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Do Businesses Need to Suck?

2012-09-25 · John · watch on YouTube · Projects · announcement promotion

John describes how he and Hank try to run DFTBA Records as a business that doesn't suck: from giving YouTube musicians most of the proceeds to selling posters and shirts by talented Nerdfighter artists without built-in audiences.

What is said

00:00:00 — Why for-profit companies feel evil and icky (iPad Dr Pepper app aside); John co-owns one, DFTBA Records

  • ★★ John says we all feel for-profit companies kind of suck even though we like what they make, like iPads and Dr Pepper, and wonders why, as co-owner of one. — 00:00:00
  • ★★★ John sets out to explain how he and Hank try to run DFTBA Records, their e-tailer, as a business that doesn't suck. — 00:00:00 · DFTBA Records

00:00:29 — Nerdfighters make things (album, Etsy, Nerdcrafteria); DFTBA Records' founding idea, artists, its one employee Kristen Franklin and French the Llama

  • ★★ John notes Nerdfighters make awesome things: a Nerdfighter from Britain's Got Talent's first album, Elmify's Etsy store, This Star Won't Go Out banners in Nerdcrafteria; only some have commercial life. — 00:00:29 · Nerdfighteria
  • ★★★ John recounts that Hank and Alan Lastufka started DFTBA Records in 2008 to connect YouTube musicians with audiences while giving the musicians most of the album proceeds, which worked very well. — 00:00:29 · DFTBA Records, Hank Green, Alan Lastufka
  • ★★ John lists DFTBA releases: music by Charlie McDonnell, Alex Day, Hank, Driftless Pony Club, Meghan Tonjes and many others. — 00:00:58 · Charlie McDonnell, Alex Day, Hank Green
  • ★★ John says DFTBA grew to one employee, Kristen Franklin, who he says was the first to use the words 'French the Llama' in Nerdfighteria, during the 2009 Project for Awesome. — 00:00:58 · French the llama, Project for Awesome

00:01:27 — Punishment next week (finding a llama); merch designed by Nerdfighters; May's watercolor posters and royalties, Erin's posters, Marina's shirts

  • ★★ John says he will do his punishment next week and is trying to find a llama. — 00:01:27 · Punishment
  • ★★ John says that as DFTBA grew Hank wanted YouTubers to sell wristbands, posters and shirts and keep most proceeds, and Nerdfighter merch has always been designed by Nerdfighters. — 00:01:27 · DFTBA Records, Pizza John
  • ★★★ John found watercolor paintings with quotes from his books by Malaysian Nerdfighter May; they print posters he signs, and the royalties can support her through university and a graphic-design job search. — 00:01:56 · Tumblr
  • ★★ John announces posters from work by Erin, a 19-year-old student in California, and two shirts by college student Marina: 'Daisy Buchanan Thinks You're a Beautiful Fool' and Augustus Waters' first t-shirt. — 00:02:26

00:02:55 — DFTBA's new direction: talented people without built-in audiences making stuff that pays for college; pre-orders

  • ★ John says DFTBA connecting creators with audiences has been a big part of how he has bought diapers for a child of the brothers (and, he jokes, Alex Day's tiny jeans). (playful) — 00:02:55 · Alex Day
  • ★★★ John is excited for DFTBA Records to also become a place where talented people without built-in audiences can make things that help pay for college and travel. — 00:02:55 · DFTBA Records
  • ★★ John says it depends on demand whether this part of the business can grow, hopefully it will; the items are on pre-order at DFTBA.com. (hedged) — 00:02:55 · DFTBA Records

00:03:24 — This Star Won't Go Out shirt contest winner and Esther bracelets; business without being evil; thanks for the vote reminder; sign-off

  • ★★ John announces that 19-year-old Tatyana from Kazakhstan designed the winning This Star Won't Go Out contest shirt, now on pre-order at DFTBA.com. — 00:03:24
  • ★★ John reminds viewers they can order Esther bracelets, with proceeds going to This Star Won't Go Out, which supports children with cancer and their families. — 00:03:24
  • ★★ John calls all this their continuing attempt to build a business without being evil, hoping they are expanding in the right directions. — 00:03:24 · DFTBA Records

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