I own a media startup based out of Seattle that holds both cannabis events and music shows. I work with top Pac NW artists and also mid-level national names mostly throwback. We also hold cannabis seshes for industry players and public.

In addition, I have a publication in 40 stores that is expanding to over 100 this year with goal of launching in other states by end of the year.

Massive challenges in both cannabis and music but I'm making it work and my company is profitable after 3 years of hard work and immense ups and downs.

I'll update here as I go along. As of now have four events in February and March and should be an interesting start to the year. Focus on venues of 500 to 1000, but hoping to make leap to 6k at an epic local venue by years end.

January is flying by and spending time cinching up events. Looking like a late March show at the Hard Rock Cafe Seattle may yield a decent ROI with human resource consolidation, media uptick and small profit.

I booked the night DJ from 93.3 the biggest rap station to host the show and already getting radio shoutouts leading to rappers banging down my social media with their links.

I've learned rappers are a dime a dozen and have a filter with qualifications to focus on those I feel would be a good fit. For this show I will have 8 rap acts, three being high profile local heavy hitters, the other 5 lower acts who need exposure.The key is to find supporting acts that will hustle hard copy tickets.

I also work with different types of models with the most being 420 models, but also tattoo, bikini and car models. For this event will have around 10 models as staff and to work the stage in between artist change. The models also help promote on Instagram and have had great results with past events with this low cost marketing.

We are considering having a 150 person sesh a week or two before this show which will allow for weed consumption for those around this event. At the main event this is not allowed. I can't wait for the day when I can throw music events with consumption. There are two venues that allow this, one in Olympia and one in Portland and will get to these venues by year end.

At seshes I usually dont charge and have vendors pay for booths, but may dabble with a $7 donation to enter but must be careful of Washingtons liquor control board who loves to harass cannabis event promoters by sending undercover operatives which we counter with tight guest lists and lawyering up.

This isnt a place for a blog.

Thank you House of blogs for hosting this thread. BFIs loss is HOBs gain as this is gonna be epic 6 months for now.

Like mentioned the cannabis and music event side of the industry moves incredibly slow. Its looking like the 350 people Hard Rock show in March and a 150ish private sesh in April will take most of my efforts.

The music show is forming up nicely with all 8 acts booked and currently have 9 models signed up to be hostesses. Im ordering swag next week and will up my goal from 10 to 15 models total for this show and interested to see how the team forms up.

My biggest issue now is I have rappers coming out of my ass. I do want to create a database of 25 or so as have more shows coming but my systems of how I pick talent are not 100% formed. I prefer to work with those I know, references, and those I stumble across. I have found some decent talent through unsolicited messages but its getting to the point where Im getting blasted daily on Insta and FB with Spotify and Youtube links.

Im happy to say Im also putting together a grunge show and looking forward to seeing how that sect of musicians operates as rappers make me shake my head daily.

Still 6 weeks out to the show but things are looking incredibly positive. Have sold most of the VIP and reserved tables. I have a team so far of 21 and most are sharing the event all over Facebook and Instagram. Im still going to bring on a few more hostesses. Right now at 10 rappers, one radio DJ as host, one event DJ, and 9 local Instagram models as hostesses. I have swag coming and the ladies and rest of team will all be in unity. They will look great chucking swag into the crowd during artist changeover.

I have a non-profit cannabis event coming up Saturday. Proceeds will go to vets in medical cannabis programs. They are so broke and cant afford their meds so need help. The VA wants to give them 20+ daily pills, but they choose cannabis but of course they have to pay 100% out of pocket.

Im getting serious local media interest. My goal is 5 articles in both digital and print by the show. I have a few locked down and once they roll out will use them to get more.

