Dragon's 'all in'. As due diligence and negociations evolved, Dragon's wanted more of the business than had been offered... for way more money. "Of course we went for it." Interrrresting. The stage set for the session to begin; Miller says his bit (making a crack about CBC being one of Canada's two national networks.. sorry Global) and then right into Diane and Herjavec. The room is (temporarily) attentive...

Entering the Dragon's Den

Been intrigued by this show's concept - its mix of entertainment and (occasionally) a solid business idea gives entrepreneurs valuable insight into what investors require. But it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Decided what the hell, I'll go to an information session.. along with hordes in the hundreds, who could barely contain themselves as Dragon Robert Herjavec and DD host Diane Buckner went through what to do and what not to do (do know your numbers; don't insult the Dragons) My take away: if you're worried about your idea/concept being stolen, it's not much of an idea and.. even if something's already 'out there' perfecting it is what counts. OK: thanks for that. For me, what was equally (if not more) fun and interesting was observing and eavesdropping (which I'll get to next entry). I was just about to exit, when a CBC communications maven I'd been introduced a week before encouraged me to run my idea by a Dragon's producer. Sure. Now I had to come up with an idea.