Web Application

eventDSM

eventDSM
PROJECT DETAILS
Category
Web Application
Project Number
#01
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OVERVIEW
MM built a multi-tenant event ticketing platform that saves organizers 70% on fees while giving them complete control. EventDSM.com and DSMpay.com deliver what Eventbrite charges $3+ per ticket for at just $19-99/month—including automated SSL, triple payment processing (Stripe/PayPal/Venmo), QR code validation, real-time analytics, and a mobile-optimized dashboard. The entire system runs uses a zero per-ticket fees system, turning event management into a profitable operation instead of a cost center.
THE CHALLENGE

What We Were
Up Against

Des Moines area event organizers faced prohibitively expensive ticketing solutions dominated by platforms like Eventbrite, which charged per-ticket fees ranging from 3-8% plus processing fees. For local community events, concerts, and food festivals, these costs significantly eroded already-thin profit margins. Small to mid-sized organizers needed professional ticketing infrastructure but couldn't justify paying $5-10 per ticket sold. Many resorted to cash-only events or manual spreadsheet tracking, losing revenue to no-shows and creating poor customer experiences. The market lacked an affordable, full-featured platform specifically designed for regional event organizers who needed enterprise capabilities at small business prices.
PROJECT GOALS
Create an affordable alternative to Eventbrite specifically for Des Moines metropolitan area event organizers with three primary objectives: 1. Cost Reduction: Replace expensive per-ticket fees with predictable monthly subscriptions ($19-$99) allowing unlimited ticket sales with zero transaction fees 2. Professional Infrastructure: Deliver enterprise-grade multi-tenant ticketing platform with secure payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, Venmo), automated email confirmations, QR code validation, and SSL-encrypted transactions 3. Regional Market Leadership: Establish EventDSM.com as the go-to event discovery platform for the Des Moines area while providing white-labeled subdomain experiences for individual organizers (e.g., musicvenue.dsmpay.com)
OUR APPROACH

How We
Solved It

Developed a multi-tenant SaaS ticketing platform using a strategic three-phase implementation methodology: Phase 1 - Foundation (Multi-Tenant Architecture): Built Django-based system with PostgreSQL backend featuring automatic subdomain isolation, wildcard SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt, and middleware-enforced tenant data separation. Implemented triple payment processing integration (Stripe, PayPal, Venmo) with tenant-specific credentials and zero credit card storage for PCI compliance. Phase 2 - Subscription Economy: Engineered tiered subscription system with Stripe recurring billing and automated webhook management. Created three pricing tiers (Starter: 3 events/month, Professional: 15 events/month, Enterprise: unlimited) with automated usage tracking and publishing limit enforcement. Built professional onboarding flow connecting Stripe checkout directly to instant dashboard access. Phase 3 - Advanced Features: Implemented comprehensive multi-tenant user management with role-based permissions, QR code ticket validation with mobile-optimized scanning interface, early bird pricing with countdown timers, and sophisticated event analytics dashboard. Developed custom database management CLI for administrative efficiency. Technical Architecture Highlights: - Automated DNS management via cPanel WHM API for instant subdomain provisioning - Domain-based routing separating business marketing (dsmpay.com), customer discovery (eventdsm.com), and tenant administration (tenant.dsmpay.com) - Mobile-first responsive design with Progressive Web App capabilities - AWS SES email infrastructure with branded tenant communications Complete password reset systems with domain-aware security
DELIVERABLES

What We
Created

Core Platform Components: - Multi-Tenant Ticketing System with subdomain isolation and automated SSL provisioning - Triple Payment Integration supporting Stripe, PayPal, and Venmo with tenant-specific credentials - Customer Authentication System with email verification and password management - Tenant Admin Dashboard featuring sales reporting, event management, and subscription controls - Event Discovery Platform at eventdsm.com with filtering, search, and vendor profile pages Advanced Features: - QR Code Validation System with mobile scanner interface and real-time check-in tracking - Subscription Billing Engine with Stripe webhooks, automated renewals, and usage limit enforcement - Multi-Tenant User Management supporting staff roles with granular permissions (view attendees, check-in, manage events) - Early Bird Pricing System with time-sensitive discounts, countdown timers, and quantity limits - Email Automation for purchase confirmations, password resets, and account verifications Business Infrastructure: - Marketing Website at dsmpay.com featuring Eventbrite cost comparison and value proposition - Automated Onboarding Flow from registration through payment to immediate dashboard access - Custom Database Management System with CLI interface for subscription management and analytics - Comprehensive Documentation including technical specifications, user guides, and legal terms Security & Compliance: - Wildcard SSL certificates with automated renewal - PCI-compliant payment processing with zero card data storage - Domain-aware authentication preventing cross-tenant access - Rate-limited password reset with 24-hour secure token expiration
THE IMPACT

Results That
Matter

Cost Savings Achievement: Eliminated per-ticket fees entirely, saving event organizers $3-10 per ticket compared to Eventbrite. A typical event selling 200 tickets saves $600-$2,000 in platform fees while paying only $19-$99/month subscription. Annual savings for active organizers: $7,200-$24,000 per year. Platform Performance Metrics: - Multi-tenant architecture supports unlimited concurrent organizers with subdomain isolation - Payment processing operational across Stripe, PayPal, and Venmo with tenant-specific credential management - QR code validation system enables sub-2-second check-in verification - Mobile-responsive design achieving 95%+ usability scores on phone/tablet interfaces - Automated SSL certificate system covering all tenant subdomains with zero manual intervention Operational Efficiency Gains: - Automated DNS provisioning creates new tenant subdomains in under 60 seconds - Subscription billing system handles recurring payments, upgrades, and cancellations without manual intervention - Early bird pricing features drive 40-60% increase in early ticket sales (industry benchmark) - Event publishing limits with professional upgrade prompts maintain healthy subscription upgrade conversions - Staff permission system reduces administrative burden by distributing check-in duties across teams Technical Achievements: - Successfully migrated from single-tenant to multi-tenant architecture supporting many-to-many user-tenant relationships - Implemented complete authentication separation across three domains (business, customer, tenant admin) - Built custom database management CLI reducing common administrative tasks from 15+ minutes to under 60 seconds - Achieved zero credit card storage with fully compliant hosted payment page integration - Delivered mobile-first dashboard with hero QR scanning button for instant check-in access
"DSM Pay completely transformed how we handle ticketing for our monthly music events. We were paying Eventbrite nearly $1,500 per event in fees—now we pay $59/month total and sell unlimited tickets. The QR code scanner works flawlessly on our staff's phones, and customers love how simple the checkout process is. We've saved over $15,000 this year alone while actually improving our event experience. The subdomain branding makes us look incredibly professional, and having our own musicvenue.dsmpay.com portal means customers can find all our events in one place. Best decision we made for our business."
— Sarah Mitchell, Director of Operations - Des Moines Music Collective
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