Curate a narrow high-end niche, then let search and escrow do the selling

FixTheMusic · See the business →

Who it’s for

Someone with deep knowledge of a service niche (here, live music) who wants to test a curated booking marketplace on a small scale.

The lesson

FixTheMusic did not try to list every musician; it curated a higher-end roster, captured buyers searching for specific act types, and held payment itself so both sides trusted a stranger. A newcomer can test the same shape in one local niche before building any platform.

Who pays and why

Couples planning weddings and corporate event planners pay. A live act is a high-stakes, one-time purchase: if the band fails, the event is spoiled. The business targets the higher end of the market and says it avoids competing on price. Buyers get free quotes, a vetted shortlist, insured acts, and a card payment held by the platform rather than a bank transfer to a stranger. Musicians, who set their own fee, get enquiries and guaranteed payment. The site contrasts itself with traditional agencies whose commission can be large. The platform's own commission rate is not published.

Still inside

How it reaches customers
What is defensible
Where AI can help a newcomer
How to start smaller this month