SBL looking for new Director of Operations.

[Grangur]

Going by the fact that Scott emailed me direct with this ad, and he doesn't really know what field of work I'm in. I doubt there's an agency involved yet.  Scott is very much a down to earth guy who will be thinking about what he needs in a person and thinking, "Of all my database of 1,xxx,xxx, it's very possible the right person is in that list. So his first action is cobble together what he sees as a good, "hip business" job description, and get it out there.

The wording is not what some folk are used to reading in a job ad, but I've seen worse.

@musicbassman, no, I don't think it's hit its potential. It's a music school. Like a driving school, there are always more youngsters coming up. Where it went wrong is certain things happened that p*$sed people off and they went away. When that happens and friendships go, others drop off. I see it here in BC. Characters of old have gone. I drop away too sometimes. "It's not what it was", is what goes through your head. 

What he will struggle to get back are all the "old bass hands" who were there to improve, but having "done SBL" finding new ones will be tough. 

The trouble he faces is when new members join, they find the "vibrant Campus" is dead. There's hardly any discussion going on. All the "Unread content" threads are other folks "practise logs". (Yes, they have a section where members keep a thread which is their own practise log.)

The quietness turns folk off and they quit after their 14 day trial... I guess.

I could write tons more, but Scott may see this and he's not paying me for this consultancy!!   :D

[paul_c2]

If he's trying to run an (effectively, paid) forum for UK bass guitarists then surely an insurmountable obstacle is network effect?

[Teebs]

11 hours ago, Delberthot said:

I have the contents of my cupboard alphabetised from Actimel all the way to zucchini although problems arise when I'm faced with whether to put the Pot Noodles under P or N.

I still have no idea what a key performance indicator is 

 

10 hours ago, dannybuoy said:

That’s when you choose something to measure employee performance, which ironically then leads to overall poor results.

For example if a programmer gets rated on how many lines of code they write per day, they will churn out lots of inefficient code instead of thinking how to simplify 100 lines down to 10.

Also team members will spend less time doing things that aren’t measured, such as sharing knowledge and helping others.

Therefore a load of rowlocks!

 

 

As dannybuoy says, it's a way of setting targets, then congratulating yourself when you achieve them.

The important thing about this is to set KPIs that you can easily achieve.

I do this for work all the time.

Examples include:

Force myself to go to work;

Wear trousers to work;

Pretend that the client/s is/are not complete imbeciles (challenging one, this);

Withstand the urge to bludgeon anyone who uses the term 'optioneering' to a bloody death (struggling with this one);

And finally, another easy one - leave the office at the earliest opportunity.

It's important to have goals...

 

 

[Grangur]

In the SBL forum, they used to have an ap with a map showing where folk live. Relatively few were in the UK. Most are in the USA. Yet the coverage was all over the world.

[paul_c2]

So they're competing with the TalkBass forum?

[mangotango]

Phrasing the ad that way is likely to sort out the Modern Management sheep from the Musician goats, i.e. putting off the people who just might fancy giving it a crack, because they play bass, maybe because they've worked in the Music Industry.

Fact is, you could fill that role without (at the start, at least) knowing all that much about music, bass-playing etc., but having the required qualifications, Project Management experience and overall Management skill set. It's locked into the kind of thing I see far too often in my working day, all this MBA-speak BS written in TLA's (three-letter acronyms) like KPI's, SLA's, etc.

This might help with all that: http://www.theofficelife.com/business-jargon-dictionary-A.html 

Nowadays, Companies add a layer of Operations to the process and think it makes them modern and efficient.  In my experience, in most cases, it just adds to the cost and time taken to make decisions whilst bringing little if any tangible benefit.

So all in all, I'm quite glad at 61 to be coasting down towards retirement from this kind of thing, hopefully giving my time to playing music instead.

[Newfoundfreedom]

Sweet Jesus! 

His recruitment ads are even more tedious than his YouTube videos.

I'm out! 

(To be fair I don't have a Bachelor's degree in kissing derrière so I was never in the running anyway) 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Newfoundfreedom

[Hellzero]

I read the job advert and had a good laugh.

It's typical SD talking, with his unability to focus and his ability to repeat everything over and over. He even didn't bother to read his ad again. The application instructions are even written twice !?

In fact, if he hadn't deleted my email address after our little anicroche, he could have asked me to do the job as ... it's my job.

The problem is that no real Director of Operations will apply after reading his job advert that was certainly written by a 7 years old child.

As we say, GLWYS, as he will need it.

[ped]

My problem is that jobs like this really interest me but the way they're worded makes me feel massively de-skilled. By that I mean that I think I could do many of the jobs I think it refers to but I have no formal qualifications in them, which presumably would put a stop to any potential application. I do find it surprising that 'startup' type companies often do this even though most of the people at the helm have followed a similarly unconventional less certificated path. 

