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ChipMusic.org / Forums / Posts by Dissonance
I see your point, but if I tell myself it's not an option.. then I safeguard against it.. its a motivational thing 
I know there are so many obstacles, it's overcoming them that takes the doing..
I've heard of 2pp.. might take a look...
Yeah bitman, I'll give it a crack and see what happens.. who knows
Nick you are a star, thank you that's cracking advice 
Pretty big, 90% of chipmusicians have:
- A Boat
- Full of bitches
- Blingbling Game Boys
- Mansion (Supermario's castle replica)
- Full of (different) bitches
love this haha
Believe it or not.. I don't need money, I am not a capitalist.. I have enough for me already.. a business however is a legacy to leave behind.. I have a son, it'd be nice for him to grow up and remember that his old dad actually did something worthwhile 
- so your comments about just being out for money, fall on my deaf ears 
thanks guys.. your thoughts are always welcome
The fact that income could be vanishingly small isn't a problem.. it just means there is more work -breakphase
I'd be really interested to know what you think can bring to the table. If you think the market in the UK is untapped, you likely need to do some more market research. There are plenty of artists in the UK, resellers of mods and gaming stores that carry pro sound/backlit gameboys. I've had to leave a shop empty handed cuz the retro gaming shop I went to was already modding their own.
I applaud you for coming in dry here, but the chiptune scene isn't 'untapped' - if anything, it's thriving and alive. The problem is, there's no money in it. If there was, they wouldn't run Kickstarters, fundraisers etc just to have a fucking knees-up. If you come in thinking modding is easy, you'd be right, but being good takes enthusiasm.
As Jellica says, the beauty of the scene is for those who musically want to make something out of nothing. If you can't afford a Fender, you pull a gameboy out of the attic and buy a chinese cart. Many people with years of deep electronics experiences struggle to make a living off of it and they already have an established fan base and mind-blowing, ground-breaking ideas. Kitsch beat me to the punch but the way to get ahead in the scene is to be really, really into it (or drink the tears of your enemies helps) You can't fake enthusiasm. Although don't let that stop you. Just don't think that people aren't 'trying' hard enough. Commercially, there's no value. Socially and emotionally: sure.
I recently returned a couple of gameboys to someone who had bought them stateside. The pro sound had gone on one, the screen had a bubble on the other. I took them apart, fixed them up and returned them. He asked if I wanted money. It was actually too much bother to even hook up a brother with a paypal account for a simple job. I'd got enjoyment out of it, and was happy to help. I'll bump into him at Superbyte and we'll have a beer and bond. This is pretty common in the scene so no amount of market research and two decades of running a business is going to allow you to undercut 'free'
Miketeevee your words are exactly the kind of debate I need What I can provide, isn't written yet, nor do I claim to be any kind of marketing saviour or anything of the sort..
My goal is simple.. raise awareness of this fantastic way of both writing and performing.. and with awareness will come growth.. that's the starting point i'd like to address.. By establishing the market (which you have so helpfully done mike, thank you) I can look at ways to help create sustainability.. those fund-raisers and things might be a thing of the past if we could just generate enough interest- leading to bigger venues, which essentially could support a touring group of artists.. Thats the thing people find it easy to forget; that you are only as good as the audience you are playing too.. and if we can change our surroundings, the audience will follow.. larger venues breed higher wages, enough to build a mortgage and a life.. Its easy to dream a dream, but it's better to live that dream, the one where you get to do what you enjoy, and be the best you can be without restriction.. an elite club of comrades who stick together through thick and thin without all the keyboard warrior nonsense.. I belonged to a record label that was very much like that,, we toured for the hell of it and we got by because that is how it was... but we never worried about our kids, or how we were going to eat, because we planned ahead... People, with awareness we could make waves!
What I would like to do is get involved with the supply of equipment, I'm too old to be a rockstar now and I'm too ugly to be a poster boy of any campaign.. My job is in the backroom, making sure that everything ticks over and that everybody has what they need.... Which was one of my questions in fact..
You know, I'd happily give out modded gameboys if I knew that the person recieving it was going to enjoy it and that it would nurture their ability to either write music or programme a game
Like I said, the intentions are only good... Peace out
Thank you Lazerbeat that was spot on
I agree that the majority wouldn't and probably shouldn't display their sales figures, it wouldn't be ethical.. But I was wondering what the market share was..
I really think that chiptune (and it's brethren) has so much to offer, and that with some care and attention, the profile could be raised somewhat in a way that it can be a truly competitive industry.. there are not enough musicians aware of the capabilities within even a gameboy for example.. how wonderful would it be to get that music heard by a wider audience
I am not looking for a way to fill my purse I am looking for avenues in which to embrace and raise awareness of this side of the industry... my intentions are purely good I assure you..
