by Amanda Taylor, KWIPPED
The audiovisual market is poised for a sharing economy “takeover.” The AV market alone generates $91 billion a year, and is projected to be a $114 billion by 2016 (infoComm). Virtually every industry relies on AV technologies to facilitate and support communications, entertainment, and other related services. It is only a matter of time before the sharing economy approach infiltrates and transforms the AV industry by offering convenience, efficiency, expanded choice, social interaction, competitive pricing and other benefits. Some early players are already introducing the sharing economy idea to the AV Industry:
Launched in mid 2014, Sparkplug is a NYC-based community marketplace where musicians can source equipment space from each other. Their global platform aims to connect musicians with unused music equipment, instruments or recording space with musicians in need of those items through an easy-to-use, online interface. According to the Sparkplug website, “Sparkplug exists to drive connections around the world through the power of the sharing economy, helping artists to more effectively share their creative resources, ultimately to greater creative impact,”
KitSplit is a rental marketplace for “creative” equipment. KitSplit, launched in early 2015, aims to please the imagination of those who want, but cannot afford, to purchase “creative” equipment. Used by photographers, filmmakers, and artists, KitSplit uses a sharing economy model to create easy, efficient access to hard-to-get equipment. Having access to a new drone, expensive, specialized camera equipment, or even film sets has never been easier. KitSplit is currently in beta, with hopes of expanding globally.
Viflux is a website where audiovisual specialists can connect to collaborate on productions. The platform is a massive social media-like tool that enables fluid connectivity between professionals within the industry. Users can search multiple industry categories based on specific skills. Professionals can easily upload profile images and past projects completed, and also connect with others in the audiovisual industry.
KWIPPED is an online marketplace dedicated to business professionals who rent and need to rent equipment. Though the platform spans 17 industry verticals, there is an entire category dedicated to the film industry, and another to the audio-visual industry. Launched in early 2015, KWIPPED’s flexible platform enables any business or organization with idle equipment to showcase and rent that equipment in order to create new revenue streams. While KWIPPED’s supplier network does include traditional rental businesses, the sharing economy model allows any organization to participate in the marketplace as a renter or supplier.
Crowd Audio allows performers to seek out talented professional audio mixers for recordings. Once a musician uploads an audio clip with a description of how they want it to sound, it gets released to audio professionals who will compete for the job. The competitors are motivated by the opportunity for some good PR and prize money. The platform allows musicians to crowd fund their prize money. Both parties are rewarded in the end.
Amanda Taylor is a marketing manager for KWIPPED.com. KWIPPED (a short, slang term meaning “Equipped”) is an innovative, online equipment rental marketplace where businesses can quickly locate and rent the equipment they need from a global network of KWIPPED suppliers. KWIPPED currently services more than 500 equipment categories, including film and audiovisual.
Sources:
http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/xchg/infocomm/hs.xsl/32928.htm
