Jeb: Where did you come up with this idea?
Denise: Heavy Metal Bay came into my head about five years
ago when I was living in Miami. I had a ‘eureka’ moment. Metal
fans are very dedicated people. Musical genres come and go but
Metal fans don’t change their tastes. I thought there should be
an auction site where all of these people can come together. I
Googled the idea and there was nothing like it so I decided to
create it.
Jeb: Are you a Heavy Metal fan?
Denise: I am a huge Metal fan, myself. I also work as a
booking agent in the music business; I book Heavy Metal Bands.
Jeb: The challenge must be getting the word out. eBay has a
huge advertising budget and they have been around forever.
However, people should know that Heavy Metal Bay is not simply a
copy of eBay for Metal fans. There is a lot more to Heavy Metal
Bay.
Denise: We have two features that eBay doesn’t have. We have
a Band Corner and a Concert Guide. You can promote your band in
the Band Corner, whether you are a small band or a big band. The
Concert Guide allows the band to put up all of the shows that
they are doing. It really is nothing like eBay. Yes, it is an
auction site, but that is the only similarity. Heavy Metal Bay
is actually a specialist site for the Metal community only.
Jeb: What kind of an undertaking was it to get the software
the way you wanted it and to get things the way you saw them in
your head?
Denise: It took five years. It hasn’t been an easy task. It
is very expensive. People think it is really easy to put up a
website but it really isn’t. It is a lot of work and takes a lot
of money. It is a unique idea but once people get to know about
it, and use it, then it is going to be great. It is free to list
your items at the moment, for the next month. Anyone can put
their items up without an insertion fee; all they have to do is
register at HeavyMetalBay.com.
Jeb: If you are booking bands then where have you found the
time and energy to do this?
Denise: I have a team around me. I have my programmers and my
marketing guy. My husband is also involved in this as well. When
you have a team then it is easier than trying to do it all
yourself. In the beginning it was all my idea. Once you get the
whole concept together then you need to market it and get the
word out, which is exactly what I am doing right now.
Jeb: It is brand new but you already have some interesting
stuff up for bid.
Denise: In the Memorabilia section we have The Soundhouse
Tapes from Iron Maiden and we have a Kiss collectable box
set that is autographed. We have a Yngwie Malmsteen Rock Walk
Induction VIP Pass and we have Michael Schenker picks. Actually,
the Kiss box set is in the CD section, not the Memorabilia
section. It looks like we may have a huge Judas Priest
collection coming up, although I can’t confirm that yet.
Jeb: I am an old school Metal fan. Do you have a favorite era
of Metal?
Denise: I am old Metal fan. I like Iron Maiden; I think they
are absolutely brilliant. I am very into Iron Maiden. You will
always catch me listening to Piece of Mind or Number
of the Beast. Old school Metal laid the groundwork for all
that came afterwards.
Jeb: Why does Metal keep people coming back?
Denise: It is the energy of the music. It is energetic, it is
theatrical and it is dramatic. It is like going to a Broadway
show. You can go to a pop concert and they have explosions but
the music is all computerized whereas a Metal show features
people playing their instruments. It is also very artistic.
There is an aura or a feel to all things Metal. I think that is
why Metal fans collect a lot of stuff.
Jeb: Why should someone who reads this interview check out
HeavyMetalBay.com and why should he spread the word to his
friends?
Denise: He should check it out because he is a Metal fan as
this site is for Metal fans and is all about Metal fans. It is
for Metal music as well. It is a place for Metal fans to come
together. Why put your stuff up on eBay when you can put them up
on HeaveyMetalBay.com and support the music? Everything they
need to sell or buy is on, or will be on,
