Eventful.com gives touring control to the fans
Matt Gwin
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Arts & Society
Eventful.com has taken the simplicity of a Craigslist format and took the creepy qualities out of MySpace to create a site where fans of all types of entertainment can "demand" their favorite acts to come to their area. Based on the concept that tours will be structured around a large base of fans, Eventful.com hopes to bring performances to you by using a simple neo grassroots method of getting the average sycophant the chance to vote for their favorite band. Navigation is very easy and music is not the only option. Authors, politicians, and many other underpaid pseudo celebrities can have their services requested.
On the side of the music consumer, the site allows interaction beyond simply "demanding" by starting your own demand. For example, I started a demand for Bright Eyes to come to Loyola. This is about as likely as reinstituting free water cups on campus (because I am sure our $45,000 a year couldn't possibly afford some plastic cups) but hey, it is worth a shot. One of the features I liked most about signing up is that I did not have to fill out a vast amount of inane information. Also (this is critical for me) it is idiot-proof. You really cannot mess up creating your own demand. Like MySpace, there is also a way for bands to get themselves on the site and noticed, which is essential for local acts. The bright side is that you also will not get bizarre messages from lackeys in your hometown asking for a good time.
Eventful.com still is a new occurrence. In what is being referred to as a new age of information technology, sites such as Facebook, Craigslist and countless blogs for all facets of life are more popular than ever. The benefit that Eventful has is that it is a proactive page, which in today's electronic social networks is essential. Granted it may not catch on (though I highly recommend at least checking it out), but it reveals something that is coming to the foreground of an ever changing and erratic music industry. People are no longer allowing bands to set their own schedules, which brings about a role reversal that will hopefully increase not only tours but cheaper albums and tickets. Well, maybe we will not get too far ahead of ourselves and just hope for the touring part.
On the side of the music consumer, the site allows interaction beyond simply "demanding" by starting your own demand. For example, I started a demand for Bright Eyes to come to Loyola. This is about as likely as reinstituting free water cups on campus (because I am sure our $45,000 a year couldn't possibly afford some plastic cups) but hey, it is worth a shot. One of the features I liked most about signing up is that I did not have to fill out a vast amount of inane information. Also (this is critical for me) it is idiot-proof. You really cannot mess up creating your own demand. Like MySpace, there is also a way for bands to get themselves on the site and noticed, which is essential for local acts. The bright side is that you also will not get bizarre messages from lackeys in your hometown asking for a good time.
Eventful.com still is a new occurrence. In what is being referred to as a new age of information technology, sites such as Facebook, Craigslist and countless blogs for all facets of life are more popular than ever. The benefit that Eventful has is that it is a proactive page, which in today's electronic social networks is essential. Granted it may not catch on (though I highly recommend at least checking it out), but it reveals something that is coming to the foreground of an ever changing and erratic music industry. People are no longer allowing bands to set their own schedules, which brings about a role reversal that will hopefully increase not only tours but cheaper albums and tickets. Well, maybe we will not get too far ahead of ourselves and just hope for the touring part.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Allie Williams
posted 9/25/07 @ 8:44 PM EST
Nice article, Matt. At Zvents, we add new bands and their tour schedules frequently. Bands that haven't hit our radar yet can also create their own "Performers" page (free, of course), and fans can subscribe to an RSS feed of their favorite bands to see updates. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 10/05/07 @ 4:48 PM EST
Nice try, Allie, but please, Zvents is not in the same league as the Eventful service.
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