Alan Smith

Whitmore Lake, MI (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal

Lamocu Productions, LLC

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Location: Whitmore Lake
Industry: Arts
Year Founded: 2006
Number Employees: 1-10 people
Description: We offer a complete line of video services, but our specialty is Event Coordinating and Motivational Speaking. Our passion is helping youth and aspiring local talent by running Open Mic nights; youth retreats not only on weekends but in the afternoons with positive training to their God given talent, whatever it is and give them confidence; assisting other businesses with audio video services for their web site, motivational speaking and training purposes; not to mention promotional videos for the young performers starting out, the motivational speaker, and actually anyone working on a porfolio and needs help marketing themelves or their firm. We have found a great facility in Brighton, Michigan called the Insight Group, a networking and conference center that has opened their arms to us. Having a facility and moral support is one thing, but to do this properly certain technical and promotional equipment much be purchased and installed. By being promoted by Insights Group there has been a tremendous interest in what we are doing and where we are going, but the expansion costs have created deep cuts in our finances and there is still more growth to be done to take advantage of these opportunities. Insights has new businesses coming through their doors daily and they would like to provide a full range of services to their business clients. We started out as a simple video company twenty years ago and did the standard work thereafter. It wasn't until we incorporated that we found our niche working with youth. It was at this time we began to sub out camera work and concentrate on motivational speaking and event coordinating under the Lamocu Media umbrella. Specializing personally on these two areas I began focusing on the needs of the young in our community. The interest and support is there, what lacks is funding. Pastors tell me there is a need for young person program especially retreats, but a lone congregation does not have the time or the funding to pull one off themselves. Here is where we come in as not only event coordinators, but I can speak as a Certified Lay Ministrer in the Methodist Church; provide dramas (member of (URL removed) since 2006) and provide musical entertainment through my connections. We also have experience running fund raisers so we can help the church with that when they are short on manpower to do so themselves. Everything that's worth doing costs time and money; we're willing to put in the time and help them raise the money. The major music stores in the county, Music Man, Schaefers House of Music and the School of Rock all have expressed a desire to find somewhere where their students can practice performing on a stage in front of a crowd. There are no Open Mic nights in the area and very few rehearsal facilities. These shop owners and instructors are tired of selling instruments, giving lessons, only to see the student drop the love of music when then get out of high school because of two reasons, they are not 21 so they cannot get into a club and work on a stage in front of a crowd or they have no promotional video, no promotional material of any kind to send out to help market themselves and grow. Money is only part of the problem for an artist be it music, comedy or theatre---the opportunity is not there. In steps Lamocu, and with the support of Insights Group facility we can provide those services. The same needs hold true for the stand up comic or motivational speaker trying to get started. Anyone who needs experience to perfect their craft and the tools to market themselves. So we can serve our community youth in two ways, giving them activities and giving them opportunities. In doing so, we set up a program that can assist growing businesses in the community. A community, like most in Michigan that could use economic development. As an added bonus, our program will allow the growth of local entertainment, enhancing cultural arts in the area; not only through holding Open Mic's but provide rehearsal space which like many things in this economically depressed area, is at a premium. All lighting, cameras and audio equipment will be versatile enough to handle the many varieties of clientele we and the Insights Group serve. A van is on the horizon to assist with the transportation of youth for retreats. Marketing and advertising the events will be crucial as well. And while our "landlords" at Insights Group have been supportive and patient, there remains the fact that we will owe rent and membership dues to them from Lamocu to continue these projects. The opportunity is knocking on our door and the need to serve is there, but we need help. If you want to help youth, promote local arts, and help give a boost to an economically depressed area, we're the investment you are looking for. If you wish further information on our facility, please go to (URL removed).