A Saskatoon man is taking a stand against high ticket fees by creating a local platform that bypasses major ticketing companies. Liam Martin has launched OnStage, an events booking website designed to reduce costs for both event organizers and attendees.
Addressing the Problem of High Ticket Fees
Martin, who has a background in computer engineering and experience in the local music scene, was motivated by the excessive fees charged by monopolized platforms like Ticketmaster. 'I thought it was outrageous how much they were charging,' he said. Ticketmaster fees include service fees, order processing fees, delivery fees, and facility charges, with dynamic pricing based on demand.
Creating an Open Platform
Martin's goal with OnStage is to democratize ticketing. 'The idea was to basically build something that was more of an open platform that I would have very little necessary input in to having to control, because I basically wanted to democratize it for as many people as possible,' he explained. He aims to maintain the website and grow it, making improvements as needed.
Challenging Monopolies
Martin believes small businesses like wedding planners, photographers, and show promoters should not be burdened by high fees from large corporations. Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster were recently found to be an anticompetitive monopoly in a U.S. court case, and similar actions are underway in Canada. Martin said, 'I believe in business, but small businesses are not assisted as much as they should be.'
Merchandise Integration
OnStage offers a unique feature: merchandise integration. Martin noted, 'It is a big deal. You make almost all of your serious cash on merchandising. You got all your t-shirts, your CDs, stickers, cups.' This sets his platform apart from other ticketing providers.
Community Support
Martin is committed to helping local events and attendees. 'Anything that's reducing fees for the presenters and for ultimately the audience to attend is great,' he said. He acknowledges he is fortunate to have the skills to assist others facing high fees, adding, 'I think that the technology and the service is simple enough that it could be given out to people basically for free. I don't really need to make any money off this.'
