It was as if I had downloaded encrypted information and I did not have the proper software to view it. After all, what did I know about starting a nonprofit music industry workspace?
Nevertheless, the deepest part of me was absolutely certain that I was onto something revolutionary. It was inspiring. I was filled with an insatiable desire to chisel away at the giant stone until it yielded the David that lay beneath.
So I started studying.
After spending countless hours on the irs.gov website, I settled on making the organization a 501(c)(6) business league. A business league is defined as:
...an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote such common interest… activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons… line of business generally refers either to an entire industry or to all components of an industry within a geographic area.
(Business Leagues. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/business-leagues)
That description fit very well around my burgeoning vision for the project. It wasn’t about providing services… it was about providing access to resources and education while helping the creatives find the right services within the existing community.
All HOME members have a common business interest. They need space to collaborate, gear to create content, and capacity to produce live events. Ask any HOME member, and they will tell you that business conditions just got a lot better.
One of the key ingredients to success in any industry is having access to the tools and resources needed to develop and grow your business. So, what if you happen to be in an industry where those resources are expensive?
Share.
With the rise in popularity of crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, and sharing economies, it's perfect timing for a concept like this to reshape the process of building a music brand.
Nashville creatives have a huge need to access production and performance space, and the city is growing by 100 new residents every day. Combine that with the local receptivity to big ideas, and we find very fertile ground for the seed of HOME to be planted :)
Only time will tell if that initial seed of inspiration will continue to bloom into the massive worldwide community that I envision.