Digital Dish

I’ve talked in the past about the layers in Hollywood, and how hard it can be to do business in the market because of them. I don’t mean at the executive level or the production end (even though the smallest shoot can be a nightmare). Every single person I’ve worked with or met in those places has never been anything but awesome. Thankfully, many are now friends.

In fact, I just shipped a custom gift basket from Dean & Deluca.com to somebody. She’s not in the same market as my show is in, but she’s been a good ally and a friend in the business.

The harder part has been that I’m still wading through a lot of how things work and in the moving, sometimes high-risk water that makes up the industry. It’s meant some things that have gone well and some that haven’t. What I’ve noticed among everything that it’s more important to know the right people for what you want to do.

There are a lot of people who aren’t what they say they are, or won’t do what they say they will, and with a lot of moving parts in a project there are a lot of people involved.

You have to have not just the right pieces, but the right access, too.

It’s a lot to get your arms around, and at times it can be a little maddening. I’ve been lucky that my production partner is incredible. Though we’ve had to navigate through some organic troubles here and there along the way, we’ve recovered pretty quickly and efficiently.

To me, some turmoil’s going to happen. It’s all about how you handle it.

That’s risk aversion, something that has become a big part of my mindset and process these days. I’m an investor in the projects I’m involved in and I want to see them successful. But I'm also learning that it’s not just the idea that sells but so much more. As an entrepreneur, I want to build things as close to what will make them move as possible. It’s been a learning experience.

It’s funny, but a lot of the issues that have come up have been the result of people versus anything else.

In Internet business, you’re not quite as dependent on outside sources or who you work with. A good developer, a good idea, and you’re about there. Even if you’re larger, the elements of the process are still relatively smaller compared to your average production.

When it comes to a TV show, it’s another story. It makes who you know really important.