Part 8: The Memoir of a Poetprenuer.

“Build for a global community.”

“Build to scale.”

These two statements have always formed the foundation of my plans for poetry.

It’s funny that though I wasn’t aware of it when we started organizing events in 2012, yet, our choice of names still aligned with the statements.

“Build for a global community.”

“Build to scale.”

Hence, our flagship event was named, WordUp. While our slam poetry competition is called, War Of Words. Our goal is for War Of Words to become an international franchise, e.g. War Of Words Angola, War Of Words Ghana, War Of Words Kenya, War Of Words South Africa, War Of Words Botswana, War Of Words of Nigeria and then War Of Words Africa.

Even my personal project, www.poetreel.com is also in line with these objectives.

Wait, don’t click the link.

We had had to bring down the site early this year because of the cost of hosting it on a dedicated server. But it is definitely coming back, bigger and better.

Poetreel.com is like SoundCloud for poets.

Before Poetreel.com, we had launched warofowordsng.com in 2016.

However, we abandoned it after a while. As a prototype, it was close to what I wanted but not close enough.

Then in August 2019, Poetreel.com was birthed. It was way closer to what I saw in my dream. It was the ideal prototype.

Given what I’ve come to know and understand now, I’m sure we will get it right the 3rd time.

What is the plan for Poetreel.com?

Well, part of what the site is to help us achieve is to ensure:

• We don’t build our house on rented land.
•  We find a way to make money while we sleep.

What is a rented land?

Whatsapp, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram etc.

How would Poetry help us make money while we sleep?

A lot of the workforce, work environment and social interactions have shifted online. Content is now being consumed more than ever. Also, due to Covid-19, most businesses (existing and new) are being set up to operate 90% online. And the truth is, people need content while they work.

The key question is not, what kind of content?

The key question is, how do we keep the content fresh, updated and exciting?

“Build for a global community.”

“Build to scale.”

“Don’t build our house on a rented land.”

“Make money while we sleep.”

Poetry, specifically, Spoken Word Poetry, is a gold mine that is hugely untapped. And most people are focused mainly on the revenue streams available to all to see.

However, like crude, I intend to dig deeper. And when I hit the G-spot, I mean the Gush, I will dig deeper still.

All thanks to Covid-19, the world is now “officially” a global village, given that being online is now a necessity, not a luxury. And there is is a huge market un-served and under-served that are now online.

So forgive me if when you ask for my name or some other information, I reply thus:

“Build for a global community.”

“Build to scale.”

“Don’t build our house on a rented land.”

“Make money while we sleep.”

Written by Olumide Holloway (King Olulu)

Twitter @olulu4ever, Instagram @olulutheking, [email protected], +2348025070892