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Re: Week 14 (USC Week 7)

Chris Carlson — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:00:47 -0000

$1 Billion Problem Is Brewing

How can I buy wholesale goods to sell/distribute locally?
What supply chains are most disrupted currently for high demand items?
What is the highest priced item people will purchase without much thought?

The $600 Unemployment Booster Shot, State by State

What will the contract look like to rewrite the software states use to calculate and disperse unemployment benefits?
If people are getting 100% of their salary, but have less expenses currently, what will they spend the extra money on?
What products do people want that they can’t easily get right now?

A Whipsaw Week Ends With a Tech Rally

Are there any new modeling approaches gaining traction?
What would suggest that David Bahshen’s claim that “we’ve peaked” is not true?
What job functions will see the greatest increase when people start going back to work?

Wide Lockdowns Give Domino’s Sales a Lift

What is the easiest local delivery I can start?
What delivery times could I guarantee?
What minimum daily income would make it worth my while?
What maximum daily income is reasonable?
How could I scale if successful?

Gap’s Cash Pile Is Dangerously Low

Should there be less Gap stores?
Will clothing brands see a permanent lift in the share of total revenue coming from online sales?
What other industries are lifted up by an increase in online sales?

Banks Gain A Record $ 1Trillion In Deposits

Did companies really need to draw down their credit lines?
When the economy opens back up, will companies pay off their loans in dramatic fashions?
What direction do you think interest rates are headed?

Getting the Restart Right

What services will businesses be more open to?
Which of those services can be productized?
What can I offer businesses as they return to work?

Re: Week 13 (USC Week 6)

Chris Carlson — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:20:38 -0000

Chris Carlson (USC)

Health Crisis Awakens Spirit Of Private-Sector Innovation

What software needs to be made?
How different would this look if Clinton were in office?
How exactly did Trump get elected?

China’s Pent-Up Demand Buoys LVMH

Will American luxury spending bounce back as quickly?
To what extent is life “normal” in China right now?
How have online sales been for luxury brands compared to other industries?

A Gloomy Prediction on How Much Poverty Could Rise if Joblessness Spirals

How many hedge funds are getting loans that could go to supporting poor people instead?
How much shoring up of D/E ratios could have gone towards PPP instead?
What will happen to the housing rental market?

Grocers Adjust to Lower Meat Supply

Can robots replace meat processing workers?
What innovations could be brought to the USDA?
Will suppliers keep their simplified productions running after the virus to save costs?

Summer Will Come; Crowds Still a Maybe

How could a seasonal business pivot to increase out-of-season revenues?
Should we allow young people out, but keep old people in?
What is the cheapest way to live and be happy?

Tech Founders Now Need to Grow Up Fast

How do people that work in advertising sleep at night?
Can businesses that traditionally raise money succeed without it?
Why would a company want to raise 3x the equity and 5x the debt they initially targeted?

Stocks Ignore Recession Template

What advances in technology will become ubiquitous in the coming decades?
How are kids fulfilling their needs right now?
Why is this not a typical recession?

Can We Have Prosperity Without Growth?

What motivates new college grads?
What industries are most popular with new college grads?
Can negative GDP coexist with a happy middle class?

Re: Week 11 (USC Week 4)

Chris Carlson — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:05:42 -0000

Chris Carlson (USC)

THE MONTH CORONAVIRUS FELLED AMERICAN BUSINESS
1. Who reacted appropriately and before others?
2. What can we learn from them?
3. Who leads on macro-trend investing theses?

Luckin, Rival to Starbucks in China, Says Employees Fabricated 2019 Sales; Stock Plummets
1. How do you fabricate sales like that and get away with it for an IPO?
2. Is it possible that it really was limited to the COO and his team?
3. Should the investment bankers be held accountable?

In a Pandemic, Another Worry: Touching the Payment Screen at Checkout
1. What is the current adoption rate for contactless payments?
2. What else will go away forever as a result of the pandemic?
3. Why do we need passwords?

Stocks drop as coronavirus crunches the job market and economy
1. Do you still think oil will go below $20/barrel?
2. Why aren’t more jobs being saved by the bailout for small businesses to cover salaries?
3. How low will it go?

U.S. Employers Cut 701,000 Jobs in March
1. Why not short the market to play off the Thursday job report?
2. What businesses are people starting?
3. How can communities pool their resources?

Diamond Business Loses Luster as Coronavirus Crisis Spreads
1. Do people diversify their portfolios with diamonds?
2. Do people use diamonds to smuggle money?
3. What checks are in place for smuggling money via precious stones?

Don’t Get Bombed: How to Host Zoom Meetings, Hangouts, Houseparty and More
1. Who are the very latest entrants into this space?
2. Who would consider competing with Zoom?
3. How do you take market share from incumbents?

