Fyre Festival: How a marketing paradise turned out to be the world’s biggest festive disaster

Business How To’s

28 February 2019

Fyre Festival: How a marketing paradise turned out to be the world’s biggest festive disaster

  • Posted by Awfis Editorial

To give you a quick recap, the Fyre Festival is one of the biggest failed events the world has seen till date. Conceptualised and established by Billy McFarland, CEO of Fyre Media Inc. (and also of the infamous Magnises startup that gave millennials a chance to live beyond their means; why that seemed like such a great idea no one knows) and rapper Ja Rule.

The festival, scheduled for April 28-30, 2017, on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma, promised a ‘transformative weekend’ and was promoted incessantly by influencers and socialites like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski. Naturally, the promotion got the attention of countless customers who, in their FOMO-driven rush, went ahead and booked tickets that were cheapest at $500 and going up to $1500. VIP packages at $12000 were astonishingly selling like hot cakes too.

So what went wrong really?

In a word, everything.

Fyre Festival goers were expecting a mind-blowing experience when they packed their bags for the weekend to Great Exuma, Bahamas. However, the reality they got was completely different. And the issues started even before they’d left American soil.

Festival goers thought they were signing up for a customised, VIP-configured flight. Instead, they were met with a crowded airport and chaotic, delayed departures.

And the nightmare got worse (as if it could) once they reached the Bahamas.

The party-goers were looking forward to spending two days in luxurious villas and eco-friendly domes. Instead, they were greeted with half-built huts to sleep in.

They were eager to be wined and dined by world-famous gourmet chefs. Instead they had to subsist on cold cheese sandwiches and salads with no dressing, served in makeshift food tents.

The promised line-up never turned up with many artists having cancelled their gig long before the festival, but none of this was conveyed to the customers until they got to the venue.

The crowds were expecting to party with friends for two weekends on pristine white beaches. What they instead did was struggle to just get a flight back home, which ended up becoming another disaster. Guests were stranded at the airport with no food or water, purportedly locked in a room.

Not exactly what the weekend deal was all about, was it?

Why did the Fyre Festival fail?

For starters, the founders really had no experience in organising an event of the scale that they had promised. What made it worse was that they didn’t live up to their commitments long before the festival had even begun.

The event was to have been organized at Norman’s Cay, an island previously owned by Pablo Escobar, a kingpin of the Medellin Cartel, but on the condition of anonymity. This clause was violated in the launch promo itself and the owners pulled out of the agreement. While McFarland was scrambling for alternate locations, the promos continued to mislead fans into believing they were to spend a glorious weekend at this exotic location.

A $4 million loan meant to be utilized for the event was lavished on arranging luxurious offices in Manhattan. And when McFarland approached organisers to help him with an event he had no clue about, he was taken aback to realize how deep his pockets would have to be. The leave-no-survivors internet abounds with rumours that McFarland is said to have Googled ‘how to rent a stage’ when he got desperate.

Comcast Ventures had planned to invest $25 million into the festival, but backed out a few days before, leaving McFarland scrounging for temporary financing, which he needed to payback within 16 days. He managed that by asking customers to transfer funds towards a smartwatch like RFID-equipped digital Fyre Band that would give them unlimited access to the festival. Advisors to the festival warned against this, citing poor Wi-Fi connection at the site, but McFarland in his trademark overpromise-and-underdeliver went ahead with the plans.

The Fyre Festival continued to fail to deliver on every count. There were no medical facilities, accommodation was below par with soaked mattresses, unfinished tents, lack of running water and poor quality food, no cellphone or internet service, and heavy handed security.

Points to ponder

Does the colossal disaster that was the Fyre Festival have any lessons for the rest of the world?

The question that plagues many investors is how McFarland successfully raised millions to fund his program that had massive loopholes in its initial investment deck itself.

How did some of the smartest investors become victims of this fraud? Do influencers play such an influential role that they can sell even the most badly-planned ideas to serious angel investors? Is being part of the ‘next big thing’ so exciting that people don’t bother to run the numbers and refrain from due diligence? Could a massive ‘vision’ have been sold purely on models in bikinis, social media celebrities and beautiful Instagram photos alone?

