Drum Accessories --- how to start a business..?

[Sunshine]

Alright, so, awhile ago I told my beloved 'Hold about a drum accessory I "invented" [far as I know, anyway] out of necessity because of a bad habit I have of dropping sticks at shows.
It's a bag, holds a few pairs of sticks, lightweight and all, that straps to your back so in case I needed an extra stick, I could just reach back and pull one out all epic like and slam it down. It would be cool.
It was described as a "stick quiver" and said by someone [sorry, I can't remember who it was :(] to be "the coolest drum accessory ever" and suggested I patent it.
Which I kind of laughed at, I figured, psssh, nobody else would like it.
I wore it to the show I played last night, and I actually had two drummers saying they really liked it, one was my buddy and one was from this really awesome professional-sounding band from Tucson [called The Dealers, look 'em up on myspace].
This got me thinking --- why the hell not? They're made easy enough, why not sell 'em for a couple bucks, a little mini-business while I'm in college?

Here is where I need the help of MX's collective business experience and such.
How in HELL do I do it?
I mean, sure, St. Louis has a big music scene and all, but I don't think I could meet enough drummers who'd want one to justify it at all.
So then I was thinking, perhaps wholesaling to a store...but then I'd have to get a store to buy 'em, and what if they just don't sell well enough in the area so that's out?
And THEN I was thinking, internet! Except...even if I made a little webpage and all, got a little e-business going...how would anyone *know* about it to check 'em out and all that..?

So.
MX.
I need some help, please :(

[Mr Pink]

Talk to Frodo..............:chug:

[Sunshine]

...?

[dairyairman]

that's a pretty cool idea. i've never seen anything like that. you're right, it would be nice to be able to reach over your shoulder with either hand and pull out a new stick.

i did a quick search of the u.s. patent database to see if there was anything like that out there already. there is a patented "drumstick holster" that's designed to strap onto your body, but it's not a backpack. the patent number is 5199621.

[Sunshine]

Awww, thanks so much =D
I'm really thinking about going for it.

[maniac0796]

Patents are gay...

[sLarkin20]

I think it would be hard to make one that dosen't interfere with the playing. Having a bag strapped around you to your back might mess some people up. If you are really serious about it, I would just make a couple and use one myself and give a few to some drummer friends and see what everyone thinks first. I might be wrong and they could work perfectly.

[Sunshine]

I made mine out of a lightweight material, and had it really small, only holds 3 pairs of sticks, and the strap is completely adjustable. Didn't even notice it while I was playing...except the strap goes between the tits which is weird, but other 'n that, have it on nice and tight so it doesn't move and you're good to go.

I do have a buddy who wants one though, I'm going to make him one and see how he likes it, perhaps a few others too.

[maniac0796]

Why not sell it to another company?

[Sunshine]

I think I'd have to build a small base first, prove that it'd sell...

[GooseFilms.net]

Talk to an engineer for designing it or to a patent lawyer. This sort of thing costs money.

[the_pure_drummer]

Tbh it sounds like a really good idea.

You go girl ;)

/totally not gay

[Sunshine]

Talk to an engineer for designing it or to a patent lawyer. This sort of thing costs money.

Why do I need to talk to an engineer...?
I've already made one m'self.

[Talos]

Yeah but the engineers will most probably know what materials are best to use, etc.

[Sunshine]

...point.

[Talos]

They know more then you do.
Lots more.

Otherwise there would be no point in them being there.

[the_pure_drummer]

This dude has skills^

Once again.

You go girl!

/NOT GAY

[Sunshine]

They know more then you do.
Lots more.

Otherwise there would be no point in them being there.

I meant you have a point.

[Talos]

:smoke:

OK then, ignore my post :cool:

[Electric Requiem]

Engineers are great and all (I'm in uni to become one) but you would get more useful information out of a fabric wholesaler. Adding someone else that you would have to pay doesn't seem like the best idea at this stage.
The lawyer bit may be a good idea, the best bet would be to try and find a family friend/acquaintance that is a lawyer so you don't have to pay, because lawyers cost a fair bit (duh).

It is a fairly good idea and done correctly could make a decent amount of money. Be careful about running a business out of your dorm room, it is against many universities policies to do so. Try giving them (or selling for a small price) to every local band who would want one then ask local stores if they would be interested in carrying them after they have some exposure. Having a logo on the quiver would be a must, and ideally if you apply to become a business, open up a website and take orders online (or at least have a phone number/email for people to get in touch with you to order).

Thats about all I can think of right now, good luck.

[Sunshine]

Thanks much ER ^-^

[billdrum]

You will definitely need a patent, because something like that would be an easy idea to rip off. You should also have a proto-type design thats easy to mass produce, easy to add graphics to, able to be offered in different colors/designs, etc. and have a consistent production quality. The internet would be an ideal place to market and sell your product, starting maybe with an E-bay store and a basic website and branch out from there. Good luck!

