Why you should never take the Dragond Den seriously.!!

Some inside information on why reality TV is a crock of horse manure.

http://admin.smartfocusdigital.com/....september.article1realitytv/bVWC001/x61XJD1F

Earl

 

[downsouth]

i've long stopped believing that show, all too much set up for the camera's, some good business points but they seem intent on destroying everyones pitch.

 

[Graemem]

Some inside information on why reality TV is a crock of horse manure.

http://admin.smartfocusdigital.com/....september.article1realitytv/bVWC001/x61XJD1F

Earl

Don't think I'd ever consider it as a serious place to go for investment... Would go on it for Publicity though definitely.

 

[akirk]

A lot of very valid points in the show - of course the filming is selected to get a balance of what we see / for entertainment, but the simple fact is that the dragons have made their money - and more than most and do invest in and are involved in a large number of businesses.

Of course there is truth in the fact that exposure on there is valuable in itself, but that doesn't mean that the rest is not:
- if business owners did the basics suggested on there, many more businesses would survive
- if you have one of those dragons involved in your business, doors will open

so, I do think that there is value as long as you always acknowledge that it is entertainment.

Alasdair

 

Did we really think that entrepreneurs gave money away on the back of a 3 minite presentation?

Apart from entertaiment value, DD does give auseful insight into the sort of questions you will need to address when looking for investment.

Thats all!"

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I'm sure that Sharon Wright would agree with you.

 

[garyk]

Fact is if you are presenting to dragons you dont need to have your 3 year projections in your head, you would have them on a spreadsheet and would have much more detail than top line figures. It might be useful to know the difference between profit and turnover but destroying people just because they dont know the figures is abit harsh.

 

[Freddief]

The biggest problem I have with DD is the number of people who go on there to pitch for money to pay themselves a salary that the business cannot generate without more funding. The reality for most growing businesses is that the owner gets paid last and probably less than anyone they employ until the business gets through startup and generates real profits.

 

[Kernowman]

Fact is if you are presenting to dragons you dont need to have your 3 year projections in your head, you would have them on a spreadsheet and would have much more detail than top line figures. It might be useful to know the difference between profit and turnover but destroying people just because they dont know the figures is abit harsh.

The key to the programme's entertainment value is the word "Dragon" which infers that someone's rear end is going to be toasted

The build up in the background music and the commentator's voiceover dubs also builds that tension up for the viewer's benefit and adds to the pleasure of watching someone squirm. It's almost a bloodless gladiator ring sometimes and it's designed right from the outset to be that way.

 

[360interactive]

Interesting article, and 2 very different points of view about reality tv!

I must admit, I don't know any business people who actually enjoy watching DD, I certainly don't.

Mary Portas seems to have a positive review though, so is it all a crock of horse manure?

 

[stugster]

"By the way, I'm available for the next series of Dragons' Den - as a Dragon!"


She makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside

 

[sellickbhoy]

What really annoys me about programmes like

Dragons Den
mary Queen of Shops
Ramseys Kitchen nightmares
Endless Property "developer" programs

is that it's not aimed at people in business. It's a TV show, dumbed down like all tv shows to appeal to the mass market - to get ratings/sell advertising/promote the people in it etc.

As entertainment goes, it's quite enjoyable, as I like to hurl abuse at some of the idiots that go on it, like to ponder some of the novel business ideas etc.

but why can't TV make a proper show (on any subject) that is pitched at the people who would be interested. i.e. a proper small business meets angel investors type show.

weed out the idiots and bring in the people with genuine businesses, looking for genuine investment and/or support and do more than the 3 minute pitch, obviously there would be a pitch, some basic questioning, but then you could have a follow up as they go through the numbers, due diligence etc. And lets see how the businesses actually do from the investment.

it would give many small business owners a big insight into how to approach investors for funding, how to look at their business and then seeing the changes the "angels/investors" make to the development of the business

Why does everything have to be so banal.

 

[Kernowman]

Why does everything have to be so banal.

Because that's what the overwhelming majority of the population WANT to view.

Hence why society has taken a quantum leap from Opportunity Knocks which sought out and highlighted real talent and tended to suppress the failures all those years ago, to the X Factor and it's ilk we have now which relies more in the humiliation factor than finding genuine talent. It would be a rather short programme if that were the case.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

I tend to watch these type of programs as a source of ideas rather than advice. Everything is cut and edited for TV but some of the products and services seen on DD give an interesting in view on how people are tackling problems in their field.

