DAMPS.com

An American Inventor contestant blog
of the ABC show The American Inventor

Our DAMPS Technology Footwear invention team was a magnetic contestant in the American Inventor finalist process. For invention, exposure is priceless. We are not clowns. We are not actors. We are inventors in life’s many struggles with getting a new product out. As the producers didn’t want serious American inventors with real innovative products as advertised, they should have called the show, The Goofy American Inventor. Then we would know the producers are looking for the next great whoopee cushion, not the next great American invention.

It is my intent to further support invention by providing a clearer picture of what American Inventor and reality TV are presenting. A successful invention process defines exploitation, which should be a good thing and certainly a goal of all inventors.

Background
I was an American inventor long before reality shows were in existence.
I have been working on DAMPS Footwear Technology since 1988.
More on us at our web site www.Damps.com.

The Original Show, The Million dollar Idea
Before our contestant participation, by default we were a willing participant in naming the show. In the fall of 2005, according the San Diego Tribune, the show was originally going to be called The Million Dollar Idea. When I read the article I immediately went to the ABC web site for more information. I believed it would be a great way for us to get exposure for our DAMPS Footwear Technology. The site said applications would be available in October from the ABC site.

Litigation
Then a little short time later I read that Simon Cowell is getting sued for using that name, The Million dollar idea. When I heard Simon was in litigation, impeding what I believed to be a important invention production, I sent a certified letter to Creative Artist Agency and Simon’s agent, ABC, Disney et al. and offered my intellectual property for use.

American Invention
In 2004 I had copy written an invention TV reality show, concept outline and seventeen proposed show titles, one title being American Invention. As inclusive invention support, at no cost, I offered my IP to the producers et al. to move the program along. I believe the potential with the show for invention was very positive. I support American invention. Not a week after I sent the letter, it was suddenly reported that the show was now called The American Inventor. Yes, close but we didn’t care. It’s good for invention we believed.
A chance at being the American Inventor, an opportunity to show our invention.
The exposure for DAMPS would be huge.

The Contestant Process
Don’t get us started. Thirty seven pages to start. Over sixty pages in total of deep probing personal and private questions, a full body cavity search in total.
What an unknowing first time inventor might disclose and give away, a ton. All with no guarantee of confidentiality in handling mounds of personal, business information and intellectual property. You are forced to trust the producers if you want an opportunity to play, and you play by their rules.

The Audition Process
November 8, 2005 at 5:15 a.m. we are standing in line in Hollywood for the first audition. After a very long day we are seen by the producer panel and told we will hear from them only if we make the next round.
We get a call and we make the first round selection. More paper work. Some weeks later, we get a great call from the producers that we have made the second round. We were very excited.

You Can’t Do That
Two days later we get a call from the producers and are informed that the producers have changed the format and we’re out. Done deal. Sorry.
I believed in my heart that one can not do that! That is cruel and unusual punishment! I write an appropriate letter to the powers that be, as follow up. Those that know me can attest to my penchant with letter writing. The next day we get a call back and now their, your out call was a terrible mistake, we somehow got on the wrong list. We are invited to the next final taping where we naively faced our rude awakening. Some say the letter upset the producers, we don’t know but what ever happened was not true reality but rather what the producers wanted to market as a reality. DAMPS Integrity is withstanding.

The judges
Mary Lou Quinlan
Doug Hall
Peter Jones
Ed Evangelista

Each judge may have their individual expertise, however their blinding arrogance, ego and what dawned on us later, select judges may have had a prearranged agenda and DAMPS had no chance!!!
Arguably, DAMPS was no doubt one if not the preferred invention presented. Some say the producers invited us back so they could use the show as a “legitimate way,” of getting rid of us.

Mary Lou Quinlan, or as we call her Big Red, was so entrenched in her “I know women, and people come to me if they want to know about women,” marketing vibrato, demonstrated no expertise in footwear, women’s or otherwise. She would not walk in our prototype and yet kept saying, I don’t get it? I wonder why. What’s so difficult to understand about opposing super magnets, like poles repel, in the heel of a shoe for advanced history making shock mitigation?

