I need to understand this because is see this as a business model worth paying for.


Is it because Blazetrack charges money for something you (who disagree)feel should be free?


Brian et al, two very important and relevant to this conversation concepts I've taken away from here is... "it's not about who you know but who knows you", and no one wants to be a "ghermer" because that is a sure way to oblivion.


But people WANT and NEED these connections, and WANT and NEED to put their work in front of the right people.


Here is a service that uses the internet and the "excess time" of industry professionals to connect two people. This infrastructure takes money to set up, and the industry professionals who agree to provide their time, knowledge, experience etc deserve to be paid.


Now if we look at the "old way", these meetings are done face to face, via introductions, because someone stakes their reputation on that introduction. Even under the "old way" the talentless or as yet "underexposed with a small fan" base had no chance to be heard by the pros because no one would be willing to sponsor them.


Moreover, the "industry" also runs on favours, so someone's introduction always came with some expectation of quid pro quo.


So here BT facilitates the introduction, and no one needs a sponsor, just a very reasonable sum of money gets them exposure to the right kinds of people OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING.


There's also a deeper and more subtle "wrong" in demanding this to be free, or condemning it because it is not.


Just because some people offer up their services for free does not mean everybody has to. Just because you can get Open Office for free does not mean Microsoft has to give their software away. Just because I participate in free tax clinics for the elderly does not mean that when I do charge for that service that I am somehow unethical.


The beauty of free enterprise is that you can try to develop a business model that generates a profit. It means employment, and money keeps circulating, and it stimulates the economy. But it also means you may fail. It is really the consumer who will decide.


Here BT provides a service that not only connects someone to an industry professional where the talent stands on its own merits, but it does so cheaply (save air fare, hotels, time, effort) and effectively.


And Brian, just because JPF is free does not mean everything has to be. Your model is entirely different from BT. Folks connect here, and mentors gather here because they want to, and BECAUSE IT SERVES THEIR PURPOSES. You have a marketing background. You and I both know the world runs on "what is in it for me".


For example, I think Marc is an awesome person, generous, knowledgeable, talented etc, but if you ask him to be honest about why he's here, one of his top three reasons is "because I run a business in Nashville and this is cheap exposure for me". You may think this is selfish, but I'm betting it's the truth and I respect him for being smart in his business.


You do this JPF gig because it exposes you to the industry, and you are building a legacy in the business. It opens doors for you, and you get to mingle with people in the businesses. You don't do it for money but for ego...to be remembered as an internet community pioneer and the founder of a great on line organization. It gave you the opportunity to travel and meet "the industry" and accomplish an initial goal you had...to write a somg with a musician from every one of the US states.


Should we condemn you for these "selfish reasons"? Just because your "currency" is not cash, does that make your reason somehow more noble?


Not charging for a service is a choice and sometimes it is a strategic choice made for business or personal reasons. But that does not mean that charging for it is unethical.






If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop