Do Businesses Need to Suck?

2012-09-25 · announcement · John · 3:54 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Projects (also: Economics) · mode: Announcements · tags: self promotion, fundraising ask, community lore

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

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

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 · capitalism
• ★★★ 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, This Star Won't Go Out (charity)
• ★★★ 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 · Hank Green, DFTBA Records
• ★★ 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, DFTBA Records

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 (the week of 1 October 2012) 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 Henry (and, he jokes, Alex Day's tiny jeans). (playful) — 00:02:55 · Henry Green, DFTBA Records
• ★★★ 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 · This Star Won't Go Out (charity), DFTBA Records
• ★★ 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 · This Star Won't Go Out (charity), Esther Earl
• ★★ 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, capitalism

Threads in this video

• looked back · DFTBA Records: founding of Hank and Alan's label for YouTube musicians (2008) — John recalls that Hank and Alan Lastufka started DFTBA Records in 2008 to give YouTube musicians most of the album proceeds, which worked really well. (00:00:29)
• callback · 'French the llama': John's misreading of FTL as an exclamation of amazement (2009) — John credits DFTBA employee Kristen Franklin with first saying 'French the Llama' in Nerdfighteria and exclaims it. (00:00:58)
• accepted · John: outstanding 2012 Kiva-deal punishment, ultimately an inkless tattoo (2012–2015) — John says he will do his punishment next week (week of 1 October 2012) and is trying to find a llama for it. (00:01:27)
• promised · John: do his punishment next week (2012) — John says he will do his punishment next week (week of 1 October 2012) and is trying to find a llama. (00:01:27)
• milestone · DFTBA posters: Nerdfighter-designed posters sold at DFTBA.com (2011) — John launches DFTBA posters and shirts by Nerdfighter artists without built-in audiences: May's watercolor posters (signed by John), Erin's posters, Marina's shirts. (00:01:56)
• asked · John invites viewers to pre-order the new Nerdfighter-artist posters and shirts at DFTBA.com (2012) — John points viewers to pre-order the new posters and shirts at DFTBA.com, link in the description. (00:02:55)
• result reported · John invites viewers to enter the This Star Won't Go Out t-shirt design contest (2012) — John announces the This Star Won't Go Out shirt contest winner, a design by 19-year-old Tatyana from Kazakhstan, now on pre-order. (00:03:24)
• reminder · John asks Nerdfighters to buy This Star Won't Go Out bracelets at DFTBA.com/Esther (2010) — John reminds viewers they can order Esther bracelets, with proceeds to This Star Won't Go Out. (00:03:24)
• restate · Can business do good, or does business have to suck? — John: DFTBA Records is their continuing attempt to build a business without being evil. (00:03:24)
• reminder · Hank asks viewers over 18 to vote for somebody in the 2012 US election (2012) — John thanks Hank for reminding him and Nerdfighteria to vote. (00:03:24) → refers to You. Must. Vote.

Where the stories that moved here went next

• John invites viewers to enter the This Star Won't Go Out t-shirt design contest (2012) — reported back; last: result reported, 2012-09-25
• John: do his punishment next week (2012) — open (no report in 2012–2026); last: promised, 2012-09-25
• John: outstanding 2012 Kiva-deal punishment, ultimately an inkless tattoo (2012–2015) — performed
• DFTBA posters: Nerdfighter-designed posters sold at DFTBA.com (2011) — last documented in 2015; last: milestone, 2015-02-17

Mentioned

Central: capitalism · DFTBA Records · May

Also: People: Alex Day · Charlie McDonnell · Elmify · Esther Earl · Henry Green · Jonathan Antoine · Kristen Franklin · Meghan Tonjes

Projects: Nerdcrafteria · Project for Awesome

Works: Augustus Waters shirt · Britain's Got Talent · Daisy Buchanan Thinks You're a Beautiful Fool shirt · Downton Abbey · Holden Caulfield Thinks You're a Phony shirt · This Star Won't Go Out shirt

Organizations: Etsy · This Star Won't Go Out (charity) · Tumblr

Groups: Driftless Pony Club

Rituals: Punishment

Terms: brain crack · French the llama · Pizza John

Concepts: royalty payment

Places: Kazakhstan

Products: Dr Pepper · iPad

Only in the description or credits: Alan Lastufka · Erin (Nerdfighter artist, mentioned from 2012) · Jonathan and Charlotte · Marina (Nerdfighter designer, mentioned from 2012) · Tatyana · Together · Valerie2776

Replies to

• continues · You. Must. Vote. — “thank you for reminding me and Nerdfighteria to vote”

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