Money Making Schemes
This post is for ideas regarding how Pangaea might sustain itself if people aren't paying thousands for our artworks and the chance to see us perform....far fetched I know, but better to be safe than sorry. I don't view this as a formal or thought out thread, rather as a brainstorming forum, a place where any crazy idea can be thrown out there for folks to chew on. You never know what little seed might lead to a delightufully grand scheme. Someone might suggest that we smuggle monkeys in from the Congo and train them as butlers, and that idea could lead to a more realistic situation in which filthy rich masochists pay to dress up like monkeys and be our butlers as we tell them what disgusting apes they are and hurl bananas at them. So, no idea too big, too small, too ridiculous. Real estate in cyber-space is free.
Enis Montecaldo
Congolian Monkey Trainer
Enis Montecaldo
Congolian Monkey Trainer
posted by Sinclair at 8:25 PM
6 Comments:
Plot number one. I think that developing Pangaea on the web prior to the real world is going to be important, especially since we're presently geographically separated. Pseudo-Luddites that we are, we must embrace technology. Patrick's on to something with the donkeybaby website. I'm not suggesting that we devote ourselves full time to an e-business, but even without selling anything, it's a good way to begin creating a presence to let people know what we're about and what we've got to offer. It's also a way to share our work with one another as mail-art begins to proliferate in the coming weeks Now, a few ideas.
1) We reach out to Pangaea's local community in any one of several ways. We could start a theatre program through the local school (grants for this?) open a local business of some type, teach yoga, or art, sell baked goods, start a catering service or a microbrewery. There are a multitude of ways that I haven't mentioned.
2) We schlang our wares online, or at least promote them. These might include coloring books, handbags and accessories, stationary, greeting cards, a magazine or journal, photographs, music, ideas.
3) We hold workshops/classes at Pangaea, likely in theatre, art, yoga, or recovery type issues.
4) We rent the Pangaean grounds to like minded groups to hold their own workshops. A theatre group, ECA for example, wants to run a 10 day workshop and they need a place to do so, we provide it...Kind of like colleges do in the summer.
5) Energy generation...solar, wind, hydro.
6) We have single artists visit and pay for the space to work.
Okay, here's a few to get us started. I'm sure y'all have heaps more. At some point, we shall have to begin sifting the wheat from the chaff, but for now, we can just plant the crop.
Stamos,
I'm a little unclear as to your thinking with regard to money and projects. Are you suggesting that we help each other with funds to start up projects such as silkscreening? That we work together in producing and selling products? That we all do our own things independently and save as much or as little for Pangaea as we choose? That we all do our own things, and the revenues go to separate Pangaea accounts for each person's/group's productions? I haven't worked out my own position with regard to this matter yet, so I'm curious as to your thoughts. If you're thinking of setting up a silk-screening room though, I'd be happy to help out with startup expenses, provided that I might use it when out there, and perhaps commission a design or two. Let me know what you're thinking.
P.S. Bravo for suggesting and tentatively beginning potential business endeavor in the present! Rock and rock some more!
Stamos,
I hear what you're saying, and I agree with you entirely. Perhaps "Money Making Schemes" was too evil a monniker for the thread. I only bring up such schemes because I'm so thoroghly with you in your thinking. I don't want Pangaea to turn into another commercial venture like any other. However, I also don't want Pangaea to fall by the wayside because we're forced to sell our time to make money in other ways and therefore don't have enough time left over to find "happiness" in a place like Pangaea. Ideally, I see Pangaea as a combining of our vocations with our avocations. That is, combining our natural callings (our happiness) with the our "jobs" which are often only avocations, distractions from that which is of primary importance to us.
Thus, I see Pangaea as a commercial venture only insofar as such ventures match our artistic/happiness pursuits. I think it would be foolhearty to assume that we will be able to have both the time and the money to sustain a community like Pangaea out of our own pockets, given our current situations. A Master's in performance studies is certainly not going to be filling my pockets with guaranteed greenbacks...not in anyway that I can presently see clearly. The crux of my thinking is that many many artistic pursuits have never come to fruition or have fallen to the rabid hounds because of a lack of business savvy or awareness, and I don't want the same fate to befall Pangaea. That said, I'm hoping that we can generate income via grants, investments, donations, selling artworks, teaching classes, renting space etc, with a minimal impact on our time and mental energy, or at least a minimal unenjoyable impact.
Drexler Braunschwig
Sausage Manufacturer
KOMBUCHA!!!! Ok, I'm tired of you two boys blither blathering on and on about financial ethics, and would like to draw your attention to the cure for all our financial wows. It's called Kombucha, and it is a miracle drink sent straight from heaven. If you have never tried Kombucha then you should know a little bit about it. It's made from fermenting a mixture of black tea and sugar with a culture. The culture is a slimy brown floppy fribee type growth that is often called a Kombucha "mushroom" although in fact it is a living culture. The mushroom is placed on top of the mixture and left to sit for 2-3 weeks. What results is a fizzy fermented drink that tastes a bit like vinegar. At first you might say "uck" but after a few weeks the taste will become aquired. Then you will notice your energy has gone up and you feel a bit "perkier". Then, oh my god, is my hair really that shiny? and then, where did all my acne go? And wow, no more night time indigestion! And believe it or not, I think I'm even shedding those few extra pounds! Is it a miracle?
No. What is happening is that your body is returning to the natural alkalinity, or pH, that it is supposed to be at. Remember, Kombucha is a living organism and if taken regularly it can cure so many different afflictions that results from too high/low pH.
For those of you on the west coast you can get it in bottles at health food stores. Try Synergy brand, it's the most reliable. In Santa Cruz people became addicted to it and the stuff would disappear from the shelves only a few hours after being stocked. The company couldn't expand fast enough, and at close to $4 a pop they must have been making a bundle. For those of us on the east coast you'd be hard pressed to find a bottle of the stuff. Which makes a perfect niche market!
The best part is that the stuff is really easy to make on your own if you have some time and patience. Every batch you make creates a new "baby" mushroom so you can multiply your production quickly and naturally. Wright and I were brewing the stuff in SC and will start brewing again here within the next week or two (I just located a woman who does acupuncture who's willing to donate a baby). We are going to try to set up an operation in our basement and then by the new year start selling to stores in the area. We can all try it in December at our retreat.
In a larger sense I'm getting really into making small batch foods to sell to people. Things like this that have to be fermented with patience can often be rare especially if you really care about the quality. Other things I'm going to be experimenting with: raw sauerkraut, miso, and naturally leavened bread. I'll let you know how it goes...
oh yeah, and i was just kidding about you guys. i actually love your blather. heh heh.
So the acupuncture lady didn't work out but I found an online company that sells the babies. The name is G.E.M. Cultures and you can see their selection at www.gemcultures.com. They are California based and supposed to be pretty reliable. You have to call them directly and the number is listed on their website. Unfortunately they are closed this week for Thanksgiving but we plan on putting a big order in next week. Also, ask around...I bet people in the Bay Area brew it themselves. Just be careful to ask how it's been made. If improperly taken care of the culture can lose some of it's healing properties. Check out Betsy Pryor's "Kombucha" book. She's kind of the leading guru of the whole phenomenon.
xo
B
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