I have seen a few epsidoes of the US versions, Lions Den, and that seems a bit more full on with the "Lions" being really competitive with one another and going for far bigger percentages.

The ones I hope are more based in truth are "Undercover Boss" and "Secret Millionaire". I have a feeling "Undercover Boss" has allowed its self to get manipulated in to being a promotional vehicle for the companies involved.

 

[sellickbhoy]

I'm not saying there isn't a place for these programs, I enjoy watching the complete idiots/losers/deluded that turn up and don't know their arse form their elbow (or in xfactor have no talent at all, just a supersized ego and over inflated opinion in their own worth)

but why not have 2 programs, one that handles the subject matter in a serious and informative/useful way (probably shown LATE at night so we all have to record it and watch at a more convenient time) and one for the mass audience who aren't really interested - you know, the sort of people who'd pay £12k for a dog walking franchise (hahahahahahahahahahahaha )

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

is that it's not aimed at people in business. It's a TV show, dumbed down like all tv shows to appeal to the mass market - to get ratings/sell advertising/promote the people in it etc.

As entertainment goes, it's quite enjoyable, as I like to hurl abuse at some of the idiots that go on it, like to ponder some of the novel business ideas etc.

but why can't TV make a proper show (on any subject) that is pitched at the people who would be interested. i.e. a proper small business meets angel investors type show.

weed out the idiots and bring in the people with genuine businesses, looking for genuine investment and/or support and do more than the 3 minute pitch, obviously there would be a pitch, some basic questioning, but then you could have a follow up as they go through the numbers, due diligence etc. And lets see how the businesses actually do from the investment.

Because it's TV, it's entertainment.

It needs millions of people to watch it every week in order to justify the cost and then primetime slot and to pull in the advertising revenues.

It needs millions of people to watch it to create a platform that can then be sold, and hopefully even franchised out worldwide.

It's entertainment for the masses, not the minority.

Only a miniscule minority of people watching it will use it as a springboard for going into business. THe majority watch it, have a natter with their partner over some of the good ideas, have a laugh and a poke at the terrible ideas, make a few personal comments about the dragons, and the pitchers. And then carry on with their normal lives.

It's TV. It serves the purpose it's supposed to - entertainment.

Simples.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

What I would like to see is the return of "Troubleshooter" from the early 90's. Hotel Inspector etc are just very watered down versions of this

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Troubleshooter was good agreed. Also, the 4 part series into a family owned department store, and the other one with John Lewis were both very good too.

The C4 - undercover boss series is becoming more watered down, which is a shame. But then, the majority of the viewers want to see a little glimpse of drama and people inside of organisations, rather than in depth nitty gritty about business issues.

 

[arkybarky]

Could not agree with sandiep more. I find it even more entertaining how people on this forum are getting wound up about the lack of "seriousness" of this program. It is meant for the masses and does serve its purpose of entertainment.
As for its validity...it has established a few businesses that keep growing from strengh to strengh, that reggae reggae sauce is the first thing that pops into my head, also "worthenshaws freedom" ice cream just got released this week in every major supermarket up and down the country, I'm sure a few of those people that appeared on the show have gone on to do quite well WITH the assistance of the dragons.
I wish these guys the best of luck in the future and suggest that others start looking a bit more on the bright side of things too and concentrate on more important issues..(ie...their own business!)

 

[jane p]

i love dragons den. I like seeing all the ideas people come up with.

i hope they might get some new dragons in though next time. Give someone else a chance. Ive been watching it since the start. Better than soap operas any day.

 

[bobbyriggs]

thanks for the link

i've never like dragons den

 

[The Pines]

As mentioned, Troubleshooter was a superb programme.

Also, Gerry Robinson has done some excellent business documentaries.

And Evan Davies recently did a 1-hour documentary on Warren Buffett, which I enjoyed, but seems to have been a one-off.

Generally speaking though, the quality of business programmes or documentaries is pi55-poor, probably because the makers feel as if the have to compete with Get me out of the Celebrity X Factor on Ice in the Big Brother Strictly Come Dancing Jungle. Pile of ar5e...