Consultancy for New Publishers

[Gareth-Michael Skarka]

I mentioned this on the old forum, but given the apparent upswing in new users under the new format, I figured I'd make the announcement again.

I'm offering my services as a freelance consultant to any interested new publishers. Here is a run-down of some of the services that I can provide:

- Print brokering and liaison
- Production assistance
- Business operations consultation
- Marketing consultation
- Networking assistance
- Distribution assistance and consultation

I have worked in this industry since 1988, and those years of experience can be used to assist any new publishing venture. My rates are negotiable, depending upon the size of the publisher in question, and what specific needs they have.

I have operated as a consultant for: Synister Creative Systems, Green Knight Publishing, Thyrsus Games and Inner Circle Games. A few more new D20 publishers have also approached me for consultancy, but those will remain anonymous until the contracts are signed.

Any interested publishers should contact me directly via email. ( gms@adamant.rpg.net )

[Flower of December]

Do you connect people with each other? For example, if I were to have a game in the works, could you get me in touch with some artists so that I don't have to slog through hundreds of portfolios and online galleries?

[Gareth-Michael Skarka]

Originally posted by Marigold Mao
Do you connect people with each other? For example, if I were to have a game in the works, could you get me in touch with some artists so that I don't have to slog through hundreds of portfolios and online galleries?

Yup. That falls under "Networking Assistance".

GMS

[James Wallis]

I've been offering the same kind of consultancy service for start-up RPG companies in the UK and Ireland for the past few years. My usual fee is lunch.

[Gideon]

James,

Before we can make anything meaningful of your rates, perhaps you should post your weight and maybe waist measurement too;)

Gideon

[James Wallis]

Okay, I'm 100 kilos but I carry it well because I'm 6'5. 36" waist. Vegetarian. On the other hand I'm in London, and you have to come to me.

[Ebenezer]

Originally posted by James Wallis
On the other hand I'm in London, and you have to come to me.

Hmmm, for us yanks that might make for a pretty expensive lunch....

Eb

[Ghost]

Originally posted by Ebenezer


Hmmm, for us yanks that might make for a pretty expensive lunch....

Eb
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
True but for us Brits its a damn good deal!

I may have to take you up on that at some point James if you don't mind.:)

Bryan F S Irving

[James Wallis]

Please feel free to take me up on it: it is a serious offer. In the past I've offered start-up advice to Mongoose Publishing and Tower Games (publishers of Darkwood), and several others.

[Sandy]

Hi,

Like James, for a good meal I've offered startup advice to people. (I also suspect I owe James a drink or two for past chats, but don't tell him.) I've also done paid consultancy, though, akin to what I'm reckoning Gareth does.

If you'd like to know how to analyze your website traffic, for example, just ask. That's off-the-cuff advice. It's free.

If you'd like to know how to utilize a web basic traffic report in order to more effectively market to your specific gaming customers, that's a good topic to discuss over dinner (you pay). Then you can go home and do it. That's professional advising (or sometimes mentoring).

If you'd like an analysis of your traffic with an action plan that you can quickly implement in a cookbook-like fashion to boost sales, you can pay me for that. That's consultancy.

If you want your traffic analyzed and a plan created then implemented, all without you having to lift a finger, that's contract work (and it's the most expensive.)

So really, it's a case of getting advice, a solution, or everything done and implemented. Different critters, all useful.

If I were a startup, I'd take up _every_ offer of advice-for-dinner I trusted. And I'd still hire out consultancy to create plans in those areas I cwasn't proficient... and I'd contract out as much work as I could afford.

Cheers,
Sandy
sandy@rpg.net

p.s. note that free advice from some folks is worth more than, oh, my paid advice on some topics. You don't get what you pay for, you get what you work for :)

[Gareth-Michael Skarka]

In regards to my consultancy program:

I will be attending the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas, from March 19-23, and I will be available to meet with any attending publishers interested in discussing matters further.

If you'd like to schedule a meeting during the show, please contact me at gms@adamant.rpg.net as soon as possible: my available time during the show is rapidly filling up.

Hope to see you in Vegas!

GMS

[Erick Wujcik]

Originally posted by James Wallis
I've been offering the same kind of consultancy service for start-up RPG companies in the UK and Ireland for the past few years. My usual fee is lunch.

...and here I've been giving that consultancy service away all these years. There's a bunch of people that owe me a meal!

Erick

[James Wallis]

I'm pretty sure I paid for lunch at least once, Erick.

[Loc]

Well I wish I lived someware near any of you, of course about all I could afford is a lunch.

[Erick Wujcik]

Originally posted by Loc
Well I wish I lived someware near any of you, of course about all I could afford is a lunch.

The trick isn't location, but scheduling. Anyone serious about role-playing, whether designing an original game, or strarting up a game company, should be planning on attending some of the major conventions.

