Public Disco Society

What Public Disco Society does

Public Disco Society is a registered non-profit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, that produces community-focused music events which transform unconventional urban spaces (plazas, streets, laneways, parking lots, rooftops) into pop-up dance floors. Its core product portfolio comprises free all-ages Summer Block Parties (Granville Island, Downtown Vancouver, Mount Pleasant), ticketed 19+ block parties at City Centre Artist Lodge, the annual Pride Block Party in partnership with Vancouver Pride Society, daytime Gastown Streetside Sessions, indoor late-night Public Disco After Dark events at venues like The Birdhouse, and the inaugural Public Disco Festival launched at Shipyards District in North Vancouver on October 3, 2026. Programming is co-created with community curators representing different corners of the local electronic music scene, and the organization serves general public audiences, underground electronic music enthusiasts, and the 2SLGBTQAI+ community and allies, with accessible and low-income ticketing upon request and $2 per Pride Block Party ticket directed to the Vancouver Pride Bursary Program.

The organization operates through an event-driven go-to-market motion, reaching audiences via social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), a Laylo newsletter that grants presale access, press coverage, and partnerships with media outlets such as 604Now. Revenue is generated from four streams: (1) tiered ticket sales through the Admit One platform ($38–$56 plus fees), (2) cashless bar revenue at fully licensed events with Phillips Brewing and Olé Cocktail Co. as beverage partners, (3) professional services including programming curation, bar management, experience design, urban placemaking, and production and permitting for partners, and (4) sponsorships and grants from presenting partners (Olé Cocktail Co., 2 Hoots Hard Iced Tea), public funders (Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, Creative BC, City of Vancouver), and supporting partners. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Michelle Katrichak and led operationally by Executive Director Nickolas Collinet, with an 8-person core team across programming, production, event operations, marketing, partnerships, and bar functions, plus specialized roles including a Talent Buyer (Max Ulis of SLAB Events).

Name

Public Disco Society

Legal name

Public Disco Society

Website

https://publicdisco.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public Disco Society is a Vancouver-based non-profit that produces free and ticketed block parties, Pride celebrations, and electronic music festivals, transforming public urban spaces into pop-up dance floors for general audiences, underground electronic music enthusiasts, and the 2SLGBTQAI+ community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Events

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Nightclubs (Dance Clubs) (MPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD), Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Community music events
• Block party production
• Electronic music festivals
• Urban placemaking
• Event production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Ticketed events (19+) feature international headliners and use tiered pricing with early-bird and discounted presale options. Regular tickets go on sale to the public after presale periods. Tier 3 tickets were priced at $56 plus fees for the 2026 City Centre Artist Lodge event.
2. Bar Sales: Fully licensed events generate revenue through pop-up bars with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Bars are cashless (debit/credit card only). Beer partner Phillips Brewing provides products at events.
3. Event Production Services: The organization offers programming & curation, bar management, experience design, urban placemaking, and production & permitting services to partners. This commercial services division generates revenue through service fees.
4. Sponsorships and Grants: Financial support from presenting partners (Olé Cocktail Co., 2 Hoots Hard Iced Tea), event partners, public partners (Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, Creative BC, City of Vancouver), and supporting partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Public Disco Society is a Vancouver-based registered non-profit society that produces community-focused music events — including block parties, festivals, Pride events, and indoor shows — built around underground electronic music programming. In parallel, it sells professional event services to civic and institutional partners, covering programming and curation, bar management, experience design, urban placemaking, and production and permitting. Events are offered both free to the public and via tiered ticketing.

