MyGigz - Increasing the number of accessible live show experiences for audiences while mitigating risks and increasing revenue for venues/promoters and performers

Funder: GRIF
Program: Mobilize / GRIF
PI Name: Yasemin Fanaeian
Faculty/Department: Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology
Research Area(s): Systems Integration; Social Innovation; User Experience (UX) Design

The specific challenge that Plasma Management & Productions Inc. is facing is the disparity in securing successful live and streamed performance opportunities for independent and racialized performers in live entertainment. The fact is that the internet has spawned thousands of entertainers but the number of opportunities to host live and streamed performances has not been able to stay on par with the exponential increase of live performers. MyGigz will be a digital application that integrates existing platforms of social media, crowdfunding, and live/streamed performance, as a way of creating an equal opportunity, independent artist and audience-driven touring industry. The digital application requires information derived from social media analytics, venues (live/virtual) and the accumulated commitment from audiences to attend pending shows in order to generate confirmations - this is described as the conversion rate of a "plicket" (pledged ticket) becoming a hard ticket. MyGigz increases the number of live show experiences available to audiences, mitigates risk for venues/promoters and increases revenue potential for performers at a significantly earlier stage in their careers.