In hindsight, yes, there were signs, but it was all a smoke-and-mirrors trick that helped McFarland build a massive pile of cash out of nothing. Today he faces 8 lawsuits, with one of them seeking damages of $100 million. Last October McFarland pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

And Ja Rule? He was quick to post on Twitter that “it was NOT A SCAM” and “this is NOT MY FAULT”.

While dissecting the fiasco, many news organisations have drawn parallels between the festival and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. The Fyre Festival will be studied for years as an example of how not to invest in a deal with a beautiful yet superficial vision.

7 Types Of Colleagues Found In Every Successful Organization

Business How To’s

25 August 2021

7 Types Of Colleagues Found In Every Successful Organization

  • Posted by awfis

A dynamic enterprise usually thrives on a cocktail full of spunky personalities. Each brings in their unique talents and habits that fit like perfect pieces in a puzzle. From the sassy boss to the clingy colleague, here’s some types that you are bound to bump into…

7_types_of_colleagues_found_in_every_successful_organization
1. The compulsive foodie(s)

Instead of clients, this one’s got all the city’s restaurants on speed dial. From Domino’s to the latest hotspot in town, their peckish appetite will ensure that there’s plenty food circulating all around office. Whether, you’ve got random board meetings or your team’s working at odd hours – you’ll never be hungry ever.

2. The witty assassin

This one will ‘slay’ you more lethally than Beyonce or Eminem ever will.  Come hell or sunshine, he or she’s got the perfect comeback for every painful person and situation. Known for having their fair share of haters, they’re also true entertainers. But, it’ll do you good to remember that it’s a war of words that’s not worth playing….

3. The jack-of-all trades

From sweet talking to https://www.https://www.awfis.com/inspiration/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/shutterstock_3835072871.jpg.com/inspiration/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Awfis-is-your-new-Office1.jpg to executing any kind of project – you name it & it is done.  This breed seldom takes no for an answer.  Whatever is touched turns to gold and they will leave you wondering how it got done. If you need a helping hand, an insightful shrink, or someone to walk your dog, rest assured you can depend on this pro multi-tasker with your eyes shut!

4. The road runner

This famous few will be on their toes, always on the phone, pretending to be busier than the Kardashians.  Your’re more likely to see them at the office door as a permanent fixture. All the worlds’ people know this person and this social butterfly is likely to know everyone. Constantly on the move, you’ll need this PR pro to take your business to places.

5. The tech geek

You’ll always find this genius, behind a bunch of wires, computers and applications. Broke a light bulb, had a short-circuit or you found your desktop suddenly crashed… Fret not. Dexter’s got the perfect fix. Quiet and demure, he probably takes pride in being faster than a normal computer. But, if you’re a know-it-all, then you might not like this mister…

6. The swear champion

This person believes in pure tough love. Yeah, ouch! When the pressure builds up and clients turn demanding, then be sure to hear a spew of gushing swears. Whether it’s loud and clear or below the belt, this one is feared and they sure know how to get work done. Tip: They are usually in positions of power and you’d rather never cross the line with them

7. The constant complainer

This one’s a problem magnet. Even on the brightest day where there’s plenty of reason to rejoice, this type loves telecasting their worries. This includes the coffee machine, that might have broken down or the weather that suddenly turned rotten – there’s always something to say. However, their minute observation constantly keeps you in check and hey! Be assured that you’ll get plenty feedback for the tiniest things on agenda.

But whether you like it or not… take each of these types with a pinch of salt, because they make for the big brains and even bigger learning curves…

Things Every Entrepreneur Can Learn From Pursuit of Happyness

Business How To’s

25 August 2021

Things Every Entrepreneur Can Learn From Pursuit of Happyness

  • Posted by awfis

Pursuit of Happyness is an iconic movie which was released in 2006. It has been 10  years since it released, but never fails to inspire the viewer. It fills the person with a determination to fight for their dreams irrespective of the hindrances that come along.

Based on a true story of Chris Gardner, a man who loses everything , but manages to get everything because of his perseverance. They show how Chris and his son battle a period of homelessness selling medical bone density scanners while being enrolled in an internship as a stock broker.

pursuit_of_happyness poster

Here are the important things that every entrepreneur can take from the movie:

1. Be ready for extreme hardships:

We’ve seen in the movie that Chris Gardner goes through numerous hardships. Whether it comes to selling his bone density scanners or taking up an internship while managing to take care of his son and provide for him. He doesn’t lose his determination even when everything seems bleak. It’s important not to give up and go on and try to overcome the problems that we come across, daily.