Business structuring is getting serious. Money is not a big issue for me right now as have a pretty deep F & F pool to go to and also have been doing great with my current business fund management. Ive worked out of We Work before and think Ill be heading back to a shared space soon, most likely in April or May. Im not in a big hurry on things as still working on personal and business systems. Time is my greatest issue, but think I have a decent handle on my time management processes and development. Im preparing for angel funding and also have VC interest. Word has gotten out about my progress throughout the industry both in Washington and in other states. The daily pull is getting stronger everyday and high quality as well. My newspaper has taken it to the higher level I was looking for. Mark my words, within 2.5 years Ill find myself in the BFI cannabis stock thread.

One of the cause and effects of so much time, efforts and resources going into my cannabis media startup is I can no longer gamble. Its to much of a distraction and Im a fish anyway with a slight black jack issue. But I am a fish who goes on heaters often and yield some fun times and great content.

Id love to play me some PLO, take some of Papi's money and maybe even fund a Lambo for him if he gets lucky. I never forgot when I met the legend down in San Diego for a biz meeting in 2015 right when Twitch was getting hotter around the time of the disgraced Sticky Rice.

Good time. But now have not gambled for 70 something days. Maybe a WSOP visit is in need. Meh probably bad idea.

Well the show is coming along interesting. I had to put a rapper whooping down to get the team in the right direction 32 days out. There was some dragging and a little bit of rapper ego flex going for a bit, but things are in line now. As for event models I have the team at 6 so a cut of down of what I thought and 4 still waiting on their schedules, but the six are highly dedicated and going to be a great core team and fine with going short. This is not my first model team, my third and tread with caution with each one just like rappers, but now Im ready to scale to over 100+ just have to go through more processes and clear this show. Will set the goal by end of summer to have over 100 ladies working events, social media, marketing and other projects.

For sure going back into We Work in downtown Seattle by May. Its the perfect location as the venues for shows are all around it and also the area where the big 12 Seattle based cannabis media's and VC funded industry players have offices.

Im also focusing more on diet as need to lose a few and my media presence is increasing with photos and also taking the stage throughout the night and want to look my best. Exercise happens with long walks in hilly place and Elliptical three days a week, I have a twice fixed torn ACL/meniscus and arm injury that needs surgery so sports and weights are out and since Im still not an official geezer yet it sucks but work around and do what I can do, but really focus my efforts on diet for weight loss and doing well last few months.

Crazy time to be promoting music in Seattle I can tell you that. Obviously had to cancel the event, but I was able to get decent ROI off the money I did end burning. I ended up with a dope article in the top Pac NW hip-hop blog which is also connected to the cannabis industry. This led to more media exposure and helped with the music side of what I do.

Im glad I was diversified and the cannabis side of what I do is now in full swing. My newspaper is going to be published digitally versus print for the time being as stores want to restrict print promo at this time. I also launched a weekly digital sesh that Im going to use to stream guests, music and other industry business.

Im keeping the same models I was using as hostesses for marketing. I added an amazing bikini barista to the team and will be looking at adding more baristas as they are incredible. Focusing on getting the team to 25, than can scale to 100. Im going to ramp up swag production and introduce a female line for the models, moving away from short and long sleeve tshirts to showing a lot more.

Im pushing forth on some deals with other national players and cannabis media outlets for some higher level business I've had planned. Will be utilizing Zoom to my advantage and hold daily meetings locking down alliances and launching things I've had on the books for five years. Interesting times indeed and an exciting summer coming.

you advertise in the stranger?

I've been on the Strangers calendar a few times which lead to small digital event articles. The 2nd artist on the bill of the show that got cancelled was on the cover of their Green Guide early this year and was how I found him. They approached me about the show but it was pay to play and just not worth for a 350 person show. Id say if doing Showbox type venue at 1k+ is when Id drop the cash to advertise with them.

The Stranger did shut their print edition down during this virus crisis. They are going strong digital, but have heard lost 90% of income, but they are owned by a huge media empire so probably be okay in long run unless the dynasty collapses.

Bongs and babes an amazing combo.

