3 years ago I needed about $50,000 to take my business to the next level, so when I heard Dragon’s Den was coming to Vancouver (my home then) I decided to audition.
Suffice it to say, they scorched me! I didn’t make the show — but it was a worthwhile experience, and nothing ventured, nothing gained, non?
So now they’re coming to Yellowknife (and I STILL REMEMBER THE EXCEPTIONALLY MEAN PRODUCER WHO HARANGUED AUDITIONED ME and I kept my “MEAN PEOPLE SUCK” t-shirt for PRECISELY THE DAY WE’D MEET AGAIN.) (oops. pardon me. I digress).
So now they’re coming to Yellowknife and I hear a few good folks are giving it a shot. Here are the tips I gleaned after I recovered from my char-ring:
If you have it in you to be an entrepreneur, you have it in you to pitch to them. So if you’re on the fence about auditioning, get off the fence and go for it.
Remember this is first and foremost *a TV show*, meant to entertain and draw a viewing audience, not first and foremost a reasonable forum in which to obtain venture capital. Don’t expect it to be like a livelier version of a conversation with your banker. It’s an entirely different beast. Again: they’re seeking entertainment value.
You may get ripped to shreds. I was (my biggest mistake: asking too little). I held it together, admirably I thought, through the experience itself, but on the walk home, it was a whole other story, let me tell you. Thank God for cell phones and friends and daschunds who love me in all circumstances. If you get scorched, you’re in good company, not just with me, but thousands of other Canadians with the guts to give it a shot. (Call me. I’ll buy you a beer in sympathy.)
In my opinion, the investors are looking for:
Tangible goods (I don’t know this, I’ve just noticed on TV folks are showing Goods, not Services)
That you’ve personally invested (if you haven’t, why should they?)
That you’ve already made a fair number of sales (gives a clue that people actually want your stuff)
That you come across as a good business person, not simply someone who’s clever enough to have invented a new product
A product that’s scalable, fast. They want to make a quick return on their investment, not slowly build up a company
Their website spells a lot out, so spend a lot of time there.
The experience will force you to clarify a number of key components of a good business. If nothing else, that’s always a good thing. And if you make it to the show — WOW! — getting the investment is only the icing on the cake. That kind of exposure, even if they publicly humiliate grill you will probably yield good things.
The last bit of my story is this: on the same day, a pal of mine made his pitch for a sweet little tool kit. He got turned down the first time he auditioned, but the second time, he took it all.the.way – got over $500,000 plus Debbie Travis promised to market it.
It was brought to my attention that CBC’s hit show Dragon’s Den announced the dates it will be coming to Yellowknife. A couple weeks ago CBC announced that it would be coming to Yellowknife but didn’t release the dates. Read all about it in the press release below.
Do you have a hot new invention or the next million-dollar idea? Think you have the money-making chops to take on the savviest business tycoons in the country? Then DRAGONS’ DEN wants to hear from you!
The DRAGONS’ DEN production team will be in Yellowknife scouting for Season Six of the hit series on CBC Television. The show gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of wealthy Canadian moguls for the chance to earn real cash and real investment – from the Dragons’ own pockets!
Open auditions are taking place on Thursday, March 25th from noon – 7 pm at the Yellowknife Inn, 5010 49th St, in the Zinc Room.
No experience is necessary – just be ready to pitch your business in under five minutes. If you can convince producers you’re ready for the limelight, you could be invited to face Dragons when the upcoming season is filmed in Toronto.
And as extra incentive this year — entrepreneurs with an eco-friendly business, invention or idea could qualify for a $100,000 Greenvention prize from Sun Chips.
Please apply online starting March 1st and bring your completed application form to the auditions. More details can be found on the show’s website at http://cbc.ca/dragonsden.
DRAGONS’ DEN airs on CBC Television at 8 pm Wednesday nights. Full episodes and web extras can be viewed on the DRAGONS’ DEN website.
Knowing a fair number of people in this town, I know this is an excellent opportunity. We here in Yellowknife are privileged to have so many bright minds living among us. If you think you have what it takes to be on the show or know someone who should be make sure you’re at the auditions.
Text “Vote Yellowknife” to 111888 (15 cent per message, limit 25 per day)
If Yellowknife comes away with the top spot we will win $100,000, Title and Trophy, and we’ll host a pre-season NHL game in the Short Brown Arena. If all we make is into the top 5, we will still be bringing home some goods. The 4 remaining communities in the top 5 will bring home $25,000 and a visit from CBC’s hockey night in Canada.
