Transforming live music bookings – the GigBridge story!

Our journey to revolutionise the industry.

Picture this: It’s another Friday night, and somewhere in Australia, a venue owner is frantically scrolling through their contacts, desperately seeking a last-minute performer. Meanwhile, across town, a talented musician is doing exactly the same thing in reverse – hunting for their next gig opportunity. Sound familiar? This game of musical chairs (pun absolutely intended) is just one of the many challenges that inspired the creation of GigBridge.

As the Driving Force behind GigBridge, at launch, I’ll have spent the last two years, one month, and five days delving deep into the complex web of challenges facing Australia’s live music industry, and the wider creative and performing arts industry. What started as a response to post-pandemic recovery soon evolved into something much bigger – a mission to revolutionise how musicians, venues industry and audience connect.

The pivot…

Now, you might be wondering what a communications technology specialist knows about the music industry. Fair question! Truth be told, when I started this journey, I knew more about VoIP than a Violin. (Give me a violin and it’d sound something akin to my family singing Lang zal ze leven! It’s bad! Story for another time!) Here’s the plot twist – those years in communications technology weren’t just a prelude; they were the perfect preparation for building GigBridge. Turns out, connecting people and solving problems are universal skills, whether you’re dealing with network protocols or booking protocols, it’s all about facilitating communication!

The lightbulb moment came when we noticed a pattern: venues scrambling to find performers, performers scrambling to find venues. It was like watching two people trying to high-five in the dark – lots of missed connections and frustrated sighs. That’s when we knew we had to build a bridge (see what we did there?).

The challenge…

What makes GigBridge different? We’re doing two things that are game-changers. First, we’re bringing performers and venues together on the same platform. Second, we’ve done away with commission fees. No surprises, no sudden charges, no middle-men, no hassles.

Building GigBridge hasn’t been all smooth jazz. Like any good composition, it’s had its share of challenging movements. Balancing costs, time, and capabilities has been like conducting a three-piece orchestra where each musician is playing in a different time signature. (That’s exactly how my family sings Lang zal ze leven!) And patience? Let’s just say it’s been a virtue I’ve had to practice more than I’d like to admit.

But we haven’t been solo artists in this journey. Our development virtuoso, Jas, has been working his magic on the platform, while Jay from Dark Pink Digital has been our marketing maestro, keeping us on beat with our brand and launch strategy. Their contributions have been instrumental (okay, last music pun, I promise!) in getting us where we are today.

The insights…

Want to hear what others think? Check out the testimonials on our homepage from industry professionals like Tania Ladyzhynsky, Wil Allen, Richard Lane, and Declan Doherty. Their feedback has been crucial in fine-tuning GigBridge to hit all the right notes.

But here’s what really sets us apart – we’re not just another tech platform; we’re a social enterprise with a bigger vision. The revenue we generate will be reinvested in developing technologies that help Australia’s creative and performing arts industries work at an economy of scale. Think about it – whether you’re performing for 1,000 or 10,000 people, the basic costs remain pretty much the same. That’s a challenge that’s been hitting the arts harder than a double bass drop.

The future…

GigBridge is more than just a booking platform; it’s our vehicle for generating the revenue needed to continue developing GigBridge, and to keep pushing boundaries, reducing costs, and improving connections between artists, venues, industry professionals, and audiences. We’re not just building bridges; we’re paving the way for a more connected, efficient, and vibrant arts industry for Australia.

So whether you’re a venue owner tired of playing phone tag or a musician ready to spend more time on stage and less time on admin, GigBridge is here to help write the next chapter in Australian live music. And trust me, it’s going to be a hit!