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20 Front Street in Lake Orion, Michigan, was designed as a true listening room—an intimate space where artists are treated with respect and audiences come to hear the music.
Managing Partner/Talent Buyer Kevin Bessert brought a lifelong passion for live music and a savvy business mindset: start lean, learn by doing, and then invest in tools that enable long-term growth.
In its early years, the team relied on homemade systems for ticketing and operations. While this gave them control, Kevin knew it wasn’t sustainable.
“It worked for us because it gave us control,” Kevin recalls. “But I always knew the future of the venue would require more innovation, more efficiency, and the right partner.”
The real turning point came when the venue reopened post-COVID. It was clear the DIY approach had to evolve into something more scalable and centralized. Kevin needed a partner, not just another point solution.
Opendate stood out immediately for its comprehensive platform—booking, ticketing, marketing, and reporting all in one place.
“What stood out right away was the all-in-one nature of the platform. Booking, ticketing, marketing, reporting is all centralized. Everyone on my team is reading from the same playbook. That saves us time and makes the entire operation run smoother.”
1. Time Savings
“What once took over an hour now takes minutes.”
Kevin can book, ticket, and market a show in one seamless flow, without bouncing between platforms.
2. Team Alignment
With Opendate, every staff member sees the same show details—stage plots, riders, settlements, calendars—eliminating miscommunication.
“It’s eliminated the back-and-forth. We spend our meetings on strategy, not logistics.”
3. Profitability Always in Sight
Real-time P&L visibility keeps finances front and center.
“Having P&L front and center on every show page means I can make financial decisions instantly. It keeps us focused on profitability instead of guesswork.”
4. Partnership That Delivers
Kevin emphasizes the collaboration with Opendate’s team.
“From day one I knew I could get someone on the phone or by email and get a quick response. It goes beyond troubleshooting. It's a collaboration.”
5. Meeting Higher Demands
As bigger acts come through, Opendate equips the venue to handle presales, tracking pixels, and strategic marketing requests with ease.
“Now when artist managers ask for something, I can say yes. Opendate gives us the tools to compete at a higher level.”
20 Front Street recently secured nonprofit status and is preparing to launch a membership program. Kevin sees Opendate as a key partner for the next chapter.
“What makes me confident is knowing Opendate is forward-thinking. Whenever I have an idea, the team is either already working on it, or they listen and put it on the roadmap. It feels aligned with how I want to grow this business.”