Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The cat's out of the bag...

While pouring my coffee, I was thinking about my blog post this morning and it occurred to me that I have never told you my WI secret...

I figure it's been long enough...

When Kevin (from Milojo) called me and asked if I would post info about the casting process on my blog (remember that? I believe the post was called "Got some info for ya") he told me "Don't post this but I wanted to tell you that we have passed you on to the next round"!

Even now, thinking about it, I get a huge smile on my face because I can recall the total excitement I was feeling!!!

We actually went out for lunch and celebrated...positive that whomever now had my application would just LOVE The Everything Marinator!

So what happened? Life happened. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I have to say, had I been selected and signed that contract, I would not have gone to Vegas and made the connections that I did.

My point being...I know you all are waiting...and waiting...to hear from the WI show but while you wait, keep workin' your biz!

I was guilty of hearing that little "secret" and sitting on my hands waiting to hear back when I could have been working towards making my invention a reality on my OWN and lost a lot of time and money!

I am rooting for all of you!!!!!

On a side note: Please visit hsn.com. I do not believe they have the link up anymore regarding the show. You can find it in an old Google search but I could not find it on their most recent website. Let me know if I missed it!

38 comments:

  1. Tracy, thanks for the information. I too was in Vegas. You seem to have had many contacts I did not have at WI and PitchMen. I have many years of huge sales experience, but for some reason I am a bit shy about my own invention/product. Perhaps because I had to keep it quiet for so long during patenting or that I have a vested interest.

    In the meantime, I have applied with Edison Nation for Bed Bath & Beyond, have done several shows and videos at various shows youtube.com (bagbundle) and craftertv.com, etc. Again, so out of character for me.

    I have got to stop being so sad and be excited about the many possibilities.

    I am grateful for this blog (thanks to Deedra), as it has given me a perspective and I am grateful for all of we sister inventors who have a dream. www.bagbundle.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous,
    I am so glad to hear that you are pursuing many avenues for your invention and I know how it feels to want to keep your "baby" close to your vest! Keep plugging along...remember the verse, "God helps those who help themselves"!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You always have exciting news for us1 I think that's great that you made it this far and as soon as you start making the EM it will give even more mojo to go for it. I have a question for you. Do you know if Kevin that contacted you(also contacted me) was the guy that was trading off with Brian for the intial 30 secnd pitch or was he the guy that was in with Danielle. It has just been bugging me that I couldn't put a face with the name. Thanks again and congrats big time on all your contacts, isn't exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for posting about your WI experience. How were you notified that you did not make the show? We have been waiting to hear, and haven't heard anything since a few weeks after the show.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous,
    I was never notified that I did not make the show...I just figured that since I did not get a contract that the decision had been made to pass on the EM...

    Brian was the guy who sat at the long table when we walked in and took our applications...

    Anyone check hsn.com?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I got the phone call :) but I have nothing more to report to you than what you have already heard! I have no new dates or time-lines, I don't know when I'll hear back again, and I don't know how many women they are down to or how many will be cast.

    What I do know is that I ALWAYS have fun talkin' it up about klipzon. :) The producer asked me how I came up with the idea, and what I thought I could improve on my idea, and if there were dates that I wouldn't be able to go to New York IF that was needed. It was very clear that it was IF, not WHEN. That was about it. He was talkative and nice!!

    Soooo, back to waiting. Still having fun with it all! So glad to be getting to know so many of you!

    As always, you are the first to get my info...even my hubby doesn't know about the call. :) He's workin'.

    Off to change diapers....soooooo glamorous!

    Deedra
    www.klipzon.com

    PS Tracy I googled "hsn.com and milojo" and saw the old posting, something else exciting that I should be seeing there? Here it is:
    http://www.hsn.com/casting-call-work-with-tv-star-kelly-ripa_at-3751_xa.aspx

    PPS Lisa (bagbundle.com) glad I could lead you to this blog, you add so much wisdom to it

    PPS Whoooo hoooooo!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Deedra, that is excellent news!
    About HSN...I was concerned that there is not any info about WI on their site...

    Anyone else get calls?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm sure that all involved with the contracts and calls are still forging ahead behind the scenes to make their dream come true. It IS the only way to make things happen. Doing so just makes the process run that much smoother, even if selected by WI. Milojo is just a little behind schedule and we need to be patiet... but never stop the flame of our inventions from growing, developing, and ready for all to see!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tracy, you should check out TLC's guide for the winter months. They have and still are posting "Mom Inc." as the show to follow the Fratelli? family (the family owned NJ wedding reception site). The wedding reception show is currently airing and "Mom Inc." is listed to follow as Milojo's 2nd show on TLC.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, Tracy,
    I was trying to find out who KEVIN is not Brian. Iwas asking if you know if kevin was trading off with Brian for the 3 second pitch or was KEVIN the guy in with Danielle.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  11. A shout out to the interviewed WI contract signers... what part of the country did you attend the casting call?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello,
    I still have not received a call! SO SAD!!! Did they say if everyone that signed a contract would get a call?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have also not received a call yet. I have a patent on my invention so I was so hoping that I would make it,but nothing so far!
    Contract #3

    ReplyDelete
  14. Don't be sad or give up hope...the woman I spoke with said they had a "ton" of calls to make. I'm sure they are still making their way through the list of inventors who have signed contracts.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hang in there, they are behind with scheduling. I was at the NY casting call and wonder where everyone else attended.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you guys so much!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I went to the Dallas casting call.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is AWESOME!!! Good luck ladies! I can't wait to see you all on Mom, Inc!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous from Dallas, did I meet you there?

    Deedra
    www.klipzon.com

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow! What a lot of excitement these days! Tracy - can't wait to hear your new potential news.

