How can I best to strike up a barter deal with an accounting firm?

[Scott T. Jensen]

I'm in the process of launching ... on a shoe string ... an international
talk show. It will be international by being the first talk show freely and
solely distributed over peer-to-peer networks (Kazaa, WinMX, etc.). Right
now, we're about to do the test shoot for it. Over the last several months,
I've been slowly building the infrastructure for the show and its production
company. To keep start up costs to as little as possible, I've struck
barter deals with an editing company, nightclub (film location), law firm,
and a PR firm. When I tried to see if I could strike a barter deal with
local accounting firms, I came up snake eyes. After posting to this
newsgroup about whether or not an out-of-state accounting firm can do the
books for a business ("Can you use out-of-state accountants?" thread) and
reading the replies, I've decided to expand my search beyond the State of
Wisconsin. What I'd appreciate is your thoughts on the following pitch
letter I've sent to Wisconsin accounting firms. Needless to say, it wasn't
successful. However, a variation of it was successful when approaching
editing, law, and PR companies and nightclubs. Here it is:

"Dear John Doe, President of John Doe Accounting Firm,

I am about to launch a talk show and am looking for an accounting firm that
would be interested in trading their services for advertising on the show.

The advertising offered is a plug as the show's accounting firm at the end
of each episode. The plug would be a still-frame ad that would show your
company's name/logo, website address, and if you like, company slogan and/or
an appropriate photograph (for example, a photo of your staff or exterior of
your building). I, being the show's host, would do the voice-over.
Additionally, the fifth episode would be "The Making of..." episode and you
would be profiled on it and discussion would be done with someone from your
firm about the accounting needs of the show.

The show itself is a panel discussion show which interviews three guests
that have the same interesting/unusual job, business, accomplishment, and/or
subculture. It will be freely and solely distributed over peer-to-peer
networks (Kazaa, Grokster, WinMX, etc.) and thus international from the
start. If you would like to know more about the show, its website is:
www.scottjensenshow.com

If this interests you, please contact me. If you have any questions, reply
and I'll do my best to answer them. If you would like to talk over the
telephone, my number is 608-836-0706.

Sincerely yours,
Scott Jensen
P2P Productions"

Naturally, if this would interest your accounting firm, I'd love to hear
from you. Otherwise, do you have any suggestions on how the email could be
improved to make it more appealing to accounting firms?

Scott Jensen

 

[Digital]

I'm in the process of launching ... on a shoe string ... an international
talk show. It will be international by being the first talk show freely and
solely distributed over peer-to-peer networks (Kazaa, WinMX, etc.). Right
now, we're about to do the test shoot for it. Over the last several months,
I've been slowly building the infrastructure for the show and its production
company. To keep start up costs to as little as possible, I've struck
barter deals with an editing company, nightclub (film location), law firm,
and a PR firm. When I tried to see if I could strike a barter deal with
local accounting firms, I came up snake eyes. After posting to this
newsgroup about whether or not an out-of-state accounting firm can do the
books for a business ("Can you use out-of-state accountants?" thread) and
reading the replies, I've decided to expand my search beyond the State of
Wisconsin. What I'd appreciate is your thoughts on the following pitch
letter I've sent to Wisconsin accounting firms. Needless to say, it wasn't
successful. However, a variation of it was successful when approaching
editing, law, and PR companies and nightclubs. Here it is:

"Dear John Doe, President of John Doe Accounting Firm,

I am about to launch a talk show and am looking for an accounting firm that
would be interested in trading their services for advertising on the show.

The advertising offered is a plug as the show's accounting firm at the end
of each episode. The plug would be a still-frame ad that would show your
company's name/logo, website address, and if you like, company slogan and/or
an appropriate photograph (for example, a photo of your staff or exterior of
your building). I, being the show's host, would do the voice-over.
Additionally, the fifth episode would be "The Making of..." episode and you
would be profiled on it and discussion would be done with someone from your
firm about the accounting needs of the show.

The show itself is a panel discussion show which interviews three guests
that have the same interesting/unusual job, business, accomplishment, and/or
subculture. It will be freely and solely distributed over peer-to-peer
networks (Kazaa, Grokster, WinMX, etc.) and thus international from the
start. If you would like to know more about the show, its website is:
www.scottjensenshow.com

If this interests you, please contact me. If you have any questions, reply
and I'll do my best to answer them. If you would like to talk over the
telephone, my number is 608-836-0706.

Sincerely yours,
Scott Jensen
P2P Productions"

Naturally, if this would interest your accounting firm, I'd love to hear
from you. Otherwise, do you have any suggestions on how the email could be
improved to make it more appealing to accounting firms?

