Christine, Student and Founder of Vortex of Khaoƨ

While some students complain about the tremendous workload they are encountered with at Stenden University, others cannot wait to use their acquired knowledge to prove themselves in the professional field. Christine Heim, aged 29, from Germany has dared to take the step of creating her own start-up business, combining her passion for music with her studies.

Vortex of Khaoƨ provides metal bands an upmarket platform specialised in promotion
and organisational support.  The aim of Vortex of Khaoƨ is to establish its future position within the market as an authentic and reliable booking agency specialised in the genre of black metal. The main short-term objective is at the moment not just to generate profit but also to provide a sophisticated service to musicians within a substantially smaller market segment. Although she doesn’t have any other collaboration with other agencies, she can provide her customers an established network of promoters across Europe, especially in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

With such ambitious goals, the question occurs whether she has to make any concession to either her studies or her business: “Handling both, my study and the new business project is really challenging. But this challenge is exactly what I like. I am known as an open and critical woman who likes to combine development and experience with modern values such as social status, materialism and enjoyment. Some people would characterise me by ambition: working hard and climbing the social ladder, and that’s right. This need for self-improvement and gaining new experiences and knowledge for personal enrichment are very important motives for me. Therefore am I not making concessions…I am pushing myself just a little harder to be able to combine my knowledge gained at Stenden University with the real business world out there. You know, I’m realising my dream of owning a business. Some will doubt my motives; others will think I’m crazy. But what I have learned from my previous work experience is that satisfaction itself does not only come through achievement, but with effort.”

This is a quite clear statement, although Christine also states that as her business is growing in a consistent manner, she has to take a second person into account due to the permanent increasing workload. Therefore she is, at the moment, negotiating with another person who then will act on behalf of her business, as an expert specialised in the field of booking bands and venues.

Christine was always part of the music scene, as she grew up as child of a musician, visited a music school for six years and gathered years of experience in stage performance. The answer to the question why she started up Vortex of Khaoƨ therefore is rather obvious: “I was always interested in metal music and after being part of the scene for several years, I recognised that especially within this specific genre an overall service which I am providing gets barely offered. So I first started with the management of two metal bands in 2010 (Lugubre & Sadotank) which then naturally evolved in something greater. In November 2011, I made my vision public and founded Vortex of Khaoƨ. Since then, it is like an incessantly thrilling river of challenges which drifts Vortex of Khaoƨ towards an auspicious future.”

As the metal scene in general, and the black metal scene in specific, appears to be a rather small and isolated sub-cultural market, I need to ask Christine how she thinks Vortex of Khaoƨ will prove itself against its competition. Naturally, she has spent some thought on that, too: “My competitive advantage is clear: I offer my customers a substantial added value by providing greater benefits through my full package service. My customers seek for a service that give them the best value in terms of benefits and that is exactly what they get.”

Further, Christine is in no way afraid of stagnation of her business: “I think the expansion opportunities can turn out in different directions. On the one hand, Vortex of Khaoƨ may focus yet again on the traditional line extensions rather than brand extensions. This means that it may be that this business will extend their business areas in the same product category and under the same name but with different variations within the music genres. On the other hand, there is also a huge possibility in specialising in a certain niche, because already now some tendencies towards the developing of customized solutions for the needs of this segment can be found.”

To those who still think that those are mere words and that it is impossible to pursue a dream while still occupied with studying, let the achievements of Vortex of Khaoƨ speak for themselves. With seven bands already collaborating and nine concerts confirmed between now and the middle of May, the biggest project so far is just about to become reality: “At the moment am I starting with a two-week tour-planning across Europe for October 2012. This tour will be a great reunion of three epic black metal bands to serve the bloodlust of their loyal fans. More information to be announced!”

General Information

Name of Project:                     Vortex of Khaoƨ | Booking & Promotion

Homepage:                             www.vortex-of-khaos.com/
Date of Launch:                      November 2011
Name of Owner:                     Christine Heim
Age:                                        29
Education:                              2^nd Year MEM student, Class of 2014 · International Media and Entertainment Management ·

Minor I – Music Management
Minor II – Personal Branding

Former graduation/education:

Graduated as a Jazz and Rock singer after a six year education

Worked seven years as an executive in sales for IKEA in Germany and Switzerland

Graduated with honors as a State examined Business Manager | Minor Marketing

 List of References:

Heim, C. (2012, February 20). Vortex of Khaoƨ. (M. Jaroslawski, Interviewer)

Vortex of Khaoƨ. (2012). Vortex of Khaoƨ. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://www.vortex-of-khaos.com/vortex-of-khao%C6%A8.html

Heim, C. (2011). Vortex of Khaoƨ [Logo]. Retrieved February 21, 2012, from http://www.vortex-of-khaos.com/images/Untitled-1-2-2.png