[cabaalis]

This is very useful insight that I want to apply to my own planned side-projects (like 30-something domains registered as ideas...) Too often I've thought "that's a great idea" and then focused on the tech of implementation rather than the viability.

At that point it's just a hobby, or skill-sharpening exercise.

Regarding the example shown, I would think that "uber for" ideas (meaning facilitate a connection between service provider X with service need-er Y, take a commission on the transaction) sound as though possibilities are unlimited. However the reality may be that not everything can be disrupted in this way.

[netsharc]

Reading this article and seeing these replies, I feel like a communist who accidentally walked into a Davos hotel lobby during WEF.

What about just making a website to connect learners and providers? This commission-taking, the Uber model, such effing rent-seeking.

I mean I also don't work for free, but things like "Uber-for-dog-walkers, but we'll fine you much money if you arrange dog walks outside of our service. Also we don't vet our walkers so they might kill your dog[1]."? Come back to reality please.

1) Top result when I google "dog walker kills dog" https://nypost.com/2019/12/01/embattled-dog-walking-app-wag-...

[throwawayjava]

> such effing rent-seeking

That was also my take-away regarding this idea.

20% cut? For match-making on private music lessons? Fuck that. Our local music store charges less than that for renting an hour in a soundproof room! And the discoverability/match-making "platform" is a free bulletin board next to the restroom...

Also love how that email described the radical act of checking the local music store's bulletin board (or going and asking a friend/coworker/etc. for a recommendation) as "under-the-table neighborhood activity".

[CrazyStat]

And the existing competitors are apparently charging a 40% cut!

Even more depressingly, good music teachers, once they get established, will typically have as many students as they want through word of mouth alone. So the teachers you'll find who are desperate for students and willing to give up a 20-40% cut are probably mediocre.

[unlinked_dll]

Plus you can get a referral for private lessons from virtually any public or private school music teacher. For free.

[logifail]

> Plus you can get a referral for [snip] for free

Who actually thinks that a(ny) startup is going to be able to provide consistently higher-quality referrals than an actual word of mouth referral from someone you know?

[cortesoft]

I mean, there ARE services to provide in this space that aren't rent seeking and are worthy of being paid for... things like financial service (taking payments), escrow service (making sure each side provides the agreed upon service, and arbitrating any disputes), vetting services (could be ratings, background checks, etc), guarantees and insurance... i am sure we could think of many others

I am totally fine with a company providing those services to independent contractors... I just wish they would do more of those things and less of the attempting to force you to keep using their service

[cortesoft]

As others have said on this thread, this model is not very good for frequent, repeated services that are provided by the same person each time. When that happens, it becomes really easy to cut the middle man out and pay the service provider directly.

These services are matchmakers, and the matchmaker can only really be expected to be paid to make the match... not in perpetuity. This is why services like Uber, where you only are matched with a particular driver for a single ride and are unlikely to be driven by the same driver again (at least not intentionally) work so well for a matchmaking service.

If you hire a music teacher, you aren't going to have a different one every week. You don't need the match making services after that first lesson. So why are you going to keep paying the matchmaker?

[jlokier]

For one on one personal service yes.

For something where people get some value out of using the intermediary over and over, even if it's the same teacher, see Peloton.

I could see that idea working for remote music lessons if the teachers were great.