[Talos]

And thats exactly why Bill is a mod. Great advice.

Dont set-up a MySpace for this business, that will fail so badly, its just not professional at all. Sure SuicideGirls can pull it off, but its SuicideGirls.
Anyway, a good place to start with a website is by visiting http://www.moonfruit.com and http://www.dot.tk

If you need any help with a website then come to me. I make websites for money. Heres an example; http://www.histamine.tk
But its easier to do with a band, they have a theme.

Also, do it in different materials, I mean, I dunno how this looks or anything like that but maybe do some leather ones, PVC ones [theyre just examples] or whatever. Make it a bit different and so theres something for everyone.


EDIT - With Moonfruit and .TK theyll both put banners on your pages if youre doing it for free. I mean, Moonfruit isnt great because thats another banner thats put on your page as well as the .TK one, thats if youre going free. You can pay and get rid of all the banners to make it look more professional.
Which of course, you should definitely consider if you want the business to be professional.
You also get limited hosting with Moonfruit, which again, is why it isnt great. But theres plenty of places on the web where they offer free webhosting of a size which should do a business fine, unless you want music, videos, large graphics, etc. in which case, I suggest looking into a flash website which will then incorporate it into one and make it a whole lot easier.
However, with flash it takes time to load, unless you have a fast server, which again means more money.
So basically, for everything to run smoothly on a business website, money is the most imortant thing really, so make sure you have enough :lol:

EDIT 2 - I charge for that kind of advice, be grateful :p

[Sunshine]

Thanks Bill ^-^
Yeah, the only one I've made so far was actually from a pantleg, but the material is lightweight and just stretchy enough to be awesome, so for a prototype I think I'd go for a material almost like it, but one that came in a variety of colors and such [and wasn't from something else!]...I'd have to make a logo of some sort, but first, a company name type thing ><
The only problem with consistent production quality would be that I'd be making them out of a college dorm on my sewing machine, but it requires such minimal sewing that I think it'd work out.
An E-bay store is something I didn't even think of, thanks again~!

[fishbulb]

And thats exactly why Bill is a mod. Great advice.

Dont set-up a MySpace for this business, that will fail so badly, its just not professional at all. Sure SuicideGirls can pull it off, but its SuicideGirls.
Anyway, a good place to start with a website is by visiting http://www.moonfruit.com and http://www.dot.tk

If you need any help with a website then come to me. I make websites for money. Heres an example; http://www.histamine.tk
But its easier to do with a band, they have a theme.

Also, do it in different materials, I mean, I dunno how this looks or anything like that but maybe do some leather ones, PVC ones [theyre just examples] or whatever. Make it a bit different and so theres something for everyone.


EDIT - With Moonfruit and .TK theyll both put banners on your pages if youre doing it for free. I mean, Moonfruit isnt great because thats another banner thats put on your page as well as the .TK one, thats if youre going free. You can pay and get rid of all the banners to make it look more professional.
Which of course, you should definitely consider if you want the business to be professional.
You also get limited hosting with Moonfruit, which again, is why it isnt great. But theres plenty of places on the web where they offer free webhosting of a size which should do a business fine, unless you want music, videos, large graphics, etc. in which case, I suggest looking into a flash website which will then incorporate it into one and make it a whole lot easier.
However, with flash it takes time to load, unless you have a fast server, which again means more money.
So basically, for everything to run smoothly on a business website, money is the most imortant thing really, so make sure you have enough :lol:

EDIT 2 - I charge for that kind of advice, be grateful :p

I hate those .tk websites.

[Talos]

Yeah so do I, but youre getting a proper domain name for free.
Theres .co.nr as well, but it likes kinda stupid for an American based business.

[maniac0796]

freewebs.com

Is another good, yet free hosting site.

And then there was .cjb.net

[Sunshine]

I was kind of thinking a healthy mix between "professional enough to be trusted" and "God-awfully overly painfully professional."

[static]

I like my stick holder.

[Sunshine]

Good for you..?

[Talos]

I was kind of thinking a healthy mix between "professional enough to be trusted" and "God-awfully overly painfully professional."

Was that to me? Haha

If it was, then I get paid to do it, despite being 15. But yeah, I have to sound professional, its got me far in business.

[Sunshine]

It was more thinking out loud as far as a website goes.
Like, of course it has to be good enough to be trusted.
Nobody'll send money to an address from a geocities website.
At the same time, though, because of the product [and what I can only assume would be target age range for buyers], it wouldn't need to look like an old people convention so much.

[static]

Good for you..?

:D.

[Talos]

It was more thinking out loud as far as a website goes.
Like, of course it has to be good enough to be trusted.
Nobody'll send money to an address from a geocities website.
At the same time, though, because of the product [and what I can only assume would be target age range for buyers], it wouldn't need to look like an old people convention so much.

