Is this an idea worth pursuing or not?

[nyclawyer]

The social scene in big cities like New York or LA can be daunting. Drinks are expensive, places can be crowded, lines long and the service sucks. So I was thinking, what if you have a platform that enables people to turn ordinary private spaces such as their home (or really anywhere) into social settings? For instance, turn your apartment into a bar with 4 tables and guests can reserve a spot (either with a group of friends or to hang out with strangers) by paying an admission fee (will be byob to avoid liquor license issues). This concept can be applied to different social settings such as hosting a mom’s night for other moms with kid care included, hosting a mediterranean dinner party, hosting a games night etc. The platform would enable guests to see what events are happening in their immediate vicinity / or a particular location on a specific date and reserve spots at various events they want to attend. Guests can also see if their friends are attending a particular event (if the guest makes their attendance public) and over time see if any guests that they’ve met previously will be attending. Guests and hosts can leave reviews on each other's profiles as feedback for future users. Some immediate issues I’ve identified are the usual market place chicken and egg problem and potential security concerns about letting strangers into your private space (though the same was true for uber and airbnb). Are there any other potential issues? I have several ideas on how to monetize it but wanted to hear what people think about the concept.

[hack_fraud13]

You’ll face a high regulatory and liability burden, but neither of those are insurmountable (note that I am not a lawyer or financial advisor and this is not legal or financial advice). Liquor license to serve drinks is the first that comes to mind. Then there’s the risk factor that running a bar involves dealing with unsavory people (people who start fights, harass, other levels of petty crime and violence). You also need to screen guests for valid IDs.

You need a rent-a-bouncer service for your hosts, too at the very least.

Again, not impossible but difficult (and solving the difficulty is the whole value prop of a business). Consider synergies with other event organizers, especially in the music scene.

[informal007]

Totally right, regulatory and liability burden take the huge part of cost.

However, Consumers can take some of these responsibilities, That's why the price of service mentioned by OP can be less expensive.

[nyclawyer]

Yeah, your right. There are certainly some regulatory challenges with liquor and if a host a serving food. But to get around the liquor license issue, it could be byob. The events also do not necessarily have to involve a party - it could be other events focused around a theme or activity.

Bouncers for hosts would probably not be necessary. I've used airbnb experiences before and this is basically the same concept. Airbnb doesn't have bouncers for their hosts. The ability to leave reviews by both hosts and guests would deter bad behavior. But this is an issue I need to dig deeper into.

[fragmede]

AirBnB kicked overnight parties off their platform because they disturbed neighbors, property damaged, items stolen, neighbors calling the cops. The problem with small groups is they can still do that on airbnb, so why would they use your platform other than cost - except you need to monetize somehow as well.

There's an established warehouse rave party scene. Connect with them and work those parties for long enough to gain experience with the with involved and the various failure modes that they deal with before jumping in.

The idea of profiles isn't enough because you can kick people off the platform once they misbehave, but by then the damage is done. And who knows who really stole the laptop that was in the locked closet, anyway?

That's not to say don't do it. it's totally a niche in the market since airbnb had to shutdown party hosting places on their platform, but you're gonna need insurance, experienced people from the underground party scene, and enough money to fund this without profit for longer than you think.

You'll want bouncers of it's open invite to randos, plus a team of cleaners who specialize in post-event cleanup on call.

Parents are a specific niche that this might work for, although finding a babysitter that the parents will trust could be a challenge.

[sky2224]

Addressing the bar kind of scene you're talking about: I just don't think it'd work for those that are of the legal age to drink (speaking from the US perspective). People go to bars/clubs for the intense environment of people getting drunk, dancing, etc. For the people that want something more chill, they just go to a more mellow dive bar.

But most of all, there's not much of a plan when going out for a lot of people. Friends will get together and say, "let's go to the bar" and the night goes from there. With your idea, there's a requirement of finding a location, scheduling a location, renting out that location. Oops, double booked? Night ruined.

I think overall this idea gets really dicey when there's a service other than renting out the space to a customer. And if all you're doing is renting the space, why wouldn't I just use airbnb?

[fragmede]

YMMV but AirBnB explicitly doesn't want your business if you want to host a party/event type of gathering and will kick you (guest and/or host) off the platform for it.

https://news.airbnb.com/official-codification-of-party-ban/

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3345

[stephenr]

Potential issues? What potential issues could there be with people running faux bars in their own home without a liquor license?

Why not go all in. Run an app to let people invite strangers into their house and do major surgery/critical care on them. Call it AirAandE.

After all the obvious evidence to the contrary, why do people think this "who needs laws what could go wrong" approach will work out?

[nyclawyer]

The sassy tone is really not necessary. Also, airbnb's entire business is predicated on inviting strangers into your house. Do you have anything else?

[stephenr]

(A) Airbnb is the poster child for "fuck the law I do what I want"; it's becoming increasingly obvious to people that it's a really good way to have a shitty time. If you want to emulate that business model, it says a lot about your priorities.

(B) Airbnb "hosts" don't invite people and then serve them alcohol. There's no way this brilliant idea doesn't run afoul of liquor laws.

[nyclawyer]

I think its clear you didn't read the entire post. But thank you for your contribution.

[scrivna]

As someone who lives in an apartment and has a baby who I want to be able to sleep at night - this idea can go to hell, I’d have our strata rules ban this service so fast. There’s a reason cities zone areas for parties/bars and others for residential.

[nyclawyer]

I totally understand the concern around parties. The idea is definitely not to bring parties into residential buildings. I will iterate on this. Thank you!

[chanura_shopynw]

Your idea is super cool. but should think of these.