More often than not folks like James Walllis and myself come to the larger events (Gencon, for example), and that's a great opportunity to take one of us to lunch. Of course, the smart thing to do is to arrange for the lunch in advance...

Erick

[Misguided]

As someone in the middle of this process, I couldn't agree with Erick more. I got started at Origins 2000, where I talked with folks like Greg Stafford, Marc Miller, Mike Stackpole, and plenty of others. Go to the cons and put your face in front of anyone you can.

DO:
Avoid taking their attention when they have customers
LISTEN

DON'T:
be surprised when they paint a gloom and doom picture

This is, in my experience, a very friendly industry. Most folks will be happy to try and help you.

[thele]

Originally posted by James Wallis
Please feel free to take me up on it: it is a serious offer. In the past I've offered start-up advice to Mongoose Publishing and Tower Games (publishers of Darkwood), and several others.

I may take you up on that. I make a mean Curry...

~Le

[James Wallis]

Home catering doesn't cut it. This isn't a pleasant chance to entertain a games designer at your home, this is a business meeting, and you should be sitting down, asking questions, listening to the answers and taking notes. You should not be cooking, or even thinking about cooking. Besides, I don't eat curry.

[gtaww]

Hi, I'm from a game developer China and I find that many of you are professional in game publishing. Would any of you like to help us? If yes, please give me a message in my email box: wang.wen@netease.com

By the way, below is our company's URL:

http://www.xgameworks.com

Wendy

[wraith_2021]

Originally posted by James Wallis
I've been offering the same kind of consultancy service for start-up RPG companies in the UK and Ireland for the past few years. My usual fee is lunch.

At the moment for me it’s kind of what came first the chicken or the egg.

Do I get consultancy first, or find out if I can get enough money to publish the books?

I'm looking into POD, as I can afford small runs of 500 books a time, and they are reasonably priced, but I’m trying to work a loyalty deal with the company (plus offering a back page spread for them to advertise their services) so I can reduce cost per book, but as for the rest of it. Would consultancy be appropriate before anything is sorted? Or after I know I can set up properly?

[James Wallis]

It's the cost of a train/Easyjet fare and lunch, dude. We're talking, what, £100 tops? Compare that to how much you could potentially flush away by printing your books before you know what you're doing. Don't end up like a lot of small publishers, with hundreds of crates of unsellable games in your garage.

Drop me an email (james@hogshead.demon.co.uk); I'm moving around the country in the next week or so, and there may be a convenient meeting-point.

[Magnus Widqvist]

... It's the cost of a train/Easyjet fare and lunch, dude. We're talking, what, £100 tops?
James is speaking the truth, and if you just prepare some notes, a business lunch is worth every penny. And as an added bonus you get to know a real honest-to-gosh game publishing dude. Your'e in win-win land. But remember it takes money to make money, and you are not going to be rich.

I (Misguided) got started at Origins 2000, where I talked with folks like Greg Stafford, Marc Miller, Mike Stackpole, and plenty of others. Go to the cons and put your face in front of anyone you can.
Good advice here too. Cons are fun and game designers don't bite -- hard. ;) There is a helpful atmosphere in the business; as long as you keep to the small (eight persons or under) companies. And this is the size you want to be. No Megacorp. Just 1-3 ambitious geeks trapped in a small room with a dream and a marketing plan.

Best Luck
Magnus <--- whose own company is cooking

edit: 3-o-clock-in-the-morning spelling

[Misguided]

BEFORE!
After talking to someone you may have a totally different idea of what you would like to do.

Originally posted by wraith_2021

Would consultancy be appropriate before anything is sorted? Or after I know I can set up properly?

[wraith_2021]

LOL, ok I'll get onto it. Just sort out some decent clothes other than Goth Gear, like a suit (Cringes, and shudders at the thought).

THen i'll email James in the morning once i've spoken to the rest of my crew.

[James Wallis]

Originally posted by wraith_2021
LOL, ok I'll get onto it. Just sort out some decent clothes other than Goth Gear, like a suit.

A suit? Look, last time I was in the office I was wearing jeans and a tee-shirt with plug-wiring diagrams printed on it. Our former sales and marketing manager has a full-scalp tattoo. This isn't a job interview. Wear what you feel comfortable wearing, as long as it won't set off security alerts.

[wraith_2021]

Originally posted by James Wallis


A suit? Look, last time I was in the office I was wearing jeans and a tee-shirt with plug-wiring diagrams printed on it. Our former sales and marketing manager has a full-scalp tattoo. This isn't a job interview. Wear what you feel comfortable wearing, as long as it won't set off security alerts.

YAY!!! I don't have to put it on!!!!:D

Well what i usually wear won't set off the alarms, but sometimes gets me scoped by security. especially in HMV.