Playing & Trading Strategy

First off... here's a link to many questions (with answers) that some newer players ask, or want to know about... you may want to check it out:  http://www.theampersand.net/?page_id=134

Secondly... here's some basic things you may also want to consider on how to make some $$:

These tips will help you build your port faster, so take the ones you may find helpful... also check out the back boards here on Players, they have a lot of questions with answers that also may be questions YOU might have as well...  Now...on to some ideas to consider:

Think about playing opening movies each week.  BUT, be careful too....you can LOSE if you pick a movie wrong, HOWEVER, playing openers will build your port the FASTEST of just about any other playing style (except maybe daytrading, which is tough for new players).

You HAVE to think "short term" as a new player.  Buy a stock (or short it) make some $$, and move on.  My advice is DO NOT hold or buy ANY movie stock that is further out than 30 days for NOW....  Why?  because you'll tie up your cash, and won't be able to use it to buy other good deals (like openers, etc.)

I always tried to 'max' out on an opener when I played it.  Buy as much as you can afford if you are sure you can make $ on it.  There was nothing more frustrating to me, than to only buy 5,000 shares of something, knowing I could have bought more, and make only $75,000 on the adjust, when I could've made $500,000 if I would have bought as much as I could afford, or maxxed out.

You can make JUST as much money on a movie that's priced at $20 if it adjusts up 5 points, as you can one priced at $50 that adjusts 5 points, so keep that in mind.  You make just as much on the little movies as you do the blockbusters if they both adjust up 5 points... the only difference is, you don't tie up the same amount of cash waiting for the adjust.  Remember, the old addage "PPDM", which means "Price Paid Doesn't Matter."  And just because someone else paid $10 for a stock and it's now worth $70, if it adjusts up 5 points when YOU buy it, you both will make the same amount of $$ when the movie adjusts opening weekend.

Do NOT play star bonds until you know HOW they adjust.  They are a 'sure' way to make money, but be sure you know the in's and out's of their adjusts. There is 'guaranteed' money to be made with star bonds...but just be sure you know how / when they adjust before you jump in.

You can also click on the tab "Earn H$" there are ways to earn FREE cash for your port!...and every little bit helps your port when starting out...so click there too!..take advantage of any opportunity to earn extra $$ that's out there.

If you find a movie IPO's one day, and you think the price of it may go up (something like Ironman 8, etc.) then you may want to take a shot at it...buy it and hold it for the 'ride' UP of the price... but once you've made some $$...sell it and move on... why keep this stock and tie up lots of your cash for a movie that's opening in 2-3 years?  Even if you KNOW it will be a huge blockbuster at that time, it doesn't make sense with a small port.

ALWAYS think "short term" gains with a smaller port until you build up some cash and you have extra money that you can afford to 'lose' or 'tie up' for a longer time frame...with smaller ports - buy something, make your $$ and move on.

As your port grows, you can then look into buying movie stocks that are a little further out...Personally, I would wait until you have at LEAST $20M before buying movies that are any further out than 60 days.  It takes a lot of your availabe $$ to buy a movie that's priced at $50 and is opening 6 months from now, so you can see why it wouldn't take long to go through $20M... 

Everyone started out with $2M, and you will learn the game faster and easier if you are thinking "short term" while your port is smaller...good luck.