1. Legal Stuff:

It’s more than just liquor licenses—there could be zoning rules, health codes, or insurance hoops to jump through. Navigating the legal maze will be key to keeping things legit.

2. Liability Worries:

Hosts might worry about what happens if someone gets hurt or if things get out of hand. Giving them a heads-up on insurance options or covering it through the platform could be a big help.

3. Privacy :

Guests might feel a little iffy about sharing personal info when they’re rolling up to a stranger’s place. Strong privacy settings and clear data use policies will make everyone feel more comfortable.

4. Safety:

Keeping both hosts and guests safe is huge. Identity checks, background vetting, and safety features like emergency contacts or a panic button could bring that extra peace of mind.

5. Quality:

Every event needs to hit the mark. A rating system for both hosts and guests, plus some loose guidelines on what makes a great event, could help keep the vibes high.

6. Standing Out:

With players like Meetup, Eventbrite, and social media event tools, the scene’s already buzzing. Finding a unique angle—maybe by catering to niche interests—will help you make a mark.

7. Making It Stick:

It can be tricky to keep people coming back. Constantly freshening up the app with new features, personal recommendations, or a loyalty program might keep the excitement rolling.

8. Scaling:

More users and events = more complexity. Making sure the app can handle the growth without glitching out is going to be crucial.

9. Cultural:

Different communities have their own social norms when it comes to hosting in private spaces. Understanding these subtleties will help you fit into diverse markets more smoothly.

10. Cancellation Rules:

No-shows or last-minute cancellations can be a headache. Setting fair, straightforward cancellation policies will keep things smooth for both guests and hosts.

But you can look into Airbnb's journey to see how they tackled these kinds of similar issues.

[nyclawyer]

Thank you so much. These are all super helpful. Really appreciate you taking the time to write this feedback. I'll be sure to dig into this.

[arch-ninja]

I love the idea! It combines social-network capabilities with in-person hangouts. Let me know if you need a C++/Rust/Zig developer for backend work. The required infrastructure sounds simple to build if you outsource payment processing. The most complex component will be a reputation system.

[nyclawyer]

Thanks man. I appreciate it. I'll def let you know when the time comes. Would you be down to beta test?

[rclairville]

Love the idea! I think the biggest barrier would be neighbors who do not want parties in their neighborhoods.

If you could find a way around that, that neighborhood would be a hit with millennials and gen z.

[nyclawyer]

Thank you! And yes, those concerns are valid. Though I'm envisioning the use case to be wider than just a party. It could be hosting a book club, kids play date, a movie night etc. Would you be interested in beta testing it?

[rclairville]

I would love to! DM me details and I can send over my contacts.

[gardenhedge]

You should start it as specific things like sports events. E.g someone with a big TV shows the game or ufc fight or gaming nights. Mario kart sessions etc

[nyclawyer]

That's a great idea.

[gardenhedge]

Remember me when you make it big

[nyclawyer]

Haha what's your email and I'll add you to the beta once its available?

[p1esk]

How is this different from simply inviting your friends for a party?

[nyclawyer]

The idea is that you can open the app at any time and see what events are happening IRL in your location. Would that be something you'd find useful?

[p1esk]

No

[theWreckluse]

I love it! Keep me posted if you ever get a beta out

[nyclawyer]

For sure. What's a good email address I can reach out at?

[al_borland]

What would differentiate this from renting an AirBnB and inviting people over? Assuming I don’t want random strangers crashing my party.

I mentioned AirBnB, but a lot of them now explicitly state “no parties.” I’m sure this wasn’t without having some bad experiences. Don’t imagine people like you using the service, imagine the people who are trashing hotel rooms. What will the cleaning fees be like? If events are posted publicly, who is liable for damage when randoms show up? I’m picturing these places looking like college rentals after a short period of time. Too many rules to guard against this kind of thing and people will get too worried to have any fun.

When parties get out of hand, how would that be handled? Private security? The police?

I could see buildings, or cities banning this pretty quickly.

[nyclawyer]

I think your right - hosting parties could present various issues i.e. building restrictions, HOA rules etc. But do think it could work if the event is not necessarily a party? Say for instance your a suburban mom and your looking for a play date for your kids for Friday afternoon. You hop on the app and you can see which families are hosting a play date on Friday. Think of it as an app that tells you in real time what events are happening in either your immediate vicinity or a specific area of interest.

[al_borland]

I’m not a parent, so I can’t speak too much to that. Though my first reaction is that a lot of parents are too protective to want play dates posted online for anyone to show up to.

If you had nicer homes signed up, I could see MLM people renting them out to host their gatherings to sell whatever it is they are selling… if it would be financially viable. I think that community has a lot of fake it till you make it attitude.

I wonder if garages or workshops would be an option. Some cities have maker spaces, for people who need some tools or space, but don’t have access to a shop or the money to buy a bunch of tool. Being able to find a nearby neighbor who has some tools and some space to build a one off thing could be interesting.

If specifically looking for things where events are posted and public, I think it then starts crossing into the Meetup space. More recently when I browse that site it seems more and more meetups require membership and are limited in the number of people that can sign up. I think this is inevitable, as few places can handle an unlimited number of people, and they want to keep out the creeps and weirdos.

[bhag2066]

Great idea to try, good luck!

[nyclawyer]

Thank you. Appreciate it!

[sarah_eu]

I would not pursue this idea.

[nyclawyer]

Could you elaborate why not?

[cranberryturkey]

i love it. like airbnb but for the night life.

[nyclawyer]

yeah exactly. Would you be down to beta test the product once available?

[cranberryturkey]

you can reach me at [e-mail]

[nyclawyer]

awesome, stay tuned

[cranberryturkey]

sure

[purple-leafy]

No