Tag: 2009

Fast and loose race at a slow and steady pace!

The story of Bopgig is a long one –  and not without hiccups. 

(updated: 2 May 2022)

(note: additional information about BopGig in Israel Tech Scene 2006-2011 and GrooveGuide)

2000: The name comes to mind.

GrooveTip in its inception was about tipping artists in the same way people tip street buskers. FairTunes.com (2000) worked on that concept, which had a WinAmp plugin. I took an interest in media metadata at the time as that should’ve contained the information for any funds to travel back to content creators.

I had thought… “once people have downloaded songs from Napster… then what?” … ideally, a voluntary tip by the listener/viewer to the creator!

src

2001: Final-year undergrad student enters MBA competition.

pic 2 | 3

2003: Multiple PHP apps cobbled together. Later GrooveGuide (more info here) is added – a free street-press magazine. 500 copies were printed and distributed around Melbourne. Problem: lack of app integration and hence automated signups.

src | 2

2009: Rethinking the business model and user experience. BopGig or GigPop?

2010: A working prototype launches. A Y-Combinator application occurs.

Overworked and under-utilized. Music + Entertainment industry. (Jerusalem, 20 Oct '10)

John on the left, Sup on the right.

Bopgig from Adrian on Vimeo.

2011: Development moves from USA to Israel.

Bopgig pitch (Jan, 2011)

 

2012: Public launch and then a pivot into indefinite hibernation!

 

2020: Hibernation continues!

2022: Thinking about it again!

source

Gigwell Productivity Suite for Booking Agents & Artists

note: With GrooveTip 2000 in mind, I would instead look at making it easier for listeners to give rather than own. Maybe both.
✓ 3 years ago

Brighter Days

From the time I moved into the Great Twitya Pad to the time I left, there was always something going on. Life could’ve been much worse though.

updated: 23 April 2023

By May 2008, I found myself back at Hayarkon hostel, Tel Aviv:

Then, after pondering what to do, I decided to return to acting so I took these headshots and sent them to CU-Agency – the talent agency who had already spotted me in Jerusalem in 2005:

This led to my first extras role since my original 2005 role as a Roman soldier for a History/NatGeo documentary (Mount Zion). Sharon ran the agency:

At the hostel, another Australian guest took issue with me living at the hostel even after making ‘aaliyah.’ Regardless, I found myself wanting to leave anyhow.

Soon after I found the Great Twitya Pad while literally walking up the street (just after dark) with my bags after grabbing a newspaper. Whoever picked up my phone call first had my business. I was so keen to find brighter days.

On the corner of Levontin and Allenby, many people door knocked. I rarely answered because they were strangers.

Outside my door was another door into a corridor and groups would congregate, chatter, unlock the door and then close it behind them. So it was noisy but it didn’t matter. It was far better than nothing at all.


During my time at the Great Twitya Pad starting in mid 2008, I returned to Tsfat and attended a few tech events.

I’d also go rollerblading to Tel Aviv port and the skatepark.

Rollerblade Tel Aviv port

I ended up in a number of film, TV and advertising productions including Bena and David and Kamal. I also acted with a small dog in a Chevrolet advertisement.

In February 2009 while working diligently on Twitya, there was a callout to do this supermarket TV ad. It was a welcome break (and brake) to my train of thought!

מגה בעיר - Mega in the city - TV Ad / Feb 09

The Al Foster Quartet even played up the road:

These activities continued into 2009 before I left to Jerusalem in early 2010. By that stage I had lost hair and developed adult acne in that apartment, which all soon dissipated. I had real trouble with Hebrew but I felt I was moving forward regardless. I had learned Hebrew at King David School for around 5 years, so I could speak, read and write it pretty well but not converse in it, strangely. It was also my least favourite subject.

So in terms of Brighter Days:

Seek, and you shall find – Luke 11:9

[April ’10]

I stopped working for CU agency because my roles would remain non-speaking as my Hebrew wasn’t good enough to progress. Regardless, I kept getting call-outs because I was almost always successful in auditions, and I eventually changed my phone number in order to put an end to it.
✓ 7 months ago