Big news!

I've had to be kinda hush hush about what I've been up to, but heres the scoop!!

ABC TV is premeiring a new TV show called "Shark Tank" on Aug 9th, check your local listing! For lack of a better definition, I'd say its a cross between "American Inventor" and "Deal or No Deal".

http://abc.go.com/primetime/sharktank/index?pn=index

Instead of Inventors going for prize money, they are going in front of actual investors. Well, I'm in. I am on a 24 hour call from Aug 7 to 18, and any time in that period I will be called away for 3~5 days. ABC TV is taping the whole season in that week, so I'll be up there some time during that slot.

I can now show you guys what my 'invention' is because my patent is officially 'pending' and I have the trademark work filed.

Check out this video:

http://vimeo.com/4891726

That is the first prototype, and the video I sent to Shark Tank. The actual unit I will show at Shark Tank has been revised with a better handle control, and it is dressed up a bit.

How about that.... reality TV hits good old rv's!

My Reality is that I really dont expect to come from the show with any investor funding. I'm hitting the ground with the product ready to go even if I dont have a large investor backing. Investor money from Shark Tank just accelerates my plan a step or two.

Wish me luck!

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Comment by Pat Daly on July 30, 2009 at 6:12pm: Frak em! You'll do it anyway!!

Everybody at glamis needs one anyway!

Comment by Jim on July 30, 2009 at 5:49pm: Thanks to all that have wished me well, but I just got a phone call from ABC.

7:pm last night, after a taping episode, it was decided that NO PROTOTYPES would be filmed. Only production ready items.

I've been cut. I just got my 15 minutes taken away.

I had been on the telephone with them several times a day, getting all the trailer dimensions so it would fit on the set taken care of. ALL WAS GOOD.... until todays taping. Something happened with the 'sharks' and another inventor who had also had a prototype. 2500 submissions, 75 recommends, 50 contestants, and only 2 prototypes made it through... the other guy, and me. All other products are in production already.... Well, the other guy got his ass handed to him yesterday, and it wont be aired. So... executive decision was made to cut me, the only other prototype.

Cest La Vie.

I had not planned on actually getting anything other than exposure, so I'm not set back at all. My business plan still has me in production in less than 6 months, but I really am bummed.

I was "THIS CLOSE" ... argh.

Seems that even these "Inventor" shows aren't for inventors, they are for products ALREADY on the market.

Comment by Pat Daly on July 27, 2009 at 7:56pm: Holy crap! Thats friggin fantastic!!

GRRRREEEAAAAT exposure even if they do shark you up on the show.

Is there any way Shark Tank viewers can see your blog or something so that YOU get the full use of the exposure?? sorry, just don't trust "hollyweird" types...

Maybe you can mention the name of your invention and it's on youtube and then pump up the you tube site BEFORE you go on Shark Tank... don't know. Think I'd just do it during the show and not even mention it to them!

Anway, yep a big YAHOO for you!! :)

Comment by Jim on July 27, 2009 at 4:27pm: Thanks for those kind and insightful words Pat! I just got the call from Shark Tank, they actually WANT TO USE MY BUGGY AND TRAILER TOO! Yessir, you are gonna see my buggy on TV! Holy crap... this is really happening.....

Comment by Pat Daly on July 24, 2009 at 10:55pm: PS JIm, you interview way well my man!!

good luck!

pps... manufacturers will often provide seed capital if they manufacture the product FOR YOU as well as distribution... i did that once with very good success and no cash outlay.

Comment by Pat Daly on July 24, 2009 at 10:49pm: Jim, that's incredible! way to go man!!
It's a great product no matter what the Shark Tank folks do/don't do. i fact you may get more "investors" calling you after the show than money from the show.

Note that "investors" ='s "owners" ='s pain in the ass/you can loose your baby so watch out buddy! Sharks DO have big teeth and wayyyy sneaky contracts.

You've got to RETAIN CONTROL of the ownership. after all, it's YOUR DEAL/IDEA so don't get left in the dust at Glamis as they ride off into the sunset with YOUR invention man!!
happened to this old rvers not once, but twice!!

Hmm, let's see "Shark Tank"... does that mean that you need to be prepared for them to verbally rip you apart and your "baby" on the show?? I'd be wayyy prepared for stupid/ugly/nasty questions if "entertainment at your expense" is THEIR game.

Just some words from this old cowboy to a friend.

by the way, I'm here in Bainbridge,Washington using you SciFi WiFi to bootleg some pretty darn good signals on this here laptop.

pat
gotta go and watch Jim's video now!!