Clubhouse: Why People Pay $125 for an Invite?

Everything to Know About The Invite-Only Social Network

What do Joe Rogan, Oprah, Guy Kawasaki, James Altuchar, Tiffany Haddish, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Zuckenberg, Naval, and Noelle Chesnut Whitmore have in common? 

Not much, except these high-ranking celebrities, have all joined Clubhouse lately. Clubhouse is an invite-only, iOS-only, and voice-only social network that resembles panel-discussion events (Zoom without cameras, kinda.) 

If you’re on the app at the right time, you can virtually mingle with Joe Rogan or Lindsay Lohan, or Bret Weinstein, for that matter. 

The rooms also boost intriguing personalities most have never heard of