I went to Paris this week, from Saturday to Tuesday. It was my first time there (at least, it was my first time there on purpose) and I was lucky enough to go by rail. I far prefer trains to planes.
I’d been brought over by a music internet entrepreneur by the name of Antoine who had some great ideas for a new online service, but needed some real focus to turn it into something that would work, fill a niche and make a lot of money.
I won’t give away the detail, but I think what he’s ended up with is superb.
The man on the left is probably going to do very well for himself
The notes I’ve left Antoine with are brainstorms, scrawls, diagrams, and an assortment of my usual impenetrable hieroglyphics, but he was there when they were being created and so he assures me that he’ll be able to turn them into sense when it comes to writing it up and briefing the web development team.
And he has a very clear idea now of what he’s working towards, so that certainly helps.
We’ve left some bits out for now that can be integrated in a Phase Two that can come later. It’s hard enough to explain and justify an internet music service with a real innovative edge as it is, without filling it up with lots of extra features and additional functions.
At this stage of the game, you’re not trying to make a Swiss Army Knife – you’re trying to make a pair of scissors.
Being a tourist
It certainly wasn’t all work. In fact, although we talked shop a lot of the time – mostly we ate in restaurants, went sightseeing, hung out in bars, took trains to different places and joked around.
Once you get the hang of the Metro, Paris is pretty easy to get around, and pretty much everywhere you pop above ground is something that will take your breath away.
French authenticity
Antoine was very concerned that I have a “proper” French experience, so there were lots of different typically French things to do and taste. He was also a relative newcomer to Paris, having only lived there for 6 months himself – so he was just as keen as me (well – almost) to see and do as much as possible.
So we did as much as we could fit in: Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the canal, champagne, rhum arrangé, foie-gras (yes, I know…) – and I made a point of introducing Antoine to quite a few single malts, just to return the cultural favour.
All in all, it was an amazing trip.
As all-expenses-paid consultancies go, this was a particularly good one. And I think that Antoine managed to get some real value for money at the same time.
From a fundable, but fuzzy set of principles around a particular aspect of music business, to what we both now think is a highly focused, million-euro business idea in three days of long lunches and thoughtful strolls. Not bad going.
Now that the business plan is pretty much in place and the site is under development, all that remains is for Antoine to set the wheels in motion and grow the idea into a successful operation. And hopefully, when it comes time for the launch party, he’ll have me back.
Paris was very, very cool. Have a look at some of the photos.
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Tagged: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Foie gras, France, Internet, Louvre, Music, Paris, Travel