Music venue taps into technology to secure high profile gigs

ONE of Galway’s most popular music venues is tapping into technology through a local company that is helping to transform the way live acts secure their audiences.
Campbell’s Tavern of Cloughanover has hooked up with Tuam firm iCrowdFund to deliver maximum ticket sales for upcoming concerts at its venue on the outskirts of Headford.
The iCrowdFund concept has been developed by Western Webs, who have modified the basic crowdfunding model that finances projects online through raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people.
While mainstream crowdfunding works on the premise of all-or-nothing projects – where the person proposing the venture only gets to keep the funding if they reach their target – iCrowdFund offers the option of keeping all of the money pledged.
Willie Campbell said the adoption of the iCrowdFund campaign had secured a gig in January that would bring a world-class act to his venue.
“The iCrowdFund takes the risk out of it for us as a venue, because in order to attract international acts, you have to book them months in advance and provide a large guarantee, which isn’t refundable if the tickets don’t sell,” he said.