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Last year Lorne from www.Lornstar.com worked as our behind the scenes man on set. This year, Mike L from www.WoodFloats.tv worked the behind the scenes magic. Mike brought his own unique view of filmaking to capturing the vibe that is Dragons' Den.
So here, are the, never seen before, behind the scenes shots, including for the first time a few outtakes for the new beginning/intro:
Today, two of our favorite crew graduate tomorrow.
Lovely Lara, Associate Producer and "Killah" Keri from our PA team. Both graduate from Ryerson's RT and Diane B toasted both at dinner for their contributions, past, present and future.
From the Dragons, the Crew and the Pitchers congrats ladies, and thanks for all you do to keep this beast of reality TV feed.
She's BACK!!!! and better than ever. The fun loving easy going Senior Producer Tracie is back for Season Two.
She's once again running a tight ship for Stu, but so far has held back from LAUNCHING HERSELF at anybody.
We were going to ask her some questions, but are actually too afraid, so instead we asked Steven Tingley his thoughts........"Tracie is the backbone of the show, if Stu is the vision, Tracie is the hands. She keeps us all on track and focused. Without her, we'd migh have less bruises, but we would also have way less show."
This year we have beefed up the business side of the crew. Yes Pierre Luc from Ignite Partners and I are back, but we've been blessed to add a big time investor out of Calgary to the mix.
So..... meet Vincenzo from Concrete Equities. A serious angel investor in his own right, with his quick wit, years of experience and serious wallet Vincenzo could be a Dragon in his own right, that's why he is the perfect guy to help screen pitchers for us.
To help you get to know him better, I asked Vincenzo to share with you his experiences from the first few days of taping, including what advice he could give those coming to tapings in two weeks, here is what he said:
It was a pleasure spending time last weekend in Toronto with my Dragons Keeper colleagues - Sean Wise and Pierre-Luc Bisailion - meeting and mentoring the business entrepreneurs. The participants were provided the opportunity to take part in Sean's "Wise Words" boot camp. All three of us provided real life business experience as well as factual information that they could use to prepare themselves for their moment of glory in the Dragon's Den. It is worth passing on to those of you that have not presented but will soon to be clear on a few key requirements before you feel the fire of the Dragon's Den:
1) Why should the Dragons be your partners? (can they trust you)
2) Why is your dollar valuation of your company - the required number? ($500,000 for 10% - why???)
3) What have you done/sold/patent/market place etc.
Just a few points that the Dragons Keepers would want to know to be your partner and certainly information that the tough Dragon's will definitely ask you. Remember, no one know your business better than you - right???
Dragon Keeper,
Vincenzo De Palma
(note: The Dragon Keepers will be together again this Friday in Calgary for the last audition of the season. We will go 9-11 at Calgary Technologies Inc. This is an open audition, so come one, come all.)
With the O-Dawg being traded to CBC radio for a future draft pic and a bag of pretzels, Executive Producer Stu needed a new associate producer.
So let's find out about Lara with these:
6 QUICK CREW QUESTIONS
1) who do you want to grow up to be?
- I think either an astronaut or a movie star, but I'm not sure. Maybe a butterfly. Or Vanna White - she has the BEST job ever (I can smile and touch letters with the best of them...)
2) Why are you proud to be at CBC
- Because I grew up listening to CBC Radio 1 and am a CBC TV devotee (seriously) and, I know it sounds cheesy, but it's kind of one thing that really unites all Canadians. I'm actually really excited to be here - I still get a bit giddy that i actually have a security pass, an e-mail and phone number - you know that I'm a real CBC employee...I'm a bit of a nerd that way...
3) What useless facts do few people know about you
- I don't like to think anything about me is THAT useless...but...I couldn't snap my fingers until I was like 16, and sometimes I still use my hands in "L" shapes to figure out left and right. I absolutely cannot walk in high heals - few people know that cause only really close friends have seen me fall flat on my face.
4) What is your secret passion?
- Cooking. I LOVE it. I can cook an elaborate meal for days and enjoy every minute of it. Also eating...but that should go hand in hand.
5) Which dragon would like as a business partner and why?
- Hmmm...that's tough. Jim because I like pizza - BUT, probably Laurence, because I REALLY like eating pizza in my underwear...
6) If you had to be stuck on an island for years who would you want to be stuck with?
- I don't know - probably Jacques Cousteau (you know, if he was still alive) because we could do lots of underwater exploring - that would be amazing. I guess it would be nice to have my family, my boyfriend and my pets...if we had a Swiss-Family-Robinson-like treehouse, but that's a bit fluffy...Yeah, Cousteau and some scuba diving gear - that would be awesome...
Dragons' Den has a strong and active fanbase, but no one, and I mean NO ONE is more 
dedicated to ths show, than Kempton.
So much so, that last her the show named him General of the ArmChair Dragon Army (that's what we call the fans).
But who is Kempton?
