WiKD LiVE: Live Music Marketplace Platform
A two-sided marketplace for Canada's live music industry. Built in 4 weeks.
The Problem
The Problem: Canada's Live Music Industry Running on Duct Tape
Canada's independent live music industry had a fundamental infrastructure problem. Unsigned artists and independent venues were connecting over Instagram DMs, cold emails, and word of mouth. There was no dedicated platform built for this market.
When bookings finally happened, ticketing went through Eventbrite — which charged 15–20% commission on every ticket sold. For a venue doing $10,000 in ticket sales per show, that's $1,500–$2,000 disappearing per event to a platform that had zero investment in Canadian live music.
Artists had no profile, no reputation system, no easy way to showcase their draw or experience level. Venues had no way to post their booking needs, screen applicants, or manage the negotiation back-and-forth efficiently. The entire industry was running on duct tape and DMs.
The founder had a clear vision: a professional, two-sided marketplace purpose-built for the Canadian live music industry. But every agency they approached quoted $100,000+ and 8–12 months. They needed to launch, validate, and get to market fast.
The Solution
The Solution: Two-Sided Marketplace with Direct Stripe Ticketing
Done Right built WiKD LiVE — a full two-sided marketplace on Base44 in 4 weeks. The platform has two completely distinct user experiences: one for artists (profile, portfolio, applications, availability) and one for venues (booking needs board, applicant management, event creation, ticketing).
The critical innovation was direct Stripe integration for ticketing. Instead of routing through Eventbrite, WiKD LiVE processes tickets directly through Stripe at 2.9% — a fraction of Eventbrite's 15–20%. On a $10,000 event, that's $290 in fees vs $1,500–$2,000. The first event on the platform recovered more than the platform's entire build cost in saved fees.
We also built a door-scanning system using QR codes — so venues could check tickets at the door from any smartphone without additional hardware. No separate app, no scanner purchase, no third-party door staff tool.
The business model was designed for recurring revenue: subscription tiers for both artists (Basic/Pro) and venues, so WiKD LiVE generates monthly revenue from day one — not just event-by-event ticketing commissions.
What We Built
Development Process
Architecture & User Flows
Mapped both user types (artist and venue) with distinct workflows. Built the authentication system, profile structures, and dual-dashboard architecture on Base44. Both user types functional by end of week.
Marketplace Core — Booking & Messaging
Built the booking needs board, artist application flow, and in-app messaging system. Venues could post needs, artists could apply, and both could communicate without leaving the platform.
Stripe Ticketing & QR System
Integrated Stripe for direct ticket sales with automatic QR-code generation. Built the mobile QR scanning system for door check-in. Tested full ticket purchase-to-door flow end-to-end.
Subscriptions, Admin & Launch
Built subscription billing tiers with feature gating. Built admin moderation dashboard. Full testing and launch. First ticketed event went live in week 5.
Results
"The first event we ran through WiKD LiVE saved us $1,360 in Eventbrite fees alone. The platform paid for itself on the first event. And the artist discovery piece has been incredible — we've booked talent we never would have found otherwise."
Screenshots
Production screenshots available on request during your discovery call.
Tech Stack
Frequently Asked Questions
How did WiKD LiVE reduce ticketing fees by 86%?
By integrating Stripe directly instead of using Eventbrite. Stripe charges 2.9% per transaction. Eventbrite charges 15–20%. On a $10,000 event, that's $290 vs $1,500–$2,000.
How long did it take to build the WiKD LiVE marketplace?
4 weeks from discovery call to launch. The two-sided marketplace architecture, Stripe ticketing, QR scanning, and subscription billing were all live in under a month.
Can you build a marketplace platform for my business?
Yes. We've built multiple marketplace platforms on Base44. Book a free discovery call — we'll scope your marketplace and provide a fixed quote.
What is the WiKD LiVE subscription model?
WiKD LiVE charges subscription fees to both artists (Basic/Pro tiers) and venues. This creates recurring monthly revenue independent of event volume.
Does WiKD LiVE work outside Calgary?
Yes — it's available Canada-wide. Artists and venues across Canada can connect on the platform. Calgary and Alberta are the strongest initial markets.
Related Services & Case Studies
Want Something Like This?
Book a free 30-minute call with Ryan.
Fixed quote before we hang up. $100/hr CAD all-inclusive. 2–6 week delivery.
Book Free Discovery Call