How to secure projects?

Dupont 9 months ago We want to make sure that project owners are genuine and not just posting projects for the fun of it and then changing their minds later on. Currently, you can change everything in a project after you have created it. This has the obvious disadvantage of allowing the project owner to cut the prize after there are participants. However, as the project owner hasn't paid anything before creating the project, this could be the case anyway no matter what the project states. Now, an obvious way to combat this problem would be to have the project owner hand over the prize money before creating the project. That, however, creates a greater risk for the project owner. What does he do if he does not like any of the participants work? When should the deadline be? We really want your feedback for this problem. Cheers!

Luke Bredin 9 months ago Well if you guys had a central pot of some kind that the money is handed over to so minimun noise is like looking after it in a way? Then the project owner could possibly still change the deadline if he doesnt like the work that is being produced by getting in contact with you and letting you know the deadline has changed? or work something along them lines. Basicaly it will still work as it is but the money is handed over into a central pot at the begining?

D.O.R 9 months ago I aggree with speach5. The best option is to create a central with someone (minimun noise?) that controls both sides. When the winner is chosen he sends his work in quality audio file to the central, the project creater send the money to the central. Then the central checks and validates both sides and sends the money and the files to them. The problem with the project owner changing prizes and deadlines could also be controlled by this central. They would have to ask permission to change anything, and only the central could authorize it. Another problem is that by doing this maybe some project owners would just cancel the deal, but I believe that's something that happens in any kind of business.

R.A.W. 9 months ago About the prize cut situation: how about to just forbid changes to the prize as soon as there is at least one participant in the project? Let the project owner change everything he wants, but when the first upload was done by another member, he can't change it anymore without having to contact you guys and ask for permission.

tom_cusack 9 months ago I think that the website shouldn't have itself advertised as a 'competition'. It cheapens the idea of what its about. I read about this website in Computer Music Magazine and I was expecting it to be more professional. I mean it in the most constructive way possible (please read this is the nicest of tones!) But I think if you want to attract a more commercial following, then you have to compete with the 'Music House' teams who have people doing the same the people here but are paying thousands more. I think as a company you should go to businesses and say 'Look.. your about to invest £10,000 in an advertising campaign, why not come here for £7,500", they would be mad not to! From my experience, I've been in places time and again, where I'll be briefed with what the company wants (say a 30 second piece of music) and they want it for 3 days time. They will have 10 people submit their work and the best will get picked. You have to be the best of the best and you may not get paid. But the idea is exactly the same here! Why cheapen the business model, by comparing it to a competition when you ought to be trying to be a middle-man for businesses getting their money! This is where you get a big slice of the cake yourself (5% commission - you do the maths). Plus being online you can get advertising. All I'm saying is that being online gives you the leg over the London Advertising Music House's, you have musicians ALL over the world, and your delivering the music to their door. You want a guarantee that the artist will get their money? Well to be fair the money should be wired via 'Minimum Noise', that's where you get your commission I suppose! But imagine if you manage to get a great working relationship with BBC making themes, for example - they aren't going to mess you around! There is always going to be music needing to be written! If you make your image up-market and get the big guns in, there are so many fully competent artists just waiting for it! Hope you acknowledge my points, as you have a great business model here - just develop it for god's sake. Your not a charity doing $1 deals your a business, harass the power! Tom (Sorry for the lecture, think I got a bit aggressive at one point! Didn't mean to sound like a knob.)

Dupont 9 months ago To begin with, we will do as R.A.W. suggests and disable the ability to change the prize after the first participant. After that, we will consider models for making secure money transfers that are satisfactory to both parties. Tom, we appreciate your input. You are right - with larger customers, we would not have this kind of problems. Our challenge is that we have to create this market and make people realize that crowdsourcing is actually an efficient way to have music produced. We hope that projects like Aztec Odyssey will help demonstrate this but for the kinds of budgets that you describe, we will probably need a larger user base. We expect to see it all happening but it will take a bit of time. Thank you all for bearing with us and keep the feedback coming! Cheers

tom_cusack 9 months ago If you go to the businesses first, pitch it well, they'll follow regardless of your fan base. When word spreads virally or using the media, then people'll follow. I'm going to do it myself! Looking at the figures, I think I'll take you on in competition! Let's see what happens.

Dupont 9 months ago Tom, We applaud that. Unless you make an exact copy of this site, growing the market is in our common interest. Best of luck!

tom_cusack 9 months ago That's true.. instead of getting frustrated you were cool. Sign of good business acumen!