Yellowknife several years ago hosted CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada, which was an awesome experience when I was a kid. So lets give the kids of today’s Yellowknife the same kind of experience and get Hockeyville to Yellowknife. Voting is easy and you can vote as much as you want (except text messaging) so going now and support Yellowknife
There is just something about Rick Mercer that will make you laugh, and no it isn’t his towering height of 3 feet. His openness to say what is on his mind is what we often need to cheer us up.
I stumbled upon this video today from when Mercer visited Yellowknife 5 years ago. Watching it made me think “My, Yellowknife has changed”. There are several things throughout the video I’m sure you’ll notice that are different in 2010. We no longer have an abundance of Caribou or Japanese, the Snowcastle has grown and the weather is a wee bit warmer. Whether it is less or more the one thing that hasn’t changed it Yellowknife as a community, we continue to have an upbeat spirit. We have continues festivals and events happening. This is part of the reason I love Yellowknife.
I think everyone show take a look at Mr. Mercer’s video and have a laugh as we begin the weekend.
As I have been mentioning for the last couple weeks, Folk on the Rocks has been in a race for #1. The competition is to become the #1 Music Festival in Canada. The festival that wins, will receive bragging rights and will have CBC Radio come to the festival and broadcast live. Our festival has come along way, making it through to the top 80, top 40, top 20, and then to the top 10.
Unfortunately Folk on the Rocks is not number one. We are very proud of the festival for making it that far. It is still amazing. No matter where the festival placed we hear in Yellowknife will still think it is #1. Even though it is not #1 in Canada it is still going to an amazing 2010 festival. The festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary and there is nothing that will detour us from celebrating the Musical Festivities.
Many of us have been campaigning for votes a lot and at times I felt as though I might have been pushing a little to hard. Then again passion for a community is a powerful thing. Did you vote for Folk on the Rocks? What do you think of the Folk on the Rocks festival? Although I am very positive, I’m sure not everyone is the same. Is there something you don’t like about the festival that you think can be improved?
The North’s beloved folk festival, Folk on the Rocks, has made it into the Top 10 Best Music Festivals in Canada. THey are more than pleased with this and what to thank the community for rallying behind them and voting. The festival has so far gone through 3 rounds, top 80, top 40, and top 20, and on its way to becoming number 1. That is why we are sending out this one last plea for votes. Voting is simple and helpful, do so here: http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote.
This year marks 30 years of Folk on the Rocks and regardless of a win this year promises to be one not to be missed. Planning is already underway for the festival, which is scheduled for July 16-18, 2010.
“Folk on the Rocks is honoured to have made it to the final round of voting,” said Board
President, Claudia Haas. “This community has really rallied behind us and we can’t thank
them enough!”
If you want to see Folk on the Rocks become number one in Canada vote now and vote everyday (http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote). If you need help voting we have created this step-by-step guide on how to do it. Voting is opening until Tuesday, March 9th, at 6pm and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 10th at 12pm by Grant Lawrence on CBC Radio 3. Go Now!
I have encouraged everyone to vote, everyday, for Folk on the Rocks to become the best festival in Canada. Well your support is showing, the festival in now in the Top 20! This upcoming festival will be the 30th anniversary of the festival, so to be the best in Canada would really be something.
Wouldn’t it be great for not only the festival, but Yellowknife collectively if it did become the best in Canada. It would! We still need to beat out the other 19 festivals, so make sure you head to http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/searchlight/vote and vote EVERYDAY!
I received an e-mail before lunch today, letting me know that our very own folk festival, Folk on the Rocks, has made it to the Top 40 in the CBC Radio 3 Searchlight 2010. This is awesome news, but it is not over yet. FOTR still needs your help to become number 1 in Canada. They are asking everyone that has ever attended, played at, listen too, been a apart of or just lives/lived in Yellowknife to head over the CBC Radio 3 website and vote. Not once, but everyday!
At about 11:30am this morning the jury came out from 12 hours of deliberating with a verdict to the RCMP Murder Trail happening here in Yellowknife. The jury has convicted Emrah Bulatci of first-degree murder, after shooting Const. Christopher Worden in 2007.
You can find more information out on the CBC North site.
Emrah Bulatci, 25, was charged in the shooting death of Const. Christopher Worden in Hay River on Oct. 6, 2007.
The courtroom gasped after the verdict was announced. Bulatci bowed his head and cried.
Readers, those of you in Yellowknife and out, what are your thoughts on not only Bulatci’s actions but the process as well? Leave your thoughts below.
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