Scott Jensen

I think most accounting firms like real money and real clients (not the
pirated p2p kind)
but do you really think somebody is going to download your "show" among all
the music, porn, viruses, etc.? perhaps if you are like the "naked news"!
my guess is you don't have cable and don't realize the world needs another
talk show like another ......

 

[Paul]

I'm in the process of launching ... on a shoe string ... an international
talk show. It will be international by being the first talk show freely and
solely distributed over peer-to-peer networks (Kazaa, WinMX, etc.). Right
now, we're about to do the test shoot for it. Over the last several months,
I've been slowly building the infrastructure for the show and its production
company. To keep start up costs to as little as possible, I've struck
barter deals with an editing company, nightclub (film location), law firm,
and a PR firm. When I tried to see if I could strike a barter deal with
local accounting firms, I came up snake eyes. After posting to this
newsgroup about whether or not an out-of-state accounting firm can do the
books for a business ("Can you use out-of-state accountants?" thread) and
reading the replies, I've decided to expand my search beyond the State of
Wisconsin. What I'd appreciate is your thoughts on the following pitch
letter I've sent to Wisconsin accounting firms. Needless to say, it wasn't
successful. However, a variation of it was successful when approaching
editing, law, and PR companies and nightclubs. Here it is:

"Dear John Doe, President of John Doe Accounting Firm,

I am about to launch a talk show and am looking for an accounting firm that
would be interested in trading their services for advertising on the show.

AS I see things, there is little to no value in advertising to a potential
audiance that isn't near the accounting firm and in all respect wouldn't use
the accounting firm for their accounting or tax matters.

The advertising offered is a plug as the show's accounting firm at the end
of each episode. The plug would be a still-frame ad that would show your
company's name/logo, website address, and if you like, company slogan and/or
an appropriate photograph (for example, a photo of your staff or exterior of
your building). I, being the show's host, would do the voice-over.
Additionally, the fifth episode would be "The Making of..." episode and you
would be profiled on it and discussion would be done with someone from your
firm about the accounting needs of the show.

The show itself is a panel discussion show which interviews three guests
that have the same interesting/unusual job, business, accomplishment, and/or
subculture. It will be freely and solely distributed over peer-to-peer
networks (Kazaa, Grokster, WinMX, etc.) and thus international from the
start. If you would like to know more about the show, its website is:
www.scottjensenshow.com

If this interests you, please contact me. If you have any questions, reply
and I'll do my best to answer them. If you would like to talk over the
telephone, my number is 608-836-0706.

Sincerely yours,
Scott Jensen
P2P Productions"

Naturally, if this would interest your accounting firm, I'd love to hear
from you. Otherwise, do you have any suggestions on how the email could be
improved to make it more appealing to accounting firms?

You haven't defined what services you need the accounting form to do. That
would place a value on the services rendered, and if it doesn't fit the
perceived value of the advertising given, then you'll never find anyone.

Potential accounting services can be very broad, very time consuming, and
very heavy on risk for the accounting firm. You can literally burn up tens
of thousands of billable hours for what, a 15 or 30 second spot to
potentially be seen by an unquantitative audience that very likely may never
become clients.

 

[Scott T. Jensen]

I think most accounting firms like real money and real clients
(not the pirated p2p kind)

There will nothing pirated about the show or production company.
Peer-to-peer networking is simply an new form of distribution. People can
freely download and distribute it. It's only "pirated" if the rights holder
doesn't want it distributed on p2p networks.

but do you really think somebody is going to download your
"show" among all the music, porn, viruses, etc.?

No, I don't think they will at all. That's why I'm launching it. *Scott
rolls his eyes.*

perhaps if you are like the "naked news"!

Nope, it won't be that type of show.

my guess is you don't have cable and don't realize the world
needs another talk show like another ......

Accounting firm? ;-)

Scott Jensen

 

[Scott T. Jensen]

AS I see things, there is little to no value in advertising to
a potential audiance that isn't near the accounting firm and
in all respect wouldn't use the accounting firm for their
accounting or tax matters.

Many PR firms used to take that same position but that's changed now with
the internet. From the "Can you use out-of-state accountants?" thread, I
got the feeling that's now starting to happen with accounting firms as well.

You haven't defined what services you need the accounting
form to do. That would place a value on the services
rendered, and if it doesn't fit the perceived value of the
advertising given, then you'll never find anyone.

Potential accounting services can be very broad, very time
consuming, and very heavy on risk for the accounting firm.
You can literally burn up tens of thousands of billable hours
for what, a 15 or 30 second spot to potentially be seen by
an unquantitative audience that very likely may never
become clients.

What would be reasonable accounting services to ask for with such a barter
deal?

Scott Jensen

 

[NickKnight]

I'm in the process of launching ... on a shoe string ... an international
talk show. It will be international by being the first talk show freely and
solely distributed over peer-to-peer networks (Kazaa, WinMX, etc.).