Well the good thing about Moonfruit is that, you can choose whatever you like as the site. Theres templates and stuff to just change the colo[u]rs or whatever to suite the age range.
Thats what I mean about something has to be looking sleek and smooth or no one will part with their cash cus it looks dodgy.

[Sunshine]

Wait. Moonfruit is a .com, but charges pounds?
And it's only free for 14 days...or something.

[Talos]

Its free if you have adverts on there.
Well it was the last time I checked, which about 12 months ago.
It could well have changed but if not, then you can have it free but you have to have adverts on there. Which is a banner.

[Sunshine]

Mmm.
I think I could handle a banner.

But first, really, I need to think of something better than "Stick Quiver"...unless nothing better can be thought of.

[Talos]

Hmm, I dunno. I think with these kinda things, just saying something like Stick Sack or whatever, is just really lame.
I dunno, its the kinda things you see on Dragons Den [in the UK] and its just pretty lame.

[Sunshine]

Eh, yeah.
I'll probably stick with something simple.

[Talos]

Its hard to think of something good for just an item like that, but you know, something will come definitely.

[Sunshine]

Silly Plasma, you're going to be banhammer'd for a "pornographic" avatar.
Girltits arn't allowed.

Something might come, I don't know, maybe not, I might have to stick with Stick Quivers.

[Talos]

I dunno what youre talking about.

What exactly is a quiver?

[Sunshine]

It's a thing that holds arrows on your back!

[Talos]

Oh.

Oh thats good then, I thought it was gonna be just like a description of the item.
Kinda like Nokia releasing a mobile/cell called Phone.

[Sunshine]

...did they really?

[Talos]

No, but an item with a title of what the item actually is kinda sucks.
At least Stick Quiver is a bit different.

[Sunshine]

But...that kind if is what it is.
See, arrow quiver:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=79144&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

[Talos]

I guess, I take quiver isnt just used to describe something that can hold arrows then right?

[Sunshine]

Well...
Yeah.
Quivers are for arrows.
It's just...like...the sticks...are...the arrows....so...quiver full of...sticks?

[Talos]

Yeah, well its a bit different.
It works.
I like it.
Now get to work :)

[Sunshine]

Hahaha, righty then!

[Talos]

You should come to the UK and take your idea to Dragons Den.
You ask for backing from the UKs top entrepeneurs and they gave you the sufficient funding for a slice of shares in your company.

[Sunshine]

That would require me going to the UK.

[Talos]

Vacation?

[Sunshine]

Not for at least a year.
At least.
All depends on what job I get in college [since I'm apparently not allowed to be a stripper].

[Talos]

Meh, UK sucks tbh.

[Sunshine]

Good rave clothing, though.
I'm jealous every time I look at the internet.
Some amazing cyberwear.

[Talos]

Ah yeah, H&M and Topshop stock all of the rave stuff well cheap.

[Sunshine]

I have two shirts from a UK rave company, Punkyfish...got 'em at a small shop in harajuku when I was in Japan, love 'em t'death.

[Tillmon]

Alright, so, awhile ago I told my beloved 'Hold about a drum accessory I "invented" [far as I know, anyway] out of necessity because of a bad habit I have of dropping sticks at shows.
It's a bag, holds a few pairs of sticks, lightweight and all, that straps to your back so in case I needed an extra stick, I could just reach back and pull one out all epic like and slam it down. It would be cool.
It was described as a "stick quiver" and said by someone [sorry, I can't remember who it was :(] to be "the coolest drum accessory ever" and suggested I patent it.
Which I kind of laughed at, I figured, psssh, nobody else would like it.
I wore it to the show I played last night, and I actually had two drummers saying they really liked it, one was my buddy and one was from this really awesome professional-sounding band from Tucson [called The Dealers, look 'em up on myspace].
This got me thinking --- why the hell not? They're made easy enough, why not sell 'em for a couple bucks, a little mini-business while I'm in college?

Here is where I need the help of MX's collective business experience and such.
How in HELL do I do it?
I mean, sure, St. Louis has a big music scene and all, but I don't think I could meet enough drummers who'd want one to justify it at all.
So then I was thinking, perhaps wholesaling to a store...but then I'd have to get a store to buy 'em, and what if they just don't sell well enough in the area so that's out?
And THEN I was thinking, internet! Except...even if I made a little webpage and all, got a little e-business going...how would anyone *know* about it to check 'em out and all that..?

So.
MX.
I need some help, please :(


Step 1: Don't post your idea on a public forum for everyone to see and/or steal.

[Sunshine]

What can I say, I believe in the inherent good of those on MX.
Sure, it'll be my downfall, but...happens.

[moogoogaipan]

man, I didn't read most of the posts, but I hate to be a buzzkill and say that it's been done alot.

