Vincent was quite surprised when Lucas revealed his plan to donate a substantial portion of his earnings. "Donations?" he couldn't help but exclaim. After a brief pause, he continued, "Look, I'm not stopping you from giving, but at least keep some for yourself. You should prioritize saving money, building your career, and earning more before committing so heavily to charity. It's important to be financially stable first."
Hearing this, Lucas sighed, realizing Vincent had a valid point. Then he shifted the conversation, saying, "Thanks, Vincent." He paused, then added, "I know some ways to make more money, and I've got a few ideas."
"What do you think? Are you in?" Lucas asked, looking expectantly at Vincent.
"What do you mean?" Vincent queried.
"I'm asking if you'd like to be my business partner and join me in these ventures," Lucas explained with a smile.
Vincent laughed at the swift change in topic, saying, "How did we suddenly jump to business?" He chuckled again before adding, "Alright, tell me about this business."
Lucas smiled as he settled into the chair, ready to share his idea. "Imagine a service where with just a few taps on your phone, you can summon a ride from anywhere, anytime. No waiting for taxis or dealing with bus schedules. I'm talking about a platform that connects drivers with people who need a ride."
Lucas had done his homework, scouring Google and various sources, only to realize that in his new reality, something like Uber, which was founded in 2009 elsewhere, did not exist. This revelation sparked the idea in Lucas that founding such a company could be a groundbreaking opportunity, either on his own or with friends as business partners.
"Interesting idea..." Vincent said, stroking his chin, visibly intrigued and deep in thought.
Vincent, still intrigued, leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Tell me more about this idea," he said. "How exactly would it work? And more importantly, how much money are we talking about to bring this idea to reality?"
Lucas, sensing Vincent's interest, elaborated with enthusiasm. "The idea is simple yet revolutionary. We create a mobile app that connects drivers with individuals needing rides. Users can see the cost upfront, choose their ride preferences, and track their driver in real time. For drivers, it's an opportunity to earn extra income on their own schedule."
He paused for a moment, considering the financial aspect. "As for the startup costs, we'd need to invest in app development, marketing, and perhaps initial incentives for early users and drivers. I'm estimating we'll need a significant amount initially, but I'll work on a detailed budget. We should also look into legal requirements and insurance."
Vincent nodded, absorbing the information. "I see. It sounds promising but also like there's a lot we need to figure out. We'll need a solid plan and maybe some expert advice to make sure we cover all our bases."
Lucas agreed, "Your right, Vincent. I think the next steps would be conducting thorough market research and developing a detailed business plan. We should also start networking with potential investors and tech developers. What do you say?"
Vincent chuckled, shaking his head. "Although I have my doubts about your ideas, I can't deny their potential," he said with a pause. "But aren't you forgetting one small detail?"
"What's that?" Lucas inquired.
Vincent smiled, "You're an actor, and I'm your agent, remember?"
Lucas laughed in response, "So what? Just because I'm an actor and you're my agent, doesn't mean we can't explore business opportunities, right?"
Shaking his head, Vincent replied, "No, there's nothing wrong with that... Oh, by the way, the 'Modern Family' production team contacted me. They're keen to have you back for a guest appearance on the show."
Hearing Vincent's news, Lucas's thoughts immediately turned to his favorite show, which was also his first significant project.
"What's their offer?" Lucas asked, settling into his chair with curiosity.
"They're offering $70,000 per episode," Vincent replied, a smile playing on his lips.
"What?" Lucas expressed his astonishment, "That much for me?"
Vincent shook his head, amusement in his eyes. "You're selling yourself short, Lucas. Remember, your 'Perfect' performance in episode 4 skyrocketed the show's popularity. That clip of you singing as Dylan? Over 3.4 million views on YouTube. You've brought a lot of new fans to the show with that song!"
Surprised, Lucas exclaimed, "That clip has reached 3.4 million views?" He rarely checked YouTube due to his hectic schedule, so the song's popularity was a shock.
Curious, he inquired, "By the way, how much have I made in royalties from that song?"
Vincent, with a knowing smile, replied, "I was wondering when you'd ask. You've made at least $84,000 from the song."
Lucas was genuinely surprised to hear about his earnings, and Vincent added, "And your song in the indie film '127 Hours' brought in a royalty fee of $44,000. Not bad, huh?"
Lucas nodded, intrigued by the lucrative side of music. He realized that being involved in music could be quite rewarding, considering the sales and royalties. He mused over the idea that popular songs could indeed bring in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in royalties.
Shifting the conversation, Lucas inquired, "Regarding the guest appearances on 'Modern Family,' how many episodes will I be in?"
Vincent replied, "I mentioned your tight schedule, so they agreed that two or three episodes would be fine."
Lucas gave a nod, affirming, "Alright. And Vincent, about my business ideas, I'm not just spitballing here. I genuinely believe they have potential. You'll see."
Vincent, listening intently, responded, "Okay, I hear you. Your business proposal did have its merits. I'll give it some more thought."