Tech Startups vs Rock Bands

televisionsky.org

32 points·shanedanger··6 comments

As someone who's been in multiple bands and startups, I’ve realized the parallels between starting a rock band and starting a web company are pretty spot on...

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The most important similarity between a musician with a major label contract and an a venture-backed entrepreneur is that both people have sold a piece of the business. "If all goes well", both people will be making money for someone else.

Never forget, MTV and Techcrunch are both the same kind of lie.

You missed "have sex with 4300 groupies" vs. "not have sex since that lucky break in college."

It does seems hard to pick someone's brain, or pitch them your idea, while trying to lay them at the same time. Getting an honest opinion out of someone and swooning them seem to be mutually exclusive goals.

So could we combine this observation with the investment process? You could, say, try f-cking a VC before they ever get a chance to f-ck you over! :)

The rock music parallel to the "lean" startup, and why you shouldn't go the VC (major label) route is "The Problem With Music" by Steve Albini:

http://www.negativland.com/albini.html

I want my TechCrunch

Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do it

You get the site on the TechCrunch

That ain't workin' that's the way you do it

Money for nothin' and your conferences for free

(reference, in case you're too young to get it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ZEzWwKJnY)

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