It's actually been done around here already. We (my small jazz ensemble) were laughing one day cause I kept dropping my sticks, and my bassist suggested that I make a stick bag that straps to my back so I can pull out my sticks like a quiver and then put one on my side so I can pull out brushes like a samurai sword.

Long story short, cheers for the idea, but I'm almost positive that the idea has used before.

[Sunshine]

Used perhaps, but patented, not.

[moogoogaipan]

I would disagree with that also. Just because something isn't marketed doesn't mean it doesn't have a patent.

I mean unless he's got a killer marketing scheme. He's going to have a hard time marketing a "stick bag" with a strap. Stick bags are a commodity and you have to have good marketing to be able to sell commodities since you can get them anywhere.

[Sunshine]

Wait.
What?
The US patent database was searched, there was no patent on the particular style of bag in question.

[Damo]

Used perhaps, but patented, not.

I would disagree with that also.

i did a quick search of the u.s. patent database to see if there was anything like that out there already. there is a patented "drumstick holster" that's designed to strap onto your body, but it's not a backpack. the patent number is 5199621.
...

[moogoogaipan]

Wait.
What?
The US patent database was searched, there was no patent on the particular style of bag in question.

my point remains valid. It's still a commodity... A bag with a strap is not something terribly unique. Changing the strap placement or design can enable you to get a patent, but my point is that you'd have to have a **** ton of marketing ability to get something like that to stand out.

Especially since almost anyone can make one.

[Sunshine]

You're right, almost anyone can make one.
But most of them won't.
You'd be surprised at what people are willing to buy when it's insanely easy to make.
Bisquick, for example. All it is is pre-mixed flour and baking powder, but soooo many people would rather pay for the overpriced piece of crap than just mix their own flour and baking powder.
And there's lots more things like that.

[Talos]

I wouldnt wanna make my own.
Id rather buy one and probably would.

[Sunshine]

That's another thing.
The first one I made?
From a pantleg and shoelace.
If I made them to sell, they'd be...nicer, to say the least.
And people would probably consider spending a tad more to have something that lasts and isn't...ghetto.

[retreat_retreat]

make it out of kevlar or something..and then you can be all gimmicky about it :thumb:

[Sunshine]

I'll have one of kevlar..make it part of the "gimmicky" line [style, whatever].
And I'd be half-tempted to call it that, too.

[Little Android Man]

woah Eva plays drumz? :confused:

[Sunshine]

Omgzwtf.
Check Show Your Faces like 5 pages back ;)

[Little Android Man]

LOLZ SHE DOES I DDNT NOE OMG.
k

btw i like your idea.

[Bonham#1!]

Yeeeeee, that was myself who called it a stick quiver.

I also think its a good idea, but honestly, I would be of no help, for I dont know anything about business. There are certainly stupider drum products.

[fishbulb]

There are certainly stupider drum products.

Triplet Drum Glove

[Bonham#1!]

The truth.

[Chippy569]

Alright, so, awhile ago I told my beloved 'Hold about a drum accessory I "invented" [far as I know, anyway] out of necessity because of a bad habit I have of dropping sticks at shows.
It's a bag, holds a few pairs of sticks, lightweight and all, that straps to your back so in case I needed an extra stick, I could just reach back and pull one out all epic like and slam it down. It would be cool.
It was described as a "stick quiver" and said by someone [sorry, I can't remember who it was :(] to be "the coolest drum accessory ever" and suggested I patent it.
Which I kind of laughed at, I figured, psssh, nobody else would like it.
I wore it to the show I played last night, and I actually had two drummers saying they really liked it, one was my buddy and one was from this really awesome professional-sounding band from Tucson [called The Dealers, look 'em up on myspace].
This got me thinking --- why the hell not? They're made easy enough, why not sell 'em for a couple bucks, a little mini-business while I'm in college?

Here is where I need the help of MX's collective business experience and such.
How in HELL do I do it?
I mean, sure, St. Louis has a big music scene and all, but I don't think I could meet enough drummers who'd want one to justify it at all.
So then I was thinking, perhaps wholesaling to a store...but then I'd have to get a store to buy 'em, and what if they just don't sell well enough in the area so that's out?
And THEN I was thinking, internet! Except...even if I made a little webpage and all, got a little e-business going...how would anyone *know* about it to check 'em out and all that..?

So.
MX.
I need some help, please :(

First, you should patent the idea. There's a lot of work that needs to go into a patent, so i suggest finding a lawyer to help you through the legal jargon. You would need very specific diagrams, materials lists, procedures for creating the item, and proof that you invented it. (something similar to a log book from your favorite science class).

Once you have a patent, you should put it up for sale. Maybe someone cool like VicFirth would buy it (for $$) or maybe worldmax would buy it (for 1/$), who cares. Then they make and distribute your product, and you get a small bit o' money for their sales.


such is the life of an inventor.