It makes me think sometimes that you basically have to decide at 16 what you want to do for the rest of your life because if you try and change industry at a later date you won't have the experience and particular value alignments of the new post. I know that's not exactly it but I'm trying to explain how I feel about it. 

Although running this site has taught me a lot and I think developed my skills hugely, in my experience even if i word it in management speak, employers don't want to read the sort of language they use in their ads, and it's difficult to 'sell' skills you have but which haven't been accredited. 

[edwn]

So, now I'm intrigued with what Scott has planned -- what are these huge projects that need such complex managing?

SBL is just about organising video shoots, setting up some merch products, keeping a website up to date ... it's hardly building the channel tunnel is it?

A good PA could do that stuff without breaking a sweat.

So there must be some massive marvellous scheme he has in mind for world domination ...

What could it be? Answers below ...

 

[wateroftyne]

2 minutes ago, edwn said:

So, now I'm intrigued with what Scott has planned -- what are these huge projects that need such complex managing?

SBL is just about organising video shoots, setting up some merch products, keeping a website up to date ... it's hardly building the channel tunnel is it?

A good PA could do that stuff without breaking a sweat.

So there must be some massive marvellous scheme he has in mind for world domination ...

What could it be? Answers below ...

 

There's a bit more to it than that, I think.

[Teebs]

Scott seems to be a very nice man, so I hope he finds the right person to fulfill this role.

The wording of the advert is a tad annoying, and corporate bollix, and perhaps not clear (at least to me) as to what they're actually looking for (I'd comment on the grammar, but @BassTractor would quite rightly point out that I'm a murderer of the English language! ).

I'm out anyway - I'm outrageously dis-organised!

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Teebs

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, ped said:

My problem is that jobs like this really interest me but the way they're worded makes me feel massively de-skilled.

So just apply anyway - if they are not interested you haven't lost anything.

But you never know.

[stewblack]

I can't bear it. Any of it. The whole David Brent culture makes me I'll. 

[Bleat]

…… And I thought the Youtube videos were full of waffle. Sorry but I started to loose interest after  the first couple of sentences of that advert! None of what he does holds no interest for me personally to be honest.

I'm sure Scott is a great bloke and has obviously been pretty successful in his venture and I wish him the best for his business.... I hope it's made him a sh*t load of money , 'coz with that nearly endless list of requirements he will only be attracting those of an ilk who will be demanding a sh*t load in wages!

🎸

Edited June 6, 2019 by Bleat
Grammar before the Nazis get to me

[wateroftyne]

14 minutes ago, Bleat said:

I'm sure Scott is a great bloke and has obviously been pretty successful in his venture and I wish him the best for his business.... I hope it's made him a sh*t load of money , 'coz with that nearly endless list of requirements he will only be attracting those of an ilk who will be demanding a sh*t load in wages!

🎸

Quote

"Scott’s Bass Lessons, the online academy he set up in 2013, has more than 15,000 paying subscribers generating revenue of about $2.5 million (£1.9 million) a year. The business is even attracting the interest of venture capital investors... read more"

i.e. more than many of us will make in a lifetime. Good on him, I say - I'm not a fan of his videos etc, but I have a lot of respect for what he's achieved..

He clearly has some idea of what he's talking about, despite what some here would suggest.

 

[Chiliwailer]

2 hours ago, ped said:

My problem is that jobs like this really interest me but the way they're worded makes me feel massively de-skilled. By that I mean that I think I could do many of the jobs I think it refers to but I have no formal qualifications in them, which presumably would put a stop to any potential application. I do find it surprising that 'startup' type companies often do this even though most of the people at the helm have followed a similarly unconventional less certificated path. 

It makes me think sometimes that you basically have to decide at 16 what you want to do for the rest of your life because if you try and change industry at a later date you won't have the experience and particular value alignments of the new post. I know that's not exactly it but I'm trying to explain how I feel about it. 

Although running this site has taught me a lot and I think developed my skills hugely, in my experience even if i word it in management speak, employers don't want to read the sort of language they use in their ads, and it's difficult to 'sell' skills you have but which haven't been accredited. 

It's a tough one - I'll be careful what I say, not because I think I may offend someone, but because each company and personnel will invariably see things differently dependent on their experience and perspective. 

From my experience in social care, good Director's are vastly experienced (or naturally gifted) especially outside their specialist area (e.g. HR, legislation, coaching etc.) , have worked their way up through the ranks, been innovative and decisive and have a natural disposition for the role. And in contrast, poor versions have been inexperienced, weak, over critical and reactive (to justify a position) and/or generally just bullshi**ers or 'yes' men. Speaking of both types, qualifications hasn't come into it as much as the skills noted in the first line of this para. 

