Geekonomics and the Spontaneity Economy

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I've been looking at the world of geekonomics and fannish economics – of video games, anime, movies, sports, and of course, online transactions.

As I write this I've been watching some things I found casually on Netflix, using our X-box (cheesy movie trailers, if you must know).  I was watching them spontaneously.  Come to think of it, I'd maintain my Netflix and X-box subscription just for these opportunities.

Or perhaps we can turn our attention to my gaming habits.  A few demos on the X-box are always amusing, and purchases are cheap.  I've enjoyed many Wii games for only a few dollars.  Best of all, things are not only easy to get but cheap.  A bad purchase is only a few dollars lost.

Very, very easy to be spontaneous.  In fact it's never been easier for so many to get so much so quickly and so easily (if I may wax poetic).

We've got an increased spontaneity economy.  I expect it to increase as well – e-books, web comics, downloadable comics, etc.  Everything is easier and easier to get to – or even try it out.

What does this mean?

  • Demographics are going to get harder.  Spontaneity can distort studies and information on purchasing populations (and it may make long tail calculations harder).
  • Questions of initial sales.  Are initial sales of a product going to be all that reflective?
  • Questions of reason for interest.  Was someone interested in a purchase or was it just easy.
  • Questions of reimbursement.  When spontaneity plays a large (or potentially large) role in the purchasing decisions of people, what is the best way to reimburse producers or share profits?
  • Questions of marketing.  How much did your marketing pay off?  How will you know.
  • Questions of durability.  How easy is retention of an audience when the new shiny things are so easily accessible?

Welcome to the spontaneity economy.

– Steven Savage

A look at Queen City Kamikaze

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Part of my continuing series on ways to add more fan-to-pro content at conventions.  The roundup is here.

I made the acquaintance of the head of Queen City Kamikaze, a new anime-and-more convention in New Hampshire, while doing my usual convention research.  Set at a local high school (easy space, easy promotion), it's a new convention that promises to have a lot of fan-to-pro content, so I want to spotlight it.

What's up for QCK?

First, bringing in local talent to speak on career and related subjects.  The focus at QCK is to make sure that local people are there to produce more community involvement, sense of connection – and of course to give local talent it's due. One of the sponsors is even a local company with a national reach – they do GAMER Soda, and are a small-business success story.

Second, the convention is looking at an actual job fair.  This is a formative idea, but the hope is that local business and representatives may be interested in recruiting and/or speaking on jobs.

Third, art schools and similar local educational institutions are being invited to speak specifically on careers and classes involved.  This is designed to both promote them, and to give people a chance to learn more about career options.

QCK looks like they're mastering the art of recruiting and promoting locally, and getting both businesses, schools, and individuals involved.  The convention happens February 13th, 2010.  They're new.  They've got good ideas.  Go and attend – in fact, as I post this, there's still enough time to sign up and help . .  .

– Steven Savage

News of the Day 9/29/2009

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Career:
Tips on how a recruitment agency can help you – Good advice. I'd also note that recruiting agencies are good for long-term networking, and you meet some pretty interesting people.

Economics/Freakonomics/Geekonomics:
Japan in a deflationary spiral – Beyond the usual bad news, this may at least keep people aware of what can happen to other countries.

There are how many Starbucks near your office? A nice example of what is probably going to get hammered in the consumer cuts – some places have serious luxury coffee density.

Media:
Rights for Terminator may be in the air. Again – A good cautionary tale about the ownership – and handoff – of media properties. The kind of thing you want to be aware of because if you work in fannish areas like media, such legal acrobatics are things you'll see.

Publishing:
Sony's eBook Store adds self-publishing tools – With a better cut for the author than Amazon, some possible deals with Scribd, and these new tools? Sony's certainly making highly aggressive moves in the e-book arena. This is good news for tech people and authors/publishers – though it's also something else to keep track of your your career.

According to a survey, 72% of publishers are looking for new business models – With additional information for you, the writer/publisher/editor/etc. to chew over.

Social Media:
A bit of sports geekery: What sports team social media can teach you about policy – A few lessons and a neat example of learning from your hobby. Also the New England Patriots have made Facebook their social media home base.

Technology:
More on the iPad – Which does seem to be a big iPhone. The source seems reliable. I'm not sure this is going to get much interest at the supposed 1 grand price tag, but it sounds like Apple is giving themselves time to market it.

Video Games:
There are 254 institutions with video game courses, in 37 states – So start doing that research for your career. While you're at it, perhaps you might get some time in teaching at one of these . . .

Funcom cut's 20% of it's staff – Sad. I guess Age of Conan didn't help them, but still.

The new Star Trek Blu-Ray has unlockable costumes for the Star Trek MMO – There's some interesting synergy there. Not sure if it's going to have any major benefit, but an interesting idea to observe.

What's up with SquareEnix? (SquareEdiosnix?) They're apparently aiming for layoffs (A 200-300 person job cut) and also claim they'll double profits in the next five years. No idea here, though I doubt Square Enix is going to do as well as they expect without major efforts and reorging (which may be part of the layoffs), and expanding/ensuring market reach. At least you know now not to go sending resumes for a bit.

– Steven Savage