Is this an idea worth pursuing or not?
The social scene in big cities like New York or LA can be daunting. Drinks are expensive, places can be crowded, lines long and the service sucks. So I was thinking, what if you have a platform that enables people to turn ordinary private spaces such as their home (or really anywhere) into social settings? For instance, turn your apartment into a bar with 4 tables and guests can reserve a spot (either with a group of friends or to hang out with strangers) by paying an admission fee (will be byob to avoid liquor license issues). This concept can be applied to different social settings such as hosting a mom’s night for other moms with kid care included, hosting a mediterranean dinner party, hosting a games night etc. The platform would enable guests to see what events are happening in their immediate vicinity / or a particular location on a specific date and reserve spots at various events they want to attend. Guests can also see if their friends are attending a particular event (if the guest makes their attendance public) and over time see if any guests that they’ve met previously will be attending. Guests and hosts can leave reviews on each other's profiles as feedback for future users. Some immediate issues I’ve identified are the usual market place chicken and egg problem and potential security concerns about letting strangers into your private space (though the same was true for uber and airbnb). Are there any other potential issues? I have several ideas on how to monetize it but wanted to hear what people think about the concept.
42 comments
[ 4.5 ms ] story [ 77.9 ms ] threadIf you could find a way around that, that neighborhood would be a hit with millennials and gen z.
You need a rent-a-bouncer service for your hosts, too at the very least.
Again, not impossible but difficult (and solving the difficulty is the whole value prop of a business). Consider synergies with other event organizers, especially in the music scene.
Bouncers for hosts would probably not be necessary. I've used airbnb experiences before and this is basically the same concept. Airbnb doesn't have bouncers for their hosts. The ability to leave reviews by both hosts and guests would deter bad behavior. But this is an issue I need to dig deeper into.
However, Consumers can take some of these responsibilities, That's why the price of service mentioned by OP can be less expensive.
Why not go all in. Run an app to let people invite strangers into their house and do major surgery/critical care on them. Call it AirAandE.
After all the obvious evidence to the contrary, why do people think this "who needs laws what could go wrong" approach will work out?
(B) Airbnb "hosts" don't invite people and then serve them alcohol. There's no way this brilliant idea doesn't run afoul of liquor laws.
I mentioned AirBnB, but a lot of them now explicitly state “no parties.” I’m sure this wasn’t without having some bad experiences. Don’t imagine people like you using the service, imagine the people who are trashing hotel rooms. What will the cleaning fees be like? If events are posted publicly, who is liable for damage when randoms show up? I’m picturing these places looking like college rentals after a short period of time. Too many rules to guard against this kind of thing and people will get too worried to have any fun.
When parties get out of hand, how would that be handled? Private security? The police?
I could see buildings, or cities banning this pretty quickly.
If you had nicer homes signed up, I could see MLM people renting them out to host their gatherings to sell whatever it is they are selling… if it would be financially viable. I think that community has a lot of fake it till you make it attitude.
I wonder if garages or workshops would be an option. Some cities have maker spaces, for people who need some tools or space, but don’t have access to a shop or the money to buy a bunch of tool. Being able to find a nearby neighbor who has some tools and some space to build a one off thing could be interesting.
If specifically looking for things where events are posted and public, I think it then starts crossing into the Meetup space. More recently when I browse that site it seems more and more meetups require membership and are limited in the number of people that can sign up. I think this is inevitable, as few places can handle an unlimited number of people, and they want to keep out the creeps and weirdos.
But most of all, there's not much of a plan when going out for a lot of people. Friends will get together and say, "let's go to the bar" and the night goes from there. With your idea, there's a requirement of finding a location, scheduling a location, renting out that location. Oops, double booked? Night ruined.
I think overall this idea gets really dicey when there's a service other than renting out the space to a customer. And if all you're doing is renting the space, why wouldn't I just use airbnb?
https://news.airbnb.com/official-codification-of-party-ban/
https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3345
There's an established warehouse rave party scene. Connect with them and work those parties for long enough to gain experience with the with involved and the various failure modes that they deal with before jumping in.
The idea of profiles isn't enough because you can kick people off the platform once they misbehave, but by then the damage is done. And who knows who really stole the laptop that was in the locked closet, anyway?
That's not to say don't do it. it's totally a niche in the market since airbnb had to shutdown party hosting places on their platform, but you're gonna need insurance, experienced people from the underground party scene, and enough money to fund this without profit for longer than you think.
You'll want bouncers of it's open invite to randos, plus a team of cleaners who specialize in post-event cleanup on call.
Parents are a specific niche that this might work for, although finding a babysitter that the parents will trust could be a challenge.
1. Legal Stuff:
It’s more than just liquor licenses—there could be zoning rules, health codes, or insurance hoops to jump through. Navigating the legal maze will be key to keeping things legit.
2. Liability Worries:
Hosts might worry about what happens if someone gets hurt or if things get out of hand. Giving them a heads-up on insurance options or covering it through the platform could be a big help.
3. Privacy :
Guests might feel a little iffy about sharing personal info when they’re rolling up to a stranger’s place. Strong privacy settings and clear data use policies will make everyone feel more comfortable.
4. Safety:
Keeping both hosts and guests safe is huge. Identity checks, background vetting, and safety features like emergency contacts or a panic button could bring that extra peace of mind.
5. Quality:
Every event needs to hit the mark. A rating system for both hosts and guests, plus some loose guidelines on what makes a great event, could help keep the vibes high.
6. Standing Out:
With players like Meetup, Eventbrite, and social media event tools, the scene’s already buzzing. Finding a unique angle—maybe by catering to niche interests—will help you make a mark.
7. Making It Stick:
It can be tricky to keep people coming back. Constantly freshening up the app with new features, personal recommendations, or a loyalty program might keep the excitement rolling.
8. Scaling:
More users and events = more complexity. Making sure the app can handle the growth without glitching out is going to be crucial.
9. Cultural:
Different communities have their own social norms when it comes to hosting in private spaces. Understanding these subtleties will help you fit into diverse markets more smoothly.
10. Cancellation Rules:
No-shows or last-minute cancellations can be a headache. Setting fair, straightforward cancellation policies will keep things smooth for both guests and hosts.
But you can look into Airbnb's journey to see how they tackled these kinds of similar issues.