2. Aim for the stars

Always aim high! Believe in yourself and everything can be conquerable. Chris Gardner took a chance and went for an option of interning as a stockbroker where only one person at the end would be given a job! He took a chance when the odds were against him and proved that all you need is an opportunity to achieve things when you set your heart at it.

3. Put In all the effort

When you want to achieve something make sure you give your best shot. A half hearted attempted is a good as not giving it a try. Chris Gardner has many close calls, where anyone else would have given up. He even fixes a bone density scanner at the homeless shelter to make the ends meet.  He has proved that if one wants anything eagerly in life, they should work as if their life depends on it.

4. Never let anyone’s judgement cloud your decision

Do not forget to believe in yourself, even if everyone gives up on you. Your decisions should be made on the basis of your logic and intuition rather than someone else’s judgement. Chris does not give up on the internship even when his wife leaves him. Instead he gets even more determined to succeed. Listen to your heart and no one else’s opinion. Immerse yourself in your dream idea!

5. Never show signs of weakness

Always show your strengths. The moment you do that, everything will fall into place. Fear is the toxin, hope and belief is the antidote. Chris always greeted everyone on a positive note and did not even flinch when he has to shell out his last 5$ to pay for executives cab fare. Quick thinking and how you transform your weaknesses into strengths is what matters eventually.

Chris Gardner’s remarkable achievements show that no matter how many obstacles you face, the rules for success are the same for everyone. If you follow the rules, no matter how difficult it gets, you will reap the reward of your own “Pursuit of Happyness.”

5 Effective Strategies to Market Your Freelance Career

Business How To’s

25 August 2021

5 Effective Strategies to Market Your Freelance Career

  • Posted by awfis

What’s better than doing the job that you love and getting paid for it? That’s the life of a freelancer. You get the best of both the worlds where you get to mix passion and profession together. Freelancing is no magic, you can either be an individual with your own website or a part of a team who has been taking up projects from various clients for over a period of time.

Freelancer

If you are a freelancer and are wondering about the next steps to make it successful, here are some strategies that we think will help you make it a long term career.

  1. Create a checklist of your deliverables:

The first step to promote your freelance career is to list down your skill set in the order of strength. It can be writing, graphic designing, creating video content or anything else that you think is your forte. Once you have this list ready, your reality will be in front of your eyes. The strengths can eventually result into a niche market of your own, via freelancing.

  1. Make sure your content reaches your target audience:

In today’s world identifying your potential client, plays key while marketing for the freelancer. In order to ensure this, make sure that your content is shared on all the social media platforms. For example, if you have created a video make sure you maximize it on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other relevant social media platforms. With this you can increase the visibility of your content and influence them with your content.

  1. Do not forget to focus on e-mail marketing:

E-mails are the best way to reach the correct target audience. The click through rate might be less compared to other social media platforms but around 90% of the audience using e-mails check it daily. People sign up for various sites knowing that they would be receiving mails from that particular website. It is the easiest way to cover a large network area. If you are a little shy or lack the opportunity to connect with the right market, cold emailing will be the best way to reach out to your target.

  1. Maintain your website traffic and Inquiry section efficiently:

The easiest way for people to contact you is through the inquiry section on your website. Do respond to inquiries as soon as you can as this will uplift the credibility of your brand. Along with that make sure Search Engine Optimisation and Search Engine Marketing for your page/website is up to mark. As they say, optimizing the page is better than being lost somewhere amidst millions of similar searches.

  1. Get referrals from your clients:

Referrals provide authenticity to your work. Word of mouth is better than any other form of marketing. Use it as an advantage and get credibility for your work. Effective relationships are built over a period of time. They not only enable you to reach out to your potential clients, but also motivate you to perform better. Do not hesitate to get testimonials from clients you’ve delivered great service to!

Using these strategies will prove beneficial for kick-starting your freelancing career. If you are ready and confident about your freelancing skills, it’s time to implement these strategies in reality!