Things are going well, staying quiet and preparing for a ramp up in June that will go all summer. Im relocating to So Cal in September to set up my national brand and official HQ. While California may have unfavorable business factors, the fact Cali is the most explosive market in the industry and I consider the state to be my adopted home as I have a ton of family and friends there and lived there on and off for ten year. I started in the industry out of LA in 2015 and I since I have many mega contacts I want to cultivate and activate in So Cal also makes it more appealing than Washington.

I can't deny that Washington offers some amazing upsides, including an immense cannabis media presence and access to the local tech world, but its time to consolidate and move on to where I really need to be. A quick cheap 2 hour flight is always available and Ill keep my operations running here as have the people already locked down to keep moving upwards.

Im going to extend 100+ formal business alliances deals over the next 100 days in Western Washington and Northern Oregon, this shall be interesting. I figure Ill start by the 2nd week of June.

As of now Im waiting on a shipment of masks that Im going to slap on my model team. I have 10 girls ready, 7 from Washington and 3 from So Cal. Im also going to mask up budtender shift in stores all around Seattle. Once I see the masks are satisfactory Ill order a second shipment and than close 15 more models from all over the states to round the team to 25 and also hit more stores as budtenders are pure gold. I learned from my last swag of long sleeved tshirts that I want to show more skin and will just have the girls wear my mask with more latitude to wear less as dont have to worry about the other clothes as not going to be my swag. I have not developed scantly clad model wear gear yet and waiting to formulate a team of girls internally to get this done correctly.

Should have some great pics to share in the summer!

Ive also retooled my publication from covering Western Washington to national. Im aiming for an August launch and to be in 250 stores all down the West Coast and in a few states such as Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan and Massachusetts. There is a cannabis publishers distribution network developing with some top names and Im happy to have a chance to be part of it which makes my life so much easier with distribution and also cements relationships with other editors which will be leading to more coverage of my business doings which helps builds growth in many departments.

Ive been labeled at best a fantasist by this poster in the travel section.

He hedged his bets by saying at worst a pathological liar.

People are so funny when you just tell the truth. One gets all crazy and the pack starts to feed in. The above mentioned poster is a dude who I actually have a lot of info on and in the end is just a nitbag who has a problem processing information and is to lazy to do research. Maybe he will join up over here that would be fun.

This is one reason why I like the cannabis industry, there are a ton of lawyers who will work pro bono for trade. Since Im already currently developing over 200+ equity deals Ive put together quite the legal team all with the ability to work with libel and other facets of the law. I'd prefer to avoid legal actions, but there seems like a class of person who just need the sword, I wonder if that will happen with the ten or so cases we are sitting on now.

Have been having a very good summer, even though fell short of human resources goal of 100. I did get to 30 total, with 20 in Washington who will be building that brand as I focus on a new brand Im launching in Oregon.

My Washington model team is at a solid 14. They look amazing in the masks. Im going to wait to launch my model brand until I bring a few more and also plan on making a deal or two with a few of the top 420 models in the world, who I know from So Cal. I can say my Instagram feed is getting more awesome by the week.

I ended getting out of Seattle after 4 years and 8 months and I can tell you I feel like a new human. I set up in a month-to-month in Vancouver, Washington, which is 15 minutes from DT Portland. I get to keep my state income tax exclusion and can also double dip and shop with no sales tax in Oregon as I live less than a mile from the border. Im going to be doing events out of a cannabis club, unless the state shuts things down again. It will be a limit of 50 people. There are no other shows in town so feel can make a good thing at this club. I have held one event there before and have visited like ten times and have had amazing experiences.

I did have a gambling mishap which had me winning 6k playing 3/5 in the Seattle area on one BI. Ended up going on a ten day binge to relieve long built up stress and I became a little unproductive due to sleep loss. It ended in a horrible BJ session when on the road and just hung it up and havent bet in 38 days. Im going to try no more pokies or BJ in 2020, but Im foaming at the mouth to lay a Trump gonna lose bet and have someone who may take a 1k bet at even money, which is a steal at this point, as Trump is now the underdog and not worth betting with books.