People who do amazing at start ups deserve every praise and respect, no question. But it isn't a certainty that they'd enter another company and repeat that feat, and some need a person who's been around the block or has fresh ideas to add another dimension. This leads to my concern about the points in the advert regarding 'being on same page as CEO' and 'Translate and filter CEO message' type stuff. I get what they mean of course in that damage is done if people aren't in harmony, but they seem like leadership and middle management requirements to me when spelt out that blatantly... As for a Director - what about diversity? what about challenging the CEO constructively? What about bringing innovation and being given the opportunity to use it? The best Directors I've worked for have done all that. I'll never be a Director, and am biased by my experience (aren't we all?). I'm ranting because I'm about to lose an outstanding Director, following a long line of yes men, 'not a clue about the front line' types or dictators. 

So yeah Ped, you might just have the skills, if your CV doesn't get through then you just might need to meet on the 9th hole and have that chat to show your credentials... 

n.b. Of course, essentially Scott can ask for whatever he wants, even if it's a mini-me or glorified multi-tasking manager dressed up as Director, he's earned that right!!!

Edited June 6, 2019 by Chiliwailer

[chris_b]

I gave up trying to turn bass playing into a living and I was only after tens of thousands of pounds. That was tough enough, but if Scott can turn his bass playing into an enterprise worth millions of pounds then he gets all the respect from me. 

[Newfoundfreedom]

35 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I gave up trying to turn bass playing into a living and I was only after tens of thousands of pounds. That was tough enough, but if Scott can turn his bass playing into an enterprise worth millions of pounds then he gets all the respect from me. 

I'm happy to get free beer. 

[visog]

12 hours ago, musicbassman said:

Maybe SBL has reached the limit of it's potential.

* There are only so many bass players out there.

* There's an ever decreasing number of opportunities to play live, which must decrease enthusiasm.

* He's preaching to an ageIng demographic.

* Just maybe.

Lot in that... together with how the market size interacts with his licence model. Not to mention, with a bit of diligence, you can put together a free educational package on YouTube that would rival any paid college/music schools. Yes it would lack interaction and feedback from a tutor but in most other aspects its all there. You'd be a pretty competent bass player if you learnt and applied all of Scott's free lessons alone.

I agree the ad is badly worded but at its core is a commercial Ops Director role so hopefully the remuneration is commensurate - sorry, the pay is appropriate.  

[Grangur]

TBH, if my assessment of what  Scott needs is correct, mostly what he needs is advice on strategy for his business model. Scott is unquestionably good on the playing and education side. The paid-for lesson content is the best I've seen. What appears to be failing is customer retention. To do this he needs to have hooks to tie folk in. I'm not so sure that this is a full time job. Yet he may have more in mind for this than I'm seeing. 

[skankdelvar]

14 hours ago, Rich said:

Those are definitely two things to ask at the interview when inevitably asked "do you have any questions?". I am told that these days, an applicant can succeed or fail on the basis of what they say at this point -- saying "errm, not really no" is the kiss of death.

One time during an interview I realised that I really didn't want the job.

When the guy asked me if I had any questions I replied: 'If Train A leaves London at 9 AM and proceeds north at 60 mph and train B leaves Edinburgh at 10 AM and proceeds south at 50 mph, at what time will the two trains pass each other?'

Worked a treat. 

[Stub Mandrel]

I read the ad as saying "Scott has loads of ideas and has grown the business to this point but has some issues... one he wants to focus the creative and teaching not the business side, two he wants someone who can harness his wild ideas and make them into a practical business startegy and three, they can do this without pissing him off beacuse the team enjoy what they are doing and don't want someone to come in and kill the atmosphere."

Obvious places to go... other instruments, recording etc. - develop the brand for wider audiences building on an existing good reputation. Look for ways to affiliate with physical music schools. Investigate real life masterclasses and workshops that get filmed. Merch, shop. Assigmments where you ge a piece, record yourself and get feedback.  Tutors who aren't Scott but have charisma and can develop their own instruments/areas. Child friendly lessons. Snack-size videos that only last 5-10 minutes. Feature vids 'meet a member' 'members basses' etc. etc.

Online magazine with news and long-lived content, some behind a paywall, Different models for making it pay....

 

Anyone including these ideas in their application, I want 10% 🙂

 

P.S. sorry for spilling - using my laptop with crummy keyboard.

Edited June 6, 2019 by Stub Mandrel

[Stub Mandrel]

7 hours ago, wateroftyne said:

The business is even attracting the interest of venture capital investors

So get an Operations Director in before investors impose one on you...

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, skankdelvar said:

When the guy asked me if I had any questions I replied: 'If Train A leaves London at 9 AM and proceeds north at 60 mph and train B leaves Edinburgh at 10 AM and proceeds south at 50 mph, at what time will the two trains pass each other?'

12:22:54

Did he get the job?