Product overview

Public Disco Society operates a portfolio of community-focused music event products, combining free and ticketed offerings centered on underground electronic music culture. The core offerings include Summer Block Parties (free and 19+ ticketed outdoor events at venues like Granville Island, Downtown Vancouver, and Mount Pleasant), the annual Public Disco Festival (a two-stage electronic music festival at North Vancouver's Shipyards District), Public Disco After Dark (indoor late-night warehouse events), and Gastown Streetside Sessions (daytime Sunday DJ programming). The organization also offers professional event services including Programming & Curation, Bar Management, Experience Design, Urban Placemaking, and Production & Permitting for partners seeking to design music-driven community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Disco Festival Inaugural large-scale multi-day electronic music festival produced by the organization, positioned as the flagship event for its 10th anniversary. Designed for general-admission ticketed attendees and held at a civic venue.
• Summer Block Parties Free or low-cost outdoor block-party events, including the Granville Island Block Party, designed to bring underground electronic music into public spaces during the summer months.
• Public Disco After Dark Ticketed indoor late-night electronic music event series designed for an adult audience seeking an after-hours experience.
• Gastown Streetside Sessions Recurring outdoor street-side event series held in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood, combining electronic music programming with urban placemaking.
• Pride Events Pride-themed electronic music events designed to serve the LGBTQ+ community, produced as part of the organization's community-focused event portfolio.
• Programming & Curation Services Professional music programming and artist curation service sold to municipal and institutional partners who need electronic-music talent booked and managed for their own venues or events.
• Bar Management Services Turnkey bar management service for partners' venues and events, leveraging the organization's bar program expertise from its own events.
• Experience Design Services End-to-end experience design service for civic and commercial partners, covering the conceptual and creative direction of an event.
• Urban Placemaking Services Urban placemaking service that helps municipalities and BIAs activate public spaces through programming, infrastructure, and community engagement.
• Production & Permitting Services Full-service event production and municipal permitting service sold to partners who need a licensed, experienced producer to manage logistics, safety, and regulatory approvals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ attendees over two days at Granville Island Block Party 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Olé Cocktail Co.flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting partner for the 2026 Summer Block Party series. Olé Cocktail Co. sponsors the four block parties and festival, providing bar partnerships and marketing exposure. The partnership represents the highest tier of sponsorship and naming rights for the summer season.
• Phillips Brewing / iOTAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official beer partner providing alcoholic and non-alcoholic (iOTA) beverage options at events. Operates Dinosour Bar at events and runs experiential activations including collaborative products with Lee's Donuts.
• Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (Downtown Van)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025Partners on Downtown Block Party events including the September 6, 2025 event at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square. Downtown Van provides financial support and promotes events that activate downtown public spaces.
• Vancouver Pride SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Official partner for Pride Block Party events, part of Vancouver Pride Society's official 2025 and 2026 programming. Public Disco's Pride Block Party is part of the official Pride calendar.
• Gastown Business Improvement Association (Gastown BIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2025Partner on Gastown Streetside Sessions, a summer series of laid-back Sunday DJ sets woven into the neighborhood's weekly car-free street initiative. Three music zones across Water Street.
• Granville IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Host venue partner for annual Granville Island Block Parties at Lot 55. CMHC-Granville Island provides venue access and promotional support. Partnership has expanded from one day to two-day events.
• 2 Hoots Hard Iced TeaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting partner for 2025 Summer Block Parties. The iced tea brand sponsors the block party series, providing bar integration and marketing support. Main Bar at events presented by 2 Hoots Hard Iced Tea & 604Now.
• City Centre Artist Lodge / The Narrow GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for ticketed block parties in Mount Pleasant. The former City Centre Motor Hotel has been transformed into open-air event space with murals and courtyard. Partnership in its fifth year ahead of planned redevelopment.
• Fizz MobilecoreTechnology or IntegrationStage partner providing mobile stage infrastructure for block parties. Fizz Mobile stages are deployed at Granville Island, Downtown, and Pride events.
• Good Night Out VancouvercoreOthersHarm reduction services provider at ticketed events. Good Night Out provides on-site support to ensure safe and welcoming atmosphere for all attendees.
• Evo Car SharesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner offering free parking at city meters, residents-only, and permit-only spots for event attendees. Evo parking available near event venues.
• 604NowsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing event coverage and promotional support across their platform.
• SLAB EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent production partner for City Centre Artist Lodge ticketed events. SLAB curates house music programming with international headliners and provides production expertise.
• Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Blossom Block Party at Bentall Centre Dunsmuir Patio, bringing spring celebrations to downtown Vancouver.
• Pattern NationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKids activities and programming partner providing face painting, sparkle stations, crafts, and children's entertainment at events.
• Lobe StudiosupportingTechnology or IntegrationSpatial sound technology provider powering the all-vinyl listening lounge at the Public Disco Festival, featuring immersive audio in the Pipe Shop Venue.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• The Cultch: Vancouver performing arts non-profit operating multi-venue live arts programming. Comparable as a Vancouver-based arts non-profit delivering community-accessible cultural programming, though focused on theater and performing arts rather than outdoor electronic music.

Broad incumbents

• AEG Presents: One of the largest live entertainment promoters in the world operating festivals, concerts, and venue management globally. Comparable at the level of live event production infrastructure but is a broad-based incumbent with a much wider portfolio and not focused on the community-led block-party niche.
• Live Nation Entertainment: Global live entertainment company operating festivals, venues, and ticketing. Serves as the broad incumbent reference for what scaled concert/festival production looks like, but its mass-market orientation differs from Public Disco's small, non-profit, community-curated model.

Direct peers

• POP Montreal: Montreal-based independent music festival and cultural non-profit featuring electronic, indie, and live music. Comparable as a non-profit music festival operator with a similar independent ethos and a mix of free and ticketed programming in a single Canadian city.
• MUTEK: Montreal-based non-profit organization that produces an annual electronic music and digital arts festival as well as year-round programming. Most comparable peer given similar non-profit structure, electronic music focus, and event production across ticketed and free programming serving underground dance communities.
• Framework: Los Angeles-based promoter specializing in electronic and underground dance music events including ticketed showcases and larger festival-style programming. Closely comparable in terms of genre focus, ticketed ticketed tiers, and community-led curation around house/techno/disco.
• Vancouver Mural Festival: Vancouver-based non-profit that activates public and underused urban spaces through arts programming and is a documented Public Disco partner. Highly relevant as a peer given shared urban placemaking mission, non-profit structure, and city-wide footprint in the same geography.
• Embrace Presents: Brooklyn-based independent concert and event promoter specializing in electronic, indie, and underground dance music events. Comparable scale and focus on community-driven live music events with a similar indie/non-corporate positioning.
• Plus One (Montreal): Montreal-based electronic and dance music event promoter producing club nights and larger ticketed events featuring international headliners. Directly comparable in operating model around underground electronic music ticketed events and community programming.

Others

• Open Streets (NYC) / Open Streets initiatives: City-supported programs that activate streets and public spaces with pedestrian and programming uses. Comparable only at the level of urban activation and partnership with BIAs and the City that Public Disco leverages (e.g., Gastown Streetside Sessions); not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/publicdisco
• Instagraminstagram.com/public_disco
• TikToktiktok.com/@public.disco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-disco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Disco Society