A few weeks ago I had a poker/cannabis related video made by one of my techies setting up an offensive Im putting down on a bunch of 2 plus 2ers I have major beef with. I mentioned in the post above. Gonna be epic end of 2020, grab some popcorn folks.

I do think Ill work Portland and Oregon for a few months and than get to So Cal by the end of November. I dont wanna spend another winter up here and its perfect with a month-to-month, the flexibility and lack of stress of being locked down in a lease is priceless.

hey man, i actually consult for startups for a living, congrats on the growth and expansion

i just want to say that if the original goal was having a team of 100 but you ended up with 30 then you got to change some of your processes.

execute on a shorter term basis, ie who are the next 5 hires going to be

really focus on your specific needs, it's good to grow fast but it's better to have a sustainable enterprise in one region than a 10 fingers in 10 different pies - fact you're still not sure where you personally will be based is evidence of this - choose a HQ market and focus on that - not saying drop the other stuff but you need to have an area of priority

difference between 100 and 30 is monumental, this means that most of your projections and expectations were way off - you need to back and review and adjust everything and more importantly, figure out why they were so far off etc - i imagine covid played no small role in this but startups are volatile and you should have never been in a 100 or 30 position to begin with

otherwise, sounds like you're crushing it, keep it up and gl

-adam

I for sure need to work on my HR processes, but happy where at and while my intensity of purpose is strong, I'm in no hurry as my funding is stable, my IP can't be jacked and my competition is in total shambles and they are all ready to play ball, and thankfully they will be in this same state of disarray for quite a while.

A great part of the 100 was equity deals with higher level players and I just didn't get to the point I thought I would be by the end of the summer. I use systems of leverage and timing is everything. I will say I can go back up to Seattle at any time and nail all the deals down or even get with the modern time and start to Zoom more, but Im old school and love to do face-to-faces, but think Ill just do a combo of Zoom and in person when I double back and process those target communities to get to 100 in that region.

I also need to work on the systems for the teams so its better to focus on the 20 I left up North. I have them broken into two units where I train and grow separately and will be combining very soon.

I'd love an HQ in either California or Washington, but the reality is I dont need one. Every thing can be done remotely, and in the end I built the ultimate location independent situation. I can do business in almost 40 states now and the more agile I am personally will make a big difference when I take this from the Pac NW to nationally. 100% going towards a franchise model and looking forward to setting up this fresh new brand in Oregon this week and hit the ground running with events next month (but this is secondary, as the state can squash this at any time).

sounds good, good luck

Thanks man need that luck!

So I ended up staying at an extended stay in the Portland area for a few weeks and found a sweet 1 BR on a six month lease in Vancouver, WA. It was really tough to find a furnished short term place even in the 2k range, but came in at 1300 so happy to save a few bucks.

I love jumping the border under two minutes and also being able to grow my Washington brand from its most Southern point.

The day after I settled in the smoke from the fires rolled in and that was a ten day nightmare I never thought possible.

In 8 days, Im having a 50 person event at a cannabis club. I kept it simple and will have a reggae band. The response has been very positive and will have no problem with the 50 and it will be nice to not have to worry about a big crowd and just focus on making connections and partying a bit.

Currently putting together swag for my models. There is no one stop shop with a quality selection for booty shorts, crops tops and underwear so just buying wholesale and will have locally printed. My goal is to get it done in October and swing back up to the Seattle area for a photoshoot with the 14 models on the team. Im working on the new Portland area team and its already looking very good as I dont need to cold call anymore as just tap my own models with references. Im just going to shoot for 11 in this area to round the whole team up to 25, swag them up from head to toes and launch where the model part of what I do is going.

Road trip coming up for content and meetings after the event, may block off a few weeks as may dip into California as have a lot of face-to-faces with some really interesting players stacking up down there that need to be done, but if don't go now will embrace Zoom a little bit more as the time to giddy up is getting closer.

Looking like conflict from the travel section is leading to my banville. Its been a hoot writing about my business here, have amazing updates for all in January if the ban hammer is not to harsh.

Take care all and have a happy Corona holidays.