Re: Week 10 (USC Week 3)

Chris Carlson — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:35:15 -0000

Chris Carlson (USC)

Tech innovators put their minds to fighting the virus
1. Will the valley shift to permanently working on more important rather than frivolous problems?
2. How could the valley’s human capital be better spent to improve the world?
3. Should we have more surveillance in the US?

Schools close, and children's publishers see a spike
1. How much will homeschooling rise post-virus?
2. Is Scholastic a good buy right now?
3. Is the supply chain for children’s books significantly hampered currently?

Small firm offers ventilator alternative
1. In what ways is the FDA corrupt?
2. Is extreme supply chain scaling as a service a visible business?
3. Why can’t the Italian helmet by approved?

More people should wear face masks, say experts
1. Will cultural norms with respect to masks change in the west as a result of the virus?
2. What “experts” and data sources are we relying on exactly?
3. What do Asian countries know that we don’t?

In the coronavirus fight in Scandinavia, Sweden stands apart
1. How spread out is Sweden’s population geographically?
2. What other societies are similar to Sweden?
3. What can be learned from the way Swedish society works to apply in the US?

The national debt is set to soar. Without a rescue, it'd be worse
1. Under what other hypothetical circumstances would a similar increase in debt be wise?
2. Could the stimulus be even more effective if there wasn’t existing government debt?
3. How can average people come to grasp national debt?

Nonprofits struggling to survive in a time of greatest need
1. Why doesn’t the stimulus package solve most of these problems?
2. Can operation shut downs be temporary?
3. How many employees have been laid off that didn’t have to be had the stimulus bill been already in effect and known to employers?

Saudi Arabia Not in Talks with Russia on output
1. Does the US care what happens between Saudi Arabia and Russia?
2. Who benefits from oil prices going down?
3. Who can sustain more losses, SA or Russia?

Stocks drop, but hold on to weekly gains
1. What percentage of the price change magnitudes we’re seeing can be attributed to software-based trading platforms existing?
2. Who else is expected to receive a bailout that hasn’t yet?
3. How closely should index prices mirror earnings gains/losses?

Re: Week 9 (USC session 2 week 2) (LMU Web class begin)

Chris Carlson — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 00:46:11 -0000

Chris Carlson (USC)

Bailout 101 a history of failings and rescue
Was there a way to make the 2008 bailout of banks both successful and popular?
Should companies that accept government bailouts have future restrictions put on them such as no stock buybacks?
What’s the best example of a government bailout outside the US that should be lauded as an example?

Homeowners are getting federal mortgage relief, but renters aren’t so lucky

Will the pandemic affect average rent prices?
Will the pandemic affect average housing prices?
What happens when people stop paying their rents?

Playboy Magazine Shuts Down Print Edition, Citing Coronavirus

Without the print magazine, how long before the brand image becomes less relevant?
How do teenagers perceive Playboy?
Who really cares?

General Mills Says Demand Rises as Consumers Stockpile

How will the pandemic affect future cash flows for GM?
As demand increases but the economy suffers, does GM have a moral obligation to limit price increases?
What industries could be fundamentally changed, long after the Coronavirus is gone?

Oil falls 24% in 3rd worst day on record, sinks to more than 18-year low

Will effects of future pandemics start to be modeled into the value of oil?
Are there any laws that OPEC must follow with regards to supply constraining?
What is the breakdown of oil consumption by industry?

Lessons for the Coronavirus Crisis From Six Other Disasters

If you were the president, what would you do?
What do the past crises tell us NOT to do?
What other effects will the pandemic have on society besides the economic ones?

U.S. markets wrap up worst week since the 2008 financial crisis

How much lower can it go?
Is there a silver lining to the drastic decline?
Who is making short term gains as a result of the pandemic?

Re: Anybody Out There?

Chris Carlson — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:31:26 -0000

Here!

Re: Coaching vid with a hip-hop teaser

Chris Carlson — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:47:38 -0000

Incredible photo, Carlos!!!

Re: Side Stage at the John Mayer Show

Chris Carlson — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:30:56 -0000

what was the set list?

Re: Side Stage at the John Mayer Show

Chris Carlson — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:20:20 -0000

digging the eyebrows :P

Re: Side Stage at the John Mayer Show

Chris Carlson — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:19:59 -0000

digging the eyebrows :P

Re: http://melikie.tumblr.com/post/660688563

Chris Carlson — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:30:39 -0000

these pics are great! makes me wanna leave work right now and go for a hike :)

Re: Coin a Phrase: The Leveling

Chris Carlson — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:39:32 -0000

George,

You're not missing any points whatsoever as far as your own experience is concerned. But, as a leading voice of the DIY movement (you are, you know) I think you should more clearly communicate to the hopefuls out there that read your blog what it really takes to build that sustainable career.

When you say, "I see it as a combination of remarkable music, remarkable drive, remarkable persistence, a remarkable team (not label), and a remarkable belief that your music must be heard," I couldn't agree more. THAT is your 20 yrs experience boiled down to one sentence, which does those of us with little to no experience no good.