As someone who has been listening to talk radio for many years
on conventional radio why would you want to go this route?

Why not go with streaming audio from a web site?

I worked in radio years ago and have been following talk radio for
many years. I never use Kazaa or similar services because
of copyright issues, the fact that I have a static IP address,
and the problems with spyware on Kazaa.

How are you going to differentiat between a legit
talk radio show and one that is effectively an
info-merical?

I've always considered info mercials on radio to
be a hundred times sleazier than on TV, so is
this show a legit show or just an infomerical?




--------------------------------------------
"It took us 15 years to McGyver this thing."
-------------------------Carter on Stargate

To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from
my e-mail address.

 

[NickKnight]

I think most accounting firms like real money and real clients (not the
pirated p2p kind)
but do you really think somebody is going to download your "show" among all
the music, porn, viruses, etc.? perhaps if you are like the "naked news"!
my guess is you don't have cable and don't realize the world needs another
talk show like another ......

Actually the world does need more talk shows. Some of the best
talk show hosts (Gene Burns) are not heard in most of the country.
And then there is the late Jerry Williams.

There are many talk show hosts out there now, very few of
them rise to the level of a Gene Burns.
..

--------------------------------------------
"It took us 15 years to McGyver this thing."
-------------------------Carter on Stargate

To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from
my e-mail address.

 

[Paul]

Many PR firms used to take that same position but that's changed now with
the internet. From the "Can you use out-of-state accountants?" thread, I
got the feeling that's now starting to happen with accounting firms as

well.

The risks (especially today) that I'll miss something with my German
accounting client is HIGH. The reality that I'll make enough from new
clients to cover all the potential time I may slend on you is slim.

What would be reasonable accounting services to ask for with such a barter
deal?

YOU need to determine what you want (for 'free') and be willing (and able)
to pay for anything beyond that.

This type of deal doesn't carry any value for me, and I doubt it would for
many firms.

Maybe down the road when you have some track record, a history of downloads,
viewer demographics, etc. that the exposure from this type of advertising
spot can carry some value.

 

[Scott T. Jensen]

As someone who has been listening to talk radio for many
years on conventional radio why would you want to go
this route?

Why not go with streaming audio from a web site?

It's not a audio-only (radio) talk show but an audio-visual (television)
talk show.

I worked in radio years ago and have been following
talk radio for many years. I never use Kazaa or similar
services because of copyright issues...

As I (the rights owner) am allowing the show to be freely downloaded and
distributed, there's no copyright issues as far as my show is concerned.

...the fact that I have a static IP address...

As long as you download and distribute stuff that their creators allow you
to download and distribute, there should be no concern about being possibly
track down since you're not doing anything which some government might
consider to be illegal.

and the problems with spyware on Kazaa.

I mentioned Kazaa as it is a well-known file-sharing program. At the show's
website, we recommend WinMX for PC and Overnet for Macs. Neither has
spyware or adware.

How are you going to differentiat between a legit
talk radio show and one that is effectively an
info-merical?

I've always considered info mercials on radio to
be a hundred times sleazier than on TV, so is
this show a legit show or just an infomerical?

The show will not be selling anything to its viewers. It just a panel
discussion talk show.

Scott Jensen

 

[NickKnight]

It's not a audio-only (radio) talk show but an audio-visual (television)
talk show.

Then it isn't really a "talk" show, talk is a radio based "audio"
program, not to be confused with the trash that is on TV.

The show will not be selling anything to its viewers. It just a panel
discussion talk show.

Then maybe you're attempting to use the wrong media. When I
think of talk I think radio. When I think talk and TV I consider
junk like Jerry Springer or some info mercial neither which
I watch. I also don't download stuff from the internet becase
of time constraints, space limitations, etc.


--------------------------------------------
"It took us 15 years to McGyver this thing."
-------------------------Carter on Stargate

To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from
my e-mail address.

 

[John M.]

Then it isn't really a "talk" show, talk is a radio based "audio"
program, not to be confused with the trash that is on TV.

Then maybe you're attempting to use the wrong media. When I
think of talk I think radio. When I think talk and TV I consider
junk like Jerry Springer or some info mercial neither which
I watch. I also don't download stuff from the internet becase
of time constraints, space limitations, etc.

right, nobody is going to search for his talk show to download off Kazaa or
whatever p2p he connects to, it's just not going to happen. but it sounds
like he hasn't put a lot of money into it so it's probably not going to be a
(financially) painful learning experience.

 

[Scott T. Jensen]

Then it isn't really a "talk" show, talk is a radio based "audio"
program, not to be confused with the trash that is on TV.

