Starnow.com
BE A STAR NOW
It began, like so many great business ideas, over a pint at their local pub.
Wellingtonians Cameron Mehlhopt, Jamie Howell and Nigel Stanford met at Rongotai College and then all worked in IT for Trade Me. In 2004, they travelled to London on that Kiwi rite of passage, the OE.
“We got over there and it was a bit of a culture shock because in New Zealand no one is desperate to be famous but in the UK everyone wanted to be on reality TV,” says Cameron.
“The three of us got to talking in the pub one day and wondered where they find the contestants.”
That led them to build a website aimed at creating an online community for actors and models seeking work.
“Coming from a web background, we thought that surely there must be a website where performers can find auditions and casting directors can find and cast talent. But we couldn’t find anything, so we realized we had a great opportunity to create something that was unique, had a ready market and, most importantly, could really help people.”
The intrepid trio approached companies like the BBC and offered to place casting calls for free. The other side of the coin, the users, were enticed by ads run on Google.
They had initially hoped to just cover the rent – but the site was so successful that, six years later, they have 1,350,000 registered users, has 14 staff, operate in seven countries and have placed more than 105,000 casting calls, launching the show business careers of thousands.
They have run the company from London and, since 2005, from Wellington.
Cameron says being based so far from their key British talent pool hasn’t been an issue –plus they have in-market staff who deal with the on-the-ground broadcasters and producers, as well the actors, models, musicians, dancers, entertainers and photographers seeking work in the entertainment industry.
Star Now is now making inroads into the critical Australian and US markets where thousands of creative folk are vying for their 15 minutes of fame. They are looking to hire people in the UK in 2010.
Cameron, Jamie and Nigel joined Grow Wellington’s business incubator, Creative HQ, in 2005 and say that the extensive mentoring and practical advice given to them helped them take their fledgling business to the next level.
“There’s a great environment and community within CHQ, as a small business being able to interact with the other companies was fantastic, and it was the perfect place to learn the fundamentals of building and growing a successful company. Moving into CHQ brought a big change in our professionalism and ambition as they gave us advice, mentoring and support, and were a key part of how we turned a great website into a great company.”
