These ideas have been lurking around my head for a good while but I don't have much desire (or resources) to make them real.
First is an app that disables texting or certain features of a phone while driving. Not sure how it could be done but I'm sure it's very possible. I don't think this one really needs any explaining, but for kicks it's to keep people from using their phone while driving. Anyone been stuck at a green light while the car in front isn't moving? Whip past them and they're glued to their phone, not even glancing at the street lights. Or someone swerving all over the highway, maybe even creating accidents, all because they're stupid. Can't fix stupid but we can start with their phone. Too many reasons to explain why this app SHOULD exist!!!
I don't know many people who would buy this app for themselves (I would) but market it towards parents and I'm sure it' a goldmine. Maybe even companies like Apple, LG, Samsung... will eventually make it a preinstalled app. Maybe an app isn't the best idea seeing how apps can just be deleted, but just any way to make this possible where "kids" can't just turn it off/delete it.
Next idea I know there's a market for as well. Start a newer better shipping service that offers quality and a guarantee that your stuff won't be destroyed. I don't know how many niches have a problem shipping goods and having the ever wonderful UPS, Fedex, USPS damage their stuff, but the musician world it's an absolute nightmare!! Not a week goes by that I don't hear/see a thread on a guitar forum where a guitar has been smashed. Most common is the neck being snapped off, sometimes just the case is severly beaten, but occasionally extreme breaks such as the neck being split down the middle (NO idea how this is even possible) or a whole section of the body snapped off. I've shipped over 20 guitars and lucky for me (knock on wood) I have had no incidents... yet! Last week I saw 2 threads where someone shipped a botique high end custom amp valued from $3000-5000 where the chassis of the amp has actually been bent! Again, this is insane, damn near impossible.
Now this is NOT because of the person shipping. Yes sometimes it's because of them but for the serious musicians who really value their gear we never underpack our stuff. For guitars it's almost always in a hardshell case, the guitar is wrapped in bubble wrap inside the case, then the case is wrapped in 3+ inches of bubble wrap, then the shipping box. That is the requirements of UPS, Fedex, and USPS but still does no good. Amps are normally shipped wrapped in bubble wrap with the tubes removed (if it's a tube amp, 99.9% of high end amps are) and bubble wrapped individually, then placed in a box. The box is then wrapped in bubble wrap or using thick foam spacers, then placed into another larger box. Box within a box, still not enough for the animals who handle these packages.
I had a friend (HAD) who was a manager at Fedex and he bragged to me one time and showed me a video of him and his other manager buddies standing around laughing while one guy was atop a 10 foot ladder with a Mac Pro ($3000+ computer) then smashed it to the ground, just because. No real reason, just because they are A**holes!! This is not a rare occurence!!!!! Professional musicians are not exempt from this abuse either. Ex Red Hot Chili Pepper guitars John Frusciante has had a vintage 50's Fender Stratocaster valued well over $20K completely smashed like it was intentional.
When I worked at Guitar Center my manager told me horror stories from some claims he had to deal with. One was a guy who ordered a custom 48 channel Allen & Heath mixing board, about $200,000! He called screaming not even making whole sentences, red in the face, because the delivery driver was as he spoke tipping the box end over end (they're about 5 feet long, 100+ pounds) down the driveway. Another one was a guy who ordered a custom Taylor acoustic, about $30,000. It was supposed to be delivered in October a couple years ago. Never showed so after months of dealing with Fedex claiming it was delivered, dealing with possibly being stolen which Fedex says is "not their problem" it finally surfaced AFTER winter where the guy noticed a brown box sticking out of his bushes next to his house. Aparently the driver delivered it but when the owner wasn't home instead of taking it back and trying the next day he just stuck it behind the bushes and never cared to mention it. Needless to say the guitar was absolutely destroyed beyond repair.
Dealing with a claim is even more stressful. If you ever get a damaged good and call them they will say someone will be out to pick it up. They will then inspect it and deal with the claim from there. Many times if you let them pick it up it will disappear FOREVER! I've heard people claim that after it's picked up they'd call months later to check on the claim and there's no file of a claim or even of the delivery anymore. So they are stuck without the money or without the gear. At that point I'd probably be going to jail for illegal activity but we'll leave it at that.
I've heard countless times that musicians wish there was a company to ship musical instruments without having to worry the entire time if it'll show up smashed, or even at all!!
Some if someone needs an idea please take these! The app could save lives, ease traffic jams, and possibly even let cops deal with more important issues than just POS people who can't get off their phones!! The shipping idea would probably take quite an investment but there certainly is a market out there. No chance chaning a broken company such as the big 3, so start a new one and make sure the quality stays!