My only question was, to ask just how big this industry is.. and see what I can do to help push things forward
Noobstar I have 18 years of experience within a variety of genres.. your aggressive nature isn't appreciated here..
Fair point.. but it's not for a product.. I was asking quite literally how big the market share for this side of music is, because I'm led to believe that there isn't any information on this as no-one has data mined the figures from various countries.. The question is literal, i just can't seem to find an answer.. I was wondering whether it is a large industry? or whether it is one that is growing? shrinking? or sitting on a plateu? Because whatever the state, I can work with it.. it just denotes how much time and work will be needed to be able to force growth. I'm still trundling the internet looking to find out just how much the industry contributes to UK GDP but to no avail.. it's no bother, I'll find a way I always do
in bits of course hehe
Hahahahaha thanks irrlichproject, but chiptune IS a part of the music industry... you make music, you sell it, thats industry
Hahaha but that's because I never posted any product ideas I need to know the market before I spout whats in my head.. either way though its all good.. I have run 3 successful businesses so far in my life and this will be my 4th.. We do well to keep the ideas that keep us sleepless under wraps until we know exactly what we are dealing with
Build a business on LSDJ?? no I don't think that would work because it's too close knit, awareness will help but only to an extent.. Old nintendo hardware is quite marketable, rehousing NES inside a toaster for example is desirable apparently.. It's all about finding the direction, and moving all the ideas and proposals to meet with that direction...
Oh, the vagueness of my posts is quite intentional by the way I think that by asking a specific question, such as "how big is the chiptune market?" that is the answer I require... everything else is secondary to that initial question it's so that I don't get too clouded with shiny things distracting me away from the root
I'm sure you know where I'm coming from hehe
Interesting read Bitman - I agree that my approach needs tuning, hence why I'm asking people such as yourself for information.. Let me make it clear that my business model isn't designed to make "clear profit".. its designed to sustain myself so that I can dedicate all my time to this industry in whatever capacity my brain tells me to.. Its a lifestyle choice that I intend to follow to the T
I have already done extensive market research and am already very well aware of Kitch-bent and ASM electronics as well as exactly what modding can be done with various systems as well as circuit bending (to an extent), I've looked at all costs to be incured as well as projecting losses and incomes, distribution, marketing, radio campaigns, damaged goods and legal gumph.. But in essence, ALL of this comes much later on when I know the market for what it is.. That's why I'm asking such questions, so I can truly understand what it is that consumers require and finding the trends of specific requirements.. The fact that nobody has data mined the information to find out how the industry develops year upon year is exactly what has drawn me to your good selves
I believe that in order to educate on many fronts, we have to strip it all back and approach it differently.. I learned LSDJ for example in the exact manner that you mentioned, old videos and forum posts etc.. wouldn't it be grand to have a tailor made service for a newbie who is willing to learn, to enable him/her to explore their limitations without the hassle of having to trundle the web constantly for videos and posts.. Maybe someday I could run classes and forums and try to generate interest (again, much later down the line..) I am already in contact with major retailers about specifics, although they also require solid data because a space in a store could be better spent by them if the products don't sell.. But that aside, I have a miliion ideas anyway I know what I need to do, it's just learning from great speakers such as yourself, which direction would be a good one to go.. for example, I don't want to spend a fortune modding consoles, if the bottom is about to fall out of the market and then I'm stuck wit a load of hardware that I can't shift.. which as you'll no doubt know with your degree, can be a major pain in the butt 
It seems that you do indeed understand my dilemma and exactly why my fears are paramount to the cause, which I appreciate hugely, so thank you for that, it's refreshing to speak with people who are able to nurture, as well as inform
Yes I am bold haha, I believe that in aiming high, we can cover a wider apex, and the plans I have, I believe, can help.. because that is my nature.. I have a vision where chiptune can reach a wider audience and be appreciated by those who never thought they could ever like it.
What I've been hoping to achieve from the initial post is to find out from like-minded individuals, what exactly people in the UK actually need, it will help me build momentum and move the ball in a particular direction.. I like all of your suggestions very much and I've taken many notes to expand upon.. I've worked within the music industry for many years so I have a good working knowledge of the music side of the industry.. And so that brings me onwards to a new challenge, and those around me know I love a challenge.. Chiptune!!
One thing I have learned for sure, is to just start small.. plants some seeds, and let the plant grow.. If it's meant to be, then it will happen
ChipMusic.org / Forums / Posts by Dissonance