Side Door is in the spotlight as musicians look for innovation in touring

At a time when the only way for most musicians to eke out any kind of living from their craft is by touring, innovations in connecting artists and audiences are essential.

The old model of grinding your way across the country to play low-paying club shows in only key urban centres isn’t only unprofitable for most, it also fails to connect with all those fans whose homes don’t happen to be located along the freeway.

Side Door is a company directly shaking-up that model by providing a platform for people who want to put on a show to pair-up with those who want to play one. As the website says: “Memorable shows in any space whether it’s a living room, backyard, office or storefront, Side Door connects artists and hosts to book memorable shows in any space.”

Founded in 2017 by Juno award-winner Dan Mangan and music industry veteran Laura Simpson, the company has now grown to include over 6,800 artists, 2,900-plus venue hosts and 86,000 users-and-counting. To date, nearly 150,000 audience members have purchased a ticket by Side Door to take in an event created using the platform.