Wow, that post yesterday was about the geekiest thing I’ve ever written. 4,500 words about a Flash game. But I’m okay.
I’ve probably lost anyone who wasn’t a die-hard Dan fan to start with, so I feel okay about transmitting this out into the ether. (People frequently don’t know what to do with ideas: keeping them secret is the only way to keep them totally safe, but sharing them is sometimes the only way to make them happen.)
I wonder what people would think about miniature, two-to-twelve person theaters. Living-room sized spaces, decked out with high-quality furniture (maybe theather-themed, but probably just couches and chairs) and top-line AV equipment, available for hourly rental. They’d be in malls, and you’d probably book your two- or three-hour block by appointment. The business doesn’t get involved with what DVDs you bring, or if you watch TV (live or recorded), sports, etc.
I think it probably has to be more expensive than an average night at the movies, maybe on the order of $30 (per person) for three hours, but I can imagine a market willing to pay that for a completely private, completely personal home-theater experience.
That’s my business idea. I have dumb business ideas all the time, but this one in particular keeps pestering me. I think it has potential, just because I personally would really like to relax with HDTV, appleTV, all the new video game systems, and other emerging home entertainment stuff, but I have no budget for even a small slice of that.
I think the next step is math-based: how many of these spaces can be built out in a mall square? In a strip-mall space? In unused office space? And at full (and 90%, and 50%) capacity, how much money could they bring in, after you’ve paid for rent and employees? How soon could you pay off the projectors, sound systems, and computers?
