Booking Artists Online, Without the Administrative Burden

Zoltán Tabár

BBJ: How did the core idea for Koncertbooking come about?

Zoltán Tabár: Ever since dial-up internet appeared, I have been nurturing the idea of simplifying our work with the help of information technology and have been thinking of which aspects of the job can be automatized. By the end of 2018, I had realized, that through various applications, by assisting me in tasks such as navigation, bookkeeping, mailing, my smartphone has become a significant part of organizing my daily chores. With a phone in our pocket, we can sort out almost everything. I’ve learned from my experiences that a good idea by itself is not enough to guarantee success; a business must get started at the right place and at the right time and needs a professional approach. At the beginning of 2019, I felt that the market was ready for change, so we have started to materialize it. The changes in the travel industry have shown us in the past few years what exactly the user is expecting from booking agencies. As one of the leading agencies of the field, we came to the decision of taking the risk and putting our 30 years of knowledge and experience into this program.

BBJ: What does Koncertbooking have to offer to rise above its competitors?

ZT: Currently, our competitors are trying to stay on top by employing extra workforce and by contracting acts and artists on an exclusive status. At the same time, clearly, the majority of artists prefer to be independent, as most agencies are unable to represent them fully. The technical development of the past decade has ruined the traditional structure of label companies, it has wiped away physical publishing and as digital sales are not profitable either, artists need to give a share from booking incomes. Essentially, it means deductions from all incomes of a performance, due to royalties to be paid towards their management. Also, contractors like to book direct and to receive first-hand information. Koncertbooking.com offers to simplify this process, by helping the artist and management gain profit, also by lifting the weight of administration off their shoulders in exchange for only a small fee.

BBJ: How many people make up your team?

ZT: Right now, 10 people are working on the project, which is evolving constantly. Among them we have developers, project managers, creative and PR professionals, administrators.

BBJ: What successes has Koncertbooking achieve so far?

ZT: We have only just started in the middle of October and the numbers of registered artists and agencies have been steeply growing since. It is clear from the first feedback received that the field has been waiting for a long time for a rejuvenation like this and that it welcomes and supports the development. Likewise, the users have responded positively and daily use of the site has begun.

BBJ: What are your plans for the future?

ZT: On top of the booking function, the aim is to develop an “E-manager assistant”. This app allows the artist to efficiently manage everything they have to deal with on a daily basis. The list is long, from renting out rehearsal rooms and finding fellow musicians to getting their songs to radio stations. A so-called “backstage” element is coming soon, where performers will find themselves in a virtual musician’s market. In the following months, we will be adding more modules to the program based on the needs of users.