Yeah, yeah, another new social network. Big deal, right? Well, Better Than The Van might work out quite neatly, as it happens, because they’ve thought carefully about the one thing half the tech start-ups seem to skip over in their enthusiasm - they’ve identified a genuine need. [image courtesy of The Sun Hums]
Better Than The Van’s premise is simple enough. You join up and register yourself, and then explain what facilities you have to offer to a low-budget touring band in search of a crash pad. Then bands on tour look up their venue locations, and attempt to hook up somewhere to stay that is (you guessed it) better than the van.
Now obviously there’s plenty of potential for cranks and weirdness with a system like this. That’s why there’s a reputation system a bit like eBay’s baked in so people who do things that make them an unappealing host or guest get labelled in such a way that no one will enter into an arrangement with them in ignorance.
Quite what constitutes unacceptable behaviour when a band are sleeping in your lounge, I have no idea, and that’s a loophole that might prove tricky in the future (as it has with eBay before). But the core idea is sound, and Better Than The Van acts as a proof-of-concept for the idea of small bands getting themselves on the road on a budget - as well as a way for fans to help out musicians in a more direct (read as ‘not label-mediated’) way. Result.
Better Than The Van looks to be US-centric, but I see no reason it couldn’t work globally. So get yourself on there and register that old futon - poor musicians everywhere need your help!
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Tags: bands, Better Than The Van, music, social network, touring, website