    And - LADIES PLEASE - don't get discouraged - keep plugging away and trust your life!

    I do so hope that those of you who have a product ready to market will consider Womentorz.com as a direct sales outlet and eliminate the cost of retail distribution. We are getting lots of attention at the moment and our PR professional, Kat Spellman is preparing for a media blitz.

    Melinda and I will be interviewed on "your15minutes" by Angle Bush on Blog Talk Radio - a site that gets over 1,000,000 hits per month!

    We are also excited that Mommy Mitten will be featured in an article in an upcoming issue of Open Baby Magazine.

    AllThingsGirl.net will be doing a feature article on Womentorz in their Nov. 1 issue!

    We know that after all you have put into prototypes, patenting, licensing, manufacturing, etc. that there are not a lot of dollars left to get it to market - this is where we want to help!

    TOGETHER - we can ALL be successful!!

    I know you've got big fish in the pan Tracy, but you know we would love to showcase the EM on Womentorz - send out some good tweets and I will be sure to RT all over the place :)

    Sending love and good luck wishes for all!

    Jen C.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello Deedra,
    No I did not get to talk to you. I did see you leaving when you yelled out good luck to all of us!!!! That was when I told my husband we will see her on the show for sure!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. BUT, I bet I saw you!!!! :)

    Deedra
    www.klipzon.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jen,
    I am SO happy for your success so far with womentorz! Sounds like you have a good PR company on your side!

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is over you guys. This is the E-mail I received from the Creative Executive. I have been so hurt by this whole thing, I think I am done with all of it. I never thought having one good idea could cause so much heartache. In the meantime, I guess we will have to keep on plugging.Bag Bundle
    Hi Lisa,

    Unfortunately we're wrapping up casting and have contacted all semi-finalists who we are talking to about callbacks. Im sorry :( We wish you the best of luck with your product and hope you like the show!!

    Warmly,
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh Christina,
    I am soooo sorry! I know you were really counting on this!
    Lick your wounds today but tomorrow is a new beginning for you and Bag Bundle! I hope you will still visit my blog and keep us updated on how you are doing!
    Much love,
    Tracy

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks! You are doing so much better than I am.

    ReplyDelete
  27. LISA!! Are you kidding me! YOU DONE?!?!? NOOOOOOOOO WAYYYYYY!!!!! Your product is AMAZING!!!!!! I watched your videos with the business plan you made in Orlando with the American Inventor Judge, sent people to your website, been inspired by your professionalism and determination.....

    You've got what it takes and so does your product! You have purpose in what you are doing and I think you have the ability to go all the way!!!

    Maybe Milojo didn't have the right spot for you, but look how many little doors have opened with connection and seeds have been planted. Now it's time to keep watering so things can grow bigger than before.

    Don't you dare slow down, give up, or be done with anything. We need women like you to keep on sharing your story so we can learn and grow too. How will I learn otherwise!!!

    I'll be buying a bag bundle soon. I know I need it with all the things to keep up with having 3 boys under the age of 5. :)

    Hope to keep hearing from you,
    Deedra :)
    www.klipzon.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Deedra, You DOUBLE ROCK!!! So, are you in or out at this point contractually? Thanks!:) Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm still in the running....but the time-frame in which I got my contract, I think I'm in the second round group....possibly back-up if the first choice selections don't work out.... That's all a guess. :)

    Deedra
    www.klipzon.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. It has got to hurt. It is such a long time that we've been waiting for some answers. Please don't let this do you in, though...it may be the pesky hurdle you will laugh about one day in the future when your product is a household name!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Another thought, Deedra...it was explained to us at the NY casting call that the first season would require 16 women and that if the show was picked up again, they would be selecting more (that is where the different "pools" are coming from). It could be that you may be in the selection process for the second season if the first season is successful (and I think we all believe it will be). Keep the faith!

    ReplyDelete
  32. TV is fickle I agree with the last post. Just when you think it's over it's not. I have been at that low too Lisa. I also have no connections and did not get chosen for WI. But even though I hit a low and want to throw in the towel sometimes I know I won't. And somehow I know you won't either. But it has been a long time and lots of waiting and dreaming and you need to allow yourself to mourn. It's healthy and you deserve it. I say have that pity party. Then get ready to open some more doors!!

    Best wishes to all,

    Mary S

    ReplyDelete
  33. I received a contract in the second round so to speak and I haven't received a call or an email????? I wonder what that means? Anyone left out there that hasn't heard anyting?
    #3

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh jeeze...are you telling me that not only did I NOT make FIRST season but there's a SECOND season that I did not make either?!?! Ha ha ha! :)

    One thing this has taught me...truly, honestly, wholeheartedly... everything happens for a reason!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi WI's,
    I just wanted to clear up one point after I received an email from Milojo.
    Their deadline for issuing contracts was Oct 1st. IF you received a contract and haven't heard yet your still in the running: ) That is per an email that I just received from Christina at Milojo. Hope that helps ladies.
    Contract holder #3

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wouldn't it be so nice if Milojo would simply issue a brief statement as to where they are in the selection process and in the development of this program? A one or two sentence formal statement from them would suffice and would eliminate all the angst and useless speculation and reading between the lines. As it is, it feels almost unkind not to do so. I wish they would be just a little bit more forthcoming.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi, I have a new scenario for ya'll...I heard about WI a couple of days before the deadline. I uploaded a video submission and faxed in the application. Brian emailed 7-9 to request a couple of photos and I emailed them on 7-10. No news after that. I really thought they might be still deliberating, but thankfully, now I know that the deals have been made. I just emailed Brian to request a quick "Yes" or "No" so I will let you all know if I hear anything from him. It seems like they would have a standard "No, Thank You," for all the applicants that didn't make the cut, but maybe not.

    ReplyDelete