From his own blog: I’ve worked as a software engineer for ten years - five years on the Transport Canada’s Air Traffic Control system (Canadian Automated Air Traffic System) and then five years on the Canada Department of National Defence’s Iris Digital Communications System. Then I decided to recharge my battery by going back to University to earn a MBA degree and acquire some needed management consulting and entrepreneurial skills.
After I received my MBA, I decided to give it a try as a filmmaker before I start my new career. My first documentary film was partly supported by the National Film Board of Canada and screened at the Calgary International Film Festival. My current portfolio careers consist of being a management consultant/entrepreneur and documentary producer.
But to Stu, Tracie, Mike and the whole gang at DD, he will always be our number one fan, our most active blogger, and an all round nice guy. Long live General Kempton!!
With Mikey A getting promoted to Producer, executive producer and all round Big Cheese - Stu Coxe recruited the vivacious Molly D to join the Crew as the Associate Producer for Season Two.
Last season Molly was a key member of the TEST THE NATION team, this year she is ALL DRAGONS DEN!!!
But who is Molly D? Well let's see:
Random Useless Facts:
How Molly got into TV:
Molly's been at the CBC full time since 2004. She was a reporter for CBC in Yellowknife for a brief stint before that. Her best on-air compliment, came after hosting Documentary Night in Canada on CBC Country Canada when someone told her she reminded them of a young Dianne Buckner. (so maybe it is FATE that she is working for the DD host now?)
What’s the best part of working on DD?
According to Molly the best parts of DD are: Road trips, concentrated chaos, meeting all these wonderful inventors/entrepreneurs, being slave to Tracie T and watching Mikey A be slave to Stu.
Who is her favorite Dragon?
Molly hopes that by picking Lawrence she might get some free undies.
If she was a tree, what sort of tree would Molly be?
The Giving Tree on the cover of Shel Silverstein's book?
You can meet Molly next at auditions in Montreal on April 27/28. For more, see: www.CBC.ca/dragonsden
By now you know that Season One has come to close, breaking all sorts of records for the CBC. What you may not know, is how the crew celebrated the season finale.
We did, as we always seem to do.....go to Senior Producer Tracie Tighe's home and have a party, this time complete with Dragons' Den inspired cupcakes. 
The night was fun as always, and this time ended with some wise words (no pun intended) from the boss, 
Stuart Coxe (note the fiendish red eyes).
So what's next? Well, first there are the DRAGONEES....the peoples choice awards for Season One, be sure to vote, starting tomorrow.
Then we need to start sifting through the applications for Season Two. If you want to join the que to get on Season Two...click here: http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/apply.html
So just to set the record straight. No contestant was thrown to the Dragons. Materials and consultants were available to the pitchers for weeks and on hand during the days of taping.
I did some coaching, but Pierre-Luc who runs a consulting shop called Ignite Partners (www.ignitepartners.ca) was the "main man on the ground" or in this case in the pitch tent. Before you got to face the Dragons, you had to get through PL (left) and me. And we wanted to make sure everyone knew what they were in for and had access to resources to make their pitch better.
PL's Ignite Parnters (which is sorta an east coast version of my firm Wise Mentor Capital) helps companies achieve their full potential. How? First by making sure the business plan is sound and thorough. If needed, Ignite will perform additional market and competition to make sure the information is reliable.
In most cases Pierre-Luc will stay involved with the management
team to ensure progress is made and milestones are reached. He has a particular interest (and knack) for the marketing side of things (e.g. the "market") - how many people would really buy a product, why, what customer behaviours are affected, what are the alternatives, etc. as well as developing a clear message to highlight the benefits of the new product.
It was fun working with PL on the Dragon's Den, screening proposals and coaching the pitchers - we certainly saw the whole spectrum of quality and entertainment! I sat down with PL this week and asked him his:
10 Do's and Don'ts of the Den
1) Do your homework - be prepared.
2) Do follow the rules (format, time, etc.)
3) Do answer questions directly and keep answers simple.
4) Do show confidence and determination
5) Do demonstrate that other people than yourself think it's a good idea.
6) Don't hold back information.
7) Don't insult the Dragons (or any other angels, for that matter).
8) Don't come to the Dragons with just an idea - get as much traction as possible on your own.
9) Don't think you'll be a millionaire today (getting a deal means the beginning, not the end, of the hard work).
10) Don't let your ego get in the way of a good deal.
Dianne Buckner, does a lot. She is a host, a gemini nominated producer, a mother of two great kids and the voice of both Venture and the Dragons' Den.
But recently her reign as the "Hardest Working Woman in Show Business" has been challenged by an up and comer at the CBC.....Lucille the Dragon. Who, so far, has worked the mail cart, backed up the camera crew, drove rickshaw, supervised in the editiing suite, and helped the producers in various times of need.
So in order to put the debate to rest once and for all, we had them both on set last Friday for some reshoots. Unfortunatelly as you will see from the pix below, it didn't go quite so well.
So in the end, who works hardest?
Tune in on Oct 4th, at 8 pm, to find out!
(One final note, Tracie Tighe, Sr. Producer on DD, was inelgible for this title,
as she was working to hard to attend the contest.)
