This Is Why Broke-Ass New Yorkers Love MyFreeConcert
Hello?!
The name of the website leaves little to the imagination and much to the bank account. If you haven’t visited this super-amazing-slice-of-internet-heaven then get your shit together, team. Originally launched in New York City, MyFreeConcert is a website dedicated to bringing you the best free/cheap events all over town.
Boasting a few years of experience of having its finger on the pulse of New York City parties, MyFreeConcert (MFC) lists events by genre, staff recommendation, open-bar status and much more. Past events have included everything from magazine launch parties for New York Fashion Week to Absolut Vodka tasting events to spotlighting performances for up-and-coming live acts and DJs.
MFC recently expanded to Austin, Texas, just in time for SXSW, and has announced plans to take over Chicago and Los Angeles in the coming future.
And who is responsible for all of this wallet-savvy, social goodness? His name is Andy Meyers.
In an interview with Meyers, we discussed the many possibilities of MFC’s future and I came to the conclusion that he is simply the Robin Hood of Good Times for New York City.
Meyers explained to me that the concept of MFC was simple: During his tenure at New York University, where he enrolled in their music business graduate program, he wanted to go out and have a good time, but he didn’t exactly have the deep pockets to do so.
“Grad school ain’t cheap,” Meyers pointed out.
After discovering a number of free events, with high-life perks and low attendance, he started the website so his friends could tag along.
Ironically, the website fit like a glove for big companies who wanted people to spend money on their brand but didn’t have a clue on how to promote themselves. Meyers attended a lot of events with stuffy suits/9-to-5ers and his recommendations have helped these companies incorporate a more diverse crowd (read: cool people like us).
A few years later, MFC has grown to tens of thousands of cool people visiting the website each month. However, the hypothetical buck doesn’t stop there. MFC’s recently renovated website, which gives visitors the opportunity to create their own account and follow their favorite artists, venues and events creates the opportunity for local musicians, music business professionals and fans to keep in touch.
There are a number of similar websites to MFC, but the difference is all in the delivery. Meyers, who’s favorite bands include Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Iggy Pop and Purity Ring, has created an atmosphere of inclusion that helps us survive these nine-month, freezing-cold cycles that occur each year in the concrete jungle. “There’s a lot of people who don’t share information,” Meyers said in reference to other promoters. “[New York’s] a dog-eat-dog city.”
By making it easier for people like us, MFC exhibits a much needed sense of community. It doesn’t matter how much you’re willing to pay to get into an event, you certainly can’t buy that type of passion.
“I want to have events that people can actually go to,” says Meyers. “We just want to be an ambassador for going out.”
For more information on MyFreeConcert, visit their website and register your account today.
Photo Credit: MyFreeConcert
