Host Committee

Host Committee, founded in 2012 by Michael Waxman, operated as an event-planning service with a crowd-hosting model. The company empowered individuals, referred to as 'hosts', to organize events at various venues, leveraging their social networks to sell tickets. This model provided a social alternative to traditional event promotion and ticketing platforms.

The platform facilitated the entire event process, from venue selection and drink special negotiations to ticket sales and guest list management. Hosts would choose a date, time, and partner venue, and then promote their event. In return for bringing a crowd, hosts would receive a percentage of the bar sales generated by their guests, offering a direct financial incentive. This approach targeted individuals looking to monetize their social influence and event-planning skills.

Host Committee's primary clients were the venues, such as bars and lounges in New York City, who benefited from guaranteed customers on specific nights. The business model was based on taking a share of the revenue generated from ticket sales and the bar tab, creating a symbiotic relationship between the hosts, the venues, and the platform. The company managed the financial transactions, collecting payments from guests and distributing the host's commission.

The service appears to have ceased operations, as indicated by its inactive website and social media presence. Prior to its closure, the company had secured seed funding from investors including Greycroft and RRE Ventures.

Keywords: event planning, crowd-hosting, social events, event promotion, ticketing platform, venue marketing, social influence, bar revenue, event management, nightlife