Doug Hall, or as we call him F Chuck (FC), an advertised inventor of eighteen items found in our homes. FC did not exhibit any knowledge re footwear, footwear technology or the footwear industry, other than to say footwear companies have their own R&D. Dah!!! We were momentarily blinded by his expertise, not. This man said he makes $ 35,000 a day for consulting. I would have to see the check on that one.

Peter Jones, or what we call him, Simon Bowels (SB) would not walk in the prototypes and heaped negativity at us like we were trying to invade England. Again no knowledge about footwear technology, how innovative our technology product is or how ready we are to begin manufacturing.

Ed Evangelista, our only ally and our only vote. Thank you Ed man.
A contestant had to get three out of four judges to vote with them to continue.
Ed walked in the prototype and while being a smaller guy was light for our prototype designed for a 200+ marine, and yet Ed openly admitted he could feel our technology, what we call the DAMPS One Step Difference. Ed pleaded to get FC and SB to try on the shoe and when FC finally did try on the boot he smiled as everyone does that walks in our prototype. Later FC recanted and said he did not feel anything. The shame. We were voted off the show three no’s to one yes.

Tucker or Saint
So with such a great invention why did DAMPS get the cold shoulder?
Was it the inventors? The answers are with our next steps.
Lets’ see what the show brings forth for invention.

Pay Attention

Invention Coming Through

The two hour premier American Inventor Thursday March 16, 2006

I waited anxiously to see the first installment of the American Inventor. I did expect more on the production element side of things, a little creativity something.
I anticipate that we will see better products and inventors showcased in the next couple of shows.

What, no Simon Cowell? I felt for sure Simon would be in for a cameo.

You’ve got to love the American inventors, even while some of the inventions are more suited to prayers than commercial products. The Wand/stick, the bladder buddy, man oh man. While there is a dangerous side, I thought the new modified front seat bike may have a chance in a growing bike market. The sand bag filler, only in an emergency. The singing inventor? What’s up with that lame invention? The judges obviously thought the notoriety of the one hit wonder would translate to their product, no matter how deficient. Hey singers you are on the wrong show!

I do have to admit my bias here. The first hour showcased so many unnoteworthy inventions that did not even make the show, I cried when I think about the exposure we could have had for DAMPS Technology footwear. I hope the inventors who got the exposure can utilize it in some positive economic or spiritual fashion.

I did see my American inventor face in a couple of the background shots but no mention of DAMPS Technology prototype or otherwise. One shot of me was standing with my friend Wayne Ouzonian and his invention the Potty Guard. An invention that I believed and still do believe has huge built in market for people to remember the handle to put up the toilet seat. www.pottyguard.com

One can easily see how the show is attempting to follow the American Idol format, with wacky inventors, inventions and the crazy personal antics. I found the judges lacked continuity re which heartfelt inventors they let stay and those they didn’t. I could do without the contrived banter between the judges.

Again I am biased but I thought Ed Evangelista was the most sincere and realistic judge although he did surprise me a couple of times with his choices.

I found it very surprising that the lady with the special package for her mentally challenged son was treated so poorly. Making a social worker mother cry is not the goal of suitable programming.

I think everybody wanted the kid with the dog air conditioner to go forward, even though you don’t put a dog in a hot car. The kid saw a problem a need and went after it. That is fundamental invention in my book.

It seemed the judges went soft on the mediocre inventions say for instance the corrections officer that had the exercise gadget, of which there are a million and one in that particular market, while slamming the inventions with excellent good will and passion in their favor.

Overall I will have to wait to see how the next few shows roll out to discuss any real impact for invention and inventors other than being on a TV show. It will be interesting to see the final nine contestants and their products where each will receive
$ 50,000 to further his or her invention.

Stay tuned for the next installment of Inventors gone home.

Remember everybody has at least one good idea in their lifetime.