What does "drive", "perstitence", and "a remarkable team" look like on a day-to-day basis? Other than ian roger's recent experience managing, I've seen no hands-on experience shared in the blogosphere regarding just what goes on "out there" in the big and scary music industry.

Chris

p.s. Some of the best "teams" out there are labels. Don't dismiss them all just because a few big ones give the label "label" a bad name.

Re: Coin a Phrase: The Leveling

Chris Carlson — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:59:03 -0000

This is a bit too socialist for my liking. I'd like to think everyone has the same chance and that we've all got access to the same tool set as everyone else, but that's just not the case.

All of the "obsolete" players you mention are still out there, still doing business as usual, and still dominating the market/industry.

Sometimes, the DIY community feels a bit too insular, hanging on to a handful of examples where the indipendent artist is succeeding; we assume their success is applicable to countless others.

I've seen too many talented acts/musicians perform, who make next to nothing for what they do, to know that there is no leveling, nor will there ever be.

Success can now be obtained in a way it could not before, but very few are actually experiecing it... I hope that in the future more people will as well, and I intend to work towards making that possible. In the meantime, I hope we can all be a little more realistic about what it takes to actually have a sustainable career as a musician.

(commenting from mobile)

Re: needle/fairy/twitter power

Chris Carlson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:03:45 -0000

My GF was in the same boat (even though we're not in the same city right now!) and she too has been doin' the acupuncture thing for a bit now. she's way cool, btw. she's an ecowariorr.

anywho... i'd love to follow the rabbit hole on the potential internship and see where it could go, but IDK the best way to reach you, so here's my email.

Re: How Indie Bands Should Be Using D2F Marketing

Chris Carlson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:07:43 -0000

This is great.

I especially appreciate knowing that the Sigor Ros endorsement was an IMPORTANT part of the equation. It makes me want to start putting together a list of artists to try and reach, then brainstorm the possible ways to get to those artists.

Re: D.I.Y Activity Tracker

Chris Carlson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:48:20 -0000

My pleasure! :)

Re: Fans As Customers

Chris Carlson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:25:14 -0000

Amen, brother.

I'm really excited for the future. Not only will more and more artists begin to "get this", but the fans will, too. Right now, fans/comsumers/"fansumers" (nice) are overwhelmed and/or clueless. I'm hoping the intentions/roles of fans and artists will be laid out more clearly in the future and the ability for artists to discover, engage, and maintain new fans/relationships will get easier and easier.

Thanks,
@CLCmusic

Re: Pulling Your Tribe Together

Chris Carlson — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:33:47 -0000

andrew, well said.

annabel.... Yes! people need to focus more on the core. I'm am trying to do that very thing with an artist now. we're going to put things in place over the next month and have the ball rolling after that. I am going to put faith in the idea that if we focus on the core, the other things will come..... so, how do we do actually DO this!?!? That is, make the goal of the tribe known to everyone involved and keep members motivated and on point.

I have an idea. It's not completely thought out and I plan on writing a blog post about it soon. So far this is what I've got. Have a private blog for the tribe. Have the goal in the side bar (sort of like having the mission statement of a company on the wall so you never forget what your goal is). Start out by having everyone introduce themselves with a post following the same format: relation to the artist, why they are here, what they do, what they have to offer the tribe, etc. if all the members can get to know one another, then I think it will be not only beneficial for the artist, but EVERYONE. who knows... perhaps two tribe members get to know one another and a great friendship is formed...... The leader of the tribe will have planned out initiatives and ways to recognize and reward members. the leader will also encourage members to take the lead themselves, presenting ideas and tasks the tribe can participate in.

perhaps a blog would get too cluttered if there were 50 members, so maybe a ning network; keep it simple. very limited # of pages. on a ning network everyone could have a profile though and it would be easier to get to know everyone.... like i said, i haven't completely thought out this idea, but it's a start.

feedback? thoughts?

Re: Final Entrepreneurship Lectures

Chris Carlson — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:28:51 -0000

thank you for posting this. I am going to print these slides out and post them on my walls.

(i just started following you on twitter, too.... I'm @CLCmusic)

Re: Albums Redefined

Chris Carlson — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:09:19 -0000

Hey! I just wrote a blog post that mentions your blog, and links to this post specifically here. Thanks for the inspiration.

Re: Consider Different Price Points for Your Music

Chris Carlson — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:44:58 -0000

Per usual, the music biz takes longer to catch on.

You never go into a computer store and see just one computer. There are always multiple products to serve a wide array of consumers (fans)!

Get with it!

Re: Albums Redefined

Chris Carlson — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:54:52 -0000

Wow! Well said.
Pls email me your URL (I'm on my phone right now) and if you're on Twitter, that, too. We're on the same page and I'd love to open a dialogue.