A former Huddersfield pub is to become an experimental gig venue.
The 250-capacity former Zetland pub on Queensgate is to become the home of music events under the banner of CrowdPleaser, which will be put on via crowdfunding musicians’ fans.
Local and national bands and promoters will be able to put on gigs at the venue, by using a new website that asks fans to pay for tickets in advance.
Once enough money is found to pay the acts, a date will then be confirmed for them to play.
So far, Nightmare on Wax’s DJ Ease and Plump DJs are crowdfunding to play at the venue, which is being transformed by Sheffield tech start up and vintage shop label owner Bally Johal.
He created the app-cum-website crowdpleaser.club, where events are advertised and then monetarily backed by fans.
“It allows fans to bring their favourite artists to their town and will allow bands and promoters to secure gigs which will not lose them money”, he said.
“We want to create a multi purpose venue with a big focus on bands and club nights.
“And this system turns the way of putting on bands on its head.
“At the moment, agents have control of who is the flavour of the month and drive really hard to get them booked for gigs.
“Crowdpleaser gives musicians who can get as big an audience the chance to put on gigs when and where they want, with the help of their fans.
“We want to encourage bands and promoters to use the app and they can decide how much they need to raise to make the show viable.
“It means that there is no risk in putting on a show and not enough people coming to it.
“They get 80% of what’s raised and 20% will go towards the maintenance of the site.”
Bally is currently renting the building to host a pop-up second hand store called Thrifty Store, which he hopes will remain open during the day time and will also run alongside club nights, the first of which will be hosted by Huddersfield’s Junglism djs on January 16.
Bally is in talks to secure a long-term lease of the building and wants his crowdfunding app to eventually sell gigs to other local venues.
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“A lot of venues can be quiet mid week and this gives them a gig with a guaranteed audience.
“If there’s any capacity availability left after the crowdfunding tickets have all gone, then people will also be able to buy tickets on the door.
“It’s all about people power to bring gigs to their community.
“Huddersfield has got a great music scene– there’s a lot of talent and this will allow both that and talent from everywhere else to come and play here.
Any artists or promoters interested in using Crowdpleaser to play at the venue should contact Bally via www.facebook.com/CrowdPleaserHuddersfield