Sorry for the super long post
First is an app that disables texting or certain features of a phone while driving. Not sure how it could be done but I'm sure it's very possible. I don't think this one really needs any explaining, but for kicks it's to keep people from using their phone while driving. Anyone been stuck at a green light while the car in front isn't moving? Whip past them and they're glued to their phone, not even glancing at the street lights. Or someone swerving all over the highway, maybe even creating accidents, all because they're stupid. Can't fix stupid but we can start with their phone. Too many reasons to explain why this app SHOULD exist!!!
I don't know many people who would buy this app for themselves (I would) but market it towards parents and I'm sure it' a goldmine. Maybe even companies like Apple, LG, Samsung... will eventually make it a preinstalled app. Maybe an app isn't the best idea seeing how apps can just be deleted, but just any way to make this possible where "kids" can't just turn it off/delete it.
Next idea I know there's a market for as well. Start a newer better shipping service that offers quality and a guarantee that your stuff won't be destroyed. I don't know how many niches have a problem shipping goods and having the ever wonderful UPS, Fedex, USPS damage their stuff, but the musician world it's an absolute nightmare!! Not a week goes by that I don't hear/see a thread on a guitar forum where a guitar has been smashed. Most common is the neck being snapped off, sometimes just the case is severly beaten, but occasionally extreme breaks such as the neck being split down the middle (NO idea how this is even possible) or a whole section of the body snapped off. I've shipped over 20 guitars and lucky for me (knock on wood) I have had no incidents... yet! Last week I saw 2 threads where someone shipped a botique high end custom amp valued from $3000-5000 where the chassis of the amp has actually been bent! Again, this is insane, damn near impossible.
Now this is NOT because of the person shipping. Yes sometimes it's because of them but for the serious musicians who really value their gear we never underpack our stuff. For guitars it's almost always in a hardshell case, the guitar is wrapped in bubble wrap inside the case, then the case is wrapped in 3+ inches of bubble wrap, then the shipping box. That is the requirements of UPS, Fedex, and USPS but still does no good. Amps are normally shipped wrapped in bubble wrap with the tubes removed (if it's a tube amp, 99.9% of high end amps are) and bubble wrapped individually, then placed in a box. The box is then wrapped in bubble wrap or using thick foam spacers, then placed into another larger box. Box within a box, still not enough for the animals who handle these packages.
I had a friend (HAD) who was a manager at Fedex and he bragged to me one time and showed me a video of him and his other manager buddies standing around laughing while one guy was atop a 10 foot ladder with a Mac Pro ($3000+ computer) then smashed it to the ground, just because. No real reason, just because they are A**holes!! This is not a rare occurence!!!!! Professional musicians are not exempt from this abuse either. Ex Red Hot Chili Pepper guitars John Frusciante has had a vintage 50's Fender Stratocaster valued well over $20K completely smashed like it was intentional.
When I worked at Guitar Center my manager told me horror stories from some claims he had to deal with. One was a guy who ordered a custom 48 channel Allen & Heath mixing board, about $200,000! He called screaming not even making whole sentences, red in the face, because the delivery driver was as he spoke tipping the box end over end (they're about 5 feet long, 100+ pounds) down the driveway. Another one was a guy who ordered a custom Taylor acoustic, about $30,000. It was supposed to be delivered in October a couple years ago. Never showed so after months of dealing with Fedex claiming it was delivered, dealing with possibly being stolen which Fedex says is "not their problem" it finally surfaced AFTER winter where the guy noticed a brown box sticking out of his bushes next to his house. Aparently the driver delivered it but when the owner wasn't home instead of taking it back and trying the next day he just stuck it behind the bushes and never cared to mention it. Needless to say the guitar was absolutely destroyed beyond repair.
Dealing with a claim is even more stressful. If you ever get a damaged good and call them they will say someone will be out to pick it up. They will then inspect it and deal with the claim from there. Many times if you let them pick it up it will disappear FOREVER! I've heard people claim that after it's picked up they'd call months later to check on the claim and there's no file of a claim or even of the delivery anymore. So they are stuck without the money or without the gear. At that point I'd probably be going to jail for illegal activity but we'll leave it at that.
I've heard countless times that musicians wish there was a company to ship musical instruments without having to worry the entire time if it'll show up smashed, or even at all!!
Some if someone needs an idea please take these! The app could save lives, ease traffic jams, and possibly even let cops deal with more important issues than just POS people who can't get off their phones!! The shipping idea would probably take quite an investment but there certainly is a market out there. No chance chaning a broken company such as the big 3, so start a new one and make sure the quality stays!
Sorry for the super long post
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum:
Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
