Monetizing live stream performance and rental after?

bthiemann80

bthiemann80

Mar 31, 2007
560
37
4,941
Central Illinois
#1
Hey all, I did a casual perusal concerning live stream content on TB and did not find anything that was satisfactory. Though, it has been a while since I was active on here, so maybe search things have changed? Anyways...

My band is wanting to host a live streaming performance/concert type of thing and charge "admission". Afterwards, we want to have it be available for viewing but also charge a rental fee for it. I have done a bit of looking on the web and I think at least the initial live stream performance can be live streamed via YouTube and sell "tickets" through EventBrite. But I am coming up short/confused on how to make it available for rent.

It seems like this should be a thing. At least to me anyway. Is there any of my bass brethren who have looked into or have experience doing this sort of stuff?

As always, your collective consideration is greatly appreciated!
 
#2
Sounds like a great idea ... if you're already famous?? But even famous people post free stuff on YouTube etc. so the idea sounds like it could be a stretch for most of us who aren't famous. I think you need to shift being worried about the technical aspect of delivering content for a fee to the real challenge: marketing and selling the idea for revenue. Especially to younger people. There was an article today about how young people resist paying for dating apps. If they won't pay for a date and potential sex, why would they pay for music played by old people (inferred from your member join date)? I'm all ears to hear how this could work!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chrisk-K, Plucky The Bassist, logdrum and 1 other person
#3
Ukiah Bass said:
Sounds like a great idea ... if you're already famous?? But even famous people post free stuff on YouTube etc. so the idea sounds like it could be a stretch for most of us who aren't famous. I think you need to shift being worried about the technical aspect of delivering content for a fee to the real challenge: marketing and selling the idea for revenue. Especially to younger people. There was an article today about how young people resist paying for dating apps. If they won't pay for a date and potential sex, why would they pay for music played by old people (inferred from your member join date)? I'm all ears to hear how this could work!
Click to expand...

I appreciate your response and candor!

This is for an established band that has a following. I am mostly wondering what possibilities are out there for post live streaming monetization. Is there a way to post the performance somewhere that people can pay some amount and/or rent to watch it?
 
#8
All of my friends and colleagues who have been successful in monetizing streamed performances have exclusively been via live streams, and only on Twitch. Most have tried other platforms to no avail. The typical model is for patronage models during the live stream by supporters, and later a sort of "highlight reel" from the live stream gets ported to their YouTube page. The latter doesn't generate income, but may generate interest in catching a future live stream. I've never heard of any of them charging for the performance after it's been streamed and this is from several people that make their entire living via live stream performances. That's not to say that it can't happen, only that in my experience this does not seem like an avenue that's currently viable. Maybe you can turn the tides on that and create a market where none appears to exist currently. I would anticipate an extremely steep uphill effort on this. Please keep TB posted on how it goes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Plucky The Bassist
#9
My first impulse was to just dump in the idea
Because I can watch clips of the greatest bands of the last century for free on You Tube.

I don't think a singular live gig is the right content model for monetizing streams.
The basic approach that seems to be working for people is :
  • produce a boatload of free content
  • ask for donations nicely, with exclusive content as an incentive

The logical model to follow is game streamers on twitch etc, so I'd look into how they monetize
But they are streaming steadily hours and hours per week.

But For one show? I don't see that working.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Plucky The Bassist and Barticus
#11
Alternate approach:
I've discovered some groups on Bandcamp (EG: Dopapod ), seem to be recording every show they play, then immediately releasing a digital album of each live show. Had signed up for notices from them, and they were releasing a new album a week for a while, then I realized what they were doing. Perhaps they hoped some who couldn't make a show in their locale would be interested in recording as a cheap consolation? (Or it was so memorable, they'd pay for a copy to revisit later?)

Would be interesting to know how this is working for them.

Good luck, and we'd all love to hear if you find an avenue that works to suit your goal. Takes some creative thinking to catch an audience these days!
 
#12
mambo4 said:
...The basic approach that seems to be working for people is :
  • produce a boatload of free content
  • ask for donations nicely, with exclusive content as an incentive...
...But For one show? I don't see that working.
Click to expand...

Yup, this right here ^

You could try and publish it to rent on Amazon Prime or something along those lines, but how much draw you'll get from there is uncertain (I'm sure they take a healthy cut too). Unless it's airing on Cable or Satellite TV already, or has VERY high production quality, PPV is a very tough format to sell original content in these days.

The upside of the "Free Admission" model that is common these days, is that viewers are used to supporting monetarily via Superchats (Youtube) or with Bits/Cheers (Twitch), which are basically live donations that give automatic shoutouts/callouts to those who donate. The livestream model also works best when the Entertainer(s) engage with the audience via chat or replying to chat messages or donation messages out loud. While people may not drop $1k tips every stream, modestly successful streamers can clear several hundred $$'s per stream in donations. They can also procure multiple membership sign-ups as well, some people even gift memberships to other viewers to support the entertainer!

The majority of that crowd is Millennials and younger, though Youtube does tend to have an older core audience than Twitch. I do know of several Gen X and Boomers who use Youtube, but how many of them are interested in the livestream portion of Youtube would be a guess from me. Best of luck either way, it will be an excellent thread to document your experiences in here!! :bassist:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back