Howard Lindzon is the creator of what seems to be the vidcast-of-the-moment WallStrip - where pop culture meets stock culture. We talked to Howard about the new show, video online, and asked him our own version of “Long or Short?”.
The relatively new Wallstrip, 84 episodes since October 2006 under its belt, is making news in all the right places - Business Week, New York Times, ABC News, and now Juxtaviews (sorry, I had to).
So what’s all the fuss? Wallstrip is a daily, well produced, irreverent introduction (see Adobe and “Jack in the Box”) to a new stock at it’s 52-week high. It’s Rocketboom for finance. (I’ve heard comparisons to SNL, but SNL is bad way too often. I didn’t want to put Wallstrip down like that). Wallstrip is popular because it’s both informative and entertaining. Plain and simple - it’s just good.
My personal “secret sauce” theory for it’s success - it’s about stocks. If this were just another vidcast about gadgets you wouldn’t be reading this right now (there are already other very good people in that space and doing an excellent job). But Wallstrip takes a quirky, fresh approach to your typical “boring” stock analysis and delivers it to your browser ever morning of the week. And just like the market requires, new episodes are published bright and early in the AM just in time for the traders to catch the short, new episodes before they’re back into the game. If Wallstrip can continue the success there’s really no better market to be in - the financial world obviously has a butt load of cash to go around. So, as a web analyst, I’m upgrading Wallstrip to a Strong Buy.
Actually, let’s get back to Howard. He’s the man behind the show. He’s a self-labeled “addicted entrepreneur”. His blog details further insight into his thoughts, though I’m not sure you want to know what goes inside that mind of his. I’ve also noticed he’s been promoting another gig of his called GolfNow.tv. Hmm… it’s almost like Howard is building a small vidcast empire of his own. He was nice enough to take a few moments out of this schedule to answer some of our questions. Thanks Howard.
PS. If you want further insight intro to Wallstrip, take a look at the ABCNews interview with Wallstrip’s Adam Elend (Producer and Director) and Lindsay Campbell (Host and Producer). I also suggest a peak at NYT’s article where you can find out more information like the $500k in angel funding WallStrip has received, and other tidbits.
Name, age, your last missed opportunity (stock related would be ideal but not required), and when you sleep at night you dream about…?
I am 41 - 46 in Canadian years, I am a male and there are so many missed opportunities that I can’t name one. BUT that’s good news. Opportunity comes along every second. I rarely sleep and because I use Ambien, I don’t dream.
In 5 words describe WallStrip.
Humor and Video to explain an investing strategy (trend following)
Wallstrip is one of the most downloaded vidcasts on iTunes… what do people like about Wallstrip?
People like Lindsay and appreciate the production quality. That’s what the comments say on iTunes anyways.
Where/How did the concept for Wallstrip give birth? Who was there, was it on a paper napkin, etc?
Watching Oprah one day I said that the investing media makes things too complicated and negative. Maria Batotomo was on and she was pretty awful. She just could not make a simple investing point. I did type up a two pager which I circulated to a few friends and that was it.
Wallstrip is part daily blog and part daily vidcast. I can understand the blogging aspect (there’s a much easier entrance level) but for someone without the video background - why online video?
Online video because it seemed much harder and with more barriers to entry than just blogging and I felt I had an idea that was evergreen and very doable on a daily basis. America has thousands of great companies that you have never heard of.
What is your role at WallStrip?
My role is money raiser, writer, cheerleader, fun guy, actor (?) and executive producer (I help arrange meetings and interviews).
Who wins in an arm wrestle - you or Lindsay?
Lindsay destroys me in an arm wrestle, but a jello cage match is mine.
Wallstrip never seems to tell viewers/readers to buy or sell a featured company’s stock. Why is that?
Because the stocks are in production over a two week period, exact buy points are difficult. I think 90 percent of the stocks we have covered are stocks worth owning for the long haul and like with Whole Foods I said wait - the trend is over for now. I think you can buy most of the stocks if you understand money management and how to sell.
What’s the day in the life of Wallstrip?
Day in the life is kind of brutal. All I do in general though is pick the stocks and help write the concept and catalyst. Jeff Adam and Lindsay do the rest. Jon and Roman do most of the editing. The life for them includes endless shooting, editing, set-up, take down, writing, coordinating of scenes and extra actors etc…
How long does it take to produce one episode of Wallstrip and what’s the most difficult aspect?
The shows are produced over 3-5 days and the hardest aspect is different for all of us. For me it is the worry because I can’t control the product so even though I trust the partners I never know until I see the final product. For everyone else I would think the shooting and editing.
How much does it cost to produce an episode of Wallstrip, and how many people make the Wallstrip clock tick?
On average, 5-6 people make an episode. If we need actors - more. Cost is a secret. We are cheap though.
If Lindsay wasn’t the host of Wallstrip, but you were - is Wallstrip as successful?
I would never be the host so hard to say. But of course it would not be as successful comparing Lindsay and I. She is sweet and a woman and I am a pain and a fat guy.
It’s time for Long or Short?… 1) The term “web 2.0″ 2) widgets 3) revver 4) google 5) yahoo 6) microsoft 7) social networking
Web 2.0 short (I went long 4.48 on my blog months ago), Widgets - Long, Revver - Hedged, Google - Long, Yahoo - Long, Microsoft - avoid,
Social Networking - depends but generally long.
Favorite websites/blogs you must visit every day?
Trader Mike, A VC, Maoxian, Rad Report, Wallstrip, Techmeme, buzztracker, Golfnow.tv
Last great book you read?
Pit Bull. I rarely read books
What can wee expect next from Wallstrip?
More skin from wallstrip …Disclaimer - maybe mine 
Greatest piece of advice ever given to you?
Steve Martin - Don’t trust Whitey!