"Oprah", "Larry King Live", "Meet the Press", and so forth are trash TV?

Then maybe you're attempting to use the wrong media.

Peer-to-peer networking is just another distribution system. That's all.

When I think of talk I think radio. When I think talk and
TV I consider junk like Jerry Springer or some info mercial
neither which I watch.

That's fine. Different distribution systems attract different people.

I also don't download stuff from the internet becase of time
constraints, space limitations, etc.

I understand that. I'm expecting only those with high-speed internet
connections (DSL, cable modem, etc.) and computers with large hard drives to
be possible downloaders of my show. Currently in the US, there's 50 million
that are this and regularly download off of peer-to-peer networks.

Scott Jensen

 

[Bob]

"Oprah", "Larry King Live", "Meet the Press", and so forth are trash TV?


Peer-to-peer networking is just another distribution system. That's all.


That's fine. Different distribution systems attract different people.


I understand that. I'm expecting only those with high-speed internet
connections (DSL, cable modem, etc.) and computers with large hard drives to
be possible downloaders of my show. Currently in the US, there's 50 million
that are this and regularly download off of peer-to-peer networks.

Scott Jensen

do a "packet dump" on what's being downloaded!!! there are probably
000's of websites /weblogs doing something like this and a whole lot easier
than trying to find something on a p2p network. however with "bartering"
and no real cash revenue you may find the bookkeeping easier than you
thought!

 

[Jim Hudspeth]

"Oprah", "Larry King Live", "Meet the Press", and so forth are trash TV?


Peer-to-peer networking is just another distribution system. That's all.


That's fine. Different distribution systems attract different people.


I understand that. I'm expecting only those with high-speed internet
connections (DSL, cable modem, etc.) and computers with large hard drives
to
be possible downloaders of my show. Currently in the US, there's 50
million that are this and regularly download off of peer-to-peer networks.

Scott Jensen

Scott,

You're chasing yourself in a circle in this thread.

The reality is that accountants (at least the ones I know) see little real
benefit to accountants from advertising. Paul attempted to point this out
earlier in the thread.

Also, as a general practice, I avoid barter, as do many of my peers. I'm
not interested in arguing about it, or "justifying" my view. I just don't
want to do it.

Jim

 

[Peter Saxton]

No, I don't think they will at all. That's why I'm launching it. *Scott
rolls his eyes.*

I think the point he is trying to make is that your judgement is
wrong.

 

[NickKnight]

"Oprah", "Larry King Live", "Meet the Press", and so forth are trash TV?

This falls under the duck rule. If it looks like a duck quacks like a
duck it is a duck. I would not consider Larry King or Oprah to be a
a serious talk show. Meet the press is essentially a propoganda
excersize.

Peer-to-peer networking is just another distribution system. That's all.

Distribution system for a show that sounds an awful lot like spam.

And this show sounds an awful lot like spam.


--------------------------------------------
"It took us 15 years to McGyver this thing."
-------------------------Carter on Stargate

To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from
my e-mail address.

 

[NickKnight]

do a "packet dump" on what's being downloaded!!! there are probably
000's of websites /weblogs doing something like this and a whole lot easier
than trying to find something on a p2p network. however with "bartering"
and no real cash revenue you may find the bookkeeping easier than you
thought!

I for one am not going to barter for a show that is essentially spam.
If I want spam I'll check my e-mail.....;


--------------------------------------------
"It took us 15 years to McGyver this thing."
-------------------------Carter on Stargate

To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from
my e-mail address.

 

[Scott T. Jensen]

Distribution system for a show that sounds an awful lot like
spam.

And this show sounds an awful lot like spam.

How is my show and the way it is distributed spam?

Scott Jensen

 

[Paul A Thomas]

As Jim said earlier, it's high time to give it a rest.

 

[Christopher Browne]

Naturally, if this would interest your accounting firm, I'd love to hear
from you. Otherwise, do you have any suggestions on how the email could be
improved to make it more appealing to accounting firms?

It is unlikely that you can make your more-or-less-spam any more
appealing to accounting firms than it already is.

It surely looks like a MLM/Spam scheme, and the only way to "improve"
your chances would be to claim it's something else, but that wouldn't
help much, as it would make you look dishonest, and after the Arthur
Andersen fiasco, accountants aren't likely much interested in that,
either.
--
(reverse (concatenate 'string "ac.notelrac.teneerf" "@" "454aa"))
http://www.ntlug.org/~cbbrowne/linuxdistributions.html
Rules of the Evil Overlord #69. "All midwives will be banned from the
realm. All babies will be delivered at state-approved
hospitals. Orphans will be placed in foster-homes, not abandoned in
the woods to be raised by creatures of the wild."
<http://www.eviloverlord.com/>