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December
2004 Client of the Month
Tina Heeren
Band-4-Bandz
Waterloo, IA
A background
in public relations and marketing can be a powerful business asset,
but only if one has the "vision" to put it to use. Tina
Heeren, a December 2004 graduate of the University of Northern
Iowa, has been doing just that since September of 2003. Tina is
the visionary behind Band-4-Bandz, a local organization that sponsors
a regional event which combines live music with alcohol awareness
education.
The Band-4-Bandz project is literally a "dream come true".
The vision of Band-4-Bandz appeared to Tina "during a series
of dreams". The dreams involved a music festival in Cedar
Falls where musicians could take part in the "Battle of the
Bands" competition, followed by an appearance of one nationally-acclaimed
band. Alongside the musical entertainment, speakers and educational
exhibits informed attendees about responsible drinking behaviors
and the importance of having designated drivers.
In September of 2003, following a week of inspiration and contemplation,
Tina decided to take action on her vision. With Tina's passion
for music and extensive knowledge of event planning, she was ready
and able to "band" together an amazing group of students,
friends, and family, whose combined efforts resulted in the launch
of Band-4-Bandz during April's Alcohol Awareness Month (2004).
It became an experience that "only a few will ever have the
opportunity to do in their lifetime".
Throughout their planning, the group confronted numerous challenges.
First and foremost, since most people have never established a
music festival from scratch, Tina had to use her resources creatively
to determine how to get the job done. As Tina stated, "If
anyone knows where you can find a complete detailed guide on how
to start a music festival from nothing, it would be indispensable
to me!" Secondly, there was the responsibility of funding
the event. "The entertainment world is not cheap…when
they say bling-bling, they mean it! Nothing is ever just a couple
hundred dollars; everything is in the thousands, which can be
overwhelming when you are just starting out." Fortunately,
Tina found some great sponsors for both the entertainment and
educational components of Band-4-Bandz.
After months of planning and with nearly $30,000 invested, Tina
kept her fingers crossed for a successful premiere, "Please
let everything go okay". It was little surprise to her family
and friends when everything went more than OK - in fact, the event
was an instant success, attracting nearly 500 attendees! Upon
hearing comments and feedback from attendees, Tina decided to
formalize Band-4-Bandz as a not-for-profit business focused on
planning and implementing the annual Band-4-Bandz event.
One of Tina's fondest memories of the 2004 Band-4-Bandz took shape
when a story was shared about a girl from Tina's hometown, Lisa,
who had been killed by a drunk driver. The story was shared on
Saturday evening of the Band-4-Bandz event, and the following
Monday, Governor Vilsack signed "Lisa's Law", a bill
that would allow "authorities to take blood samples without
a warrant from persons under arrest for OWI when the arrest results
from a traffic accident resulting in a person's death or personal
injury likely to cause death". Lisa commented, "Knowing
how happy her family was and just knowing what a relief it was
for them to have that law into effect made the purpose of the
event even more valuable to me."
As a result of Tina's investment in the creation of Band-4-Bandz,
she has discovered three attributes that all entrepreneurs need
in order to attain their vision: belief, dedication, and support.
"If you believe there is a demand and a purpose [for your
vision]; if you believe you can actually do it…then you have
something there." As far as dedication goes, "so few
can withstand [the new venture process] over a long period of
time!" But if you can, then "Dreams and dedication are
a powerful combination" (a quote by William Longgood). And
every entrepreneur, especially one who is young and easily intimidated,
needs the support of friends, family, and community members.
Tina is confident that Band-4-Bandz will continue to be successful
because "I won't let it be anything else!" In fact,
Tina vows that on the tenth anniversary of Band-4-Bandz, she will
compose a detailed "how-to" guide for the next generation
of individuals interested in taking on a project of this magnitude!
Band-4-Bandz now has an office located at the UNI RBC-SBDC. For
more information or to get involved, visit www.band4bandz.com,
or call (319) 236-8123
Tina Heeren
Band-4-Bandz
212 E. 4th Street, Suite # 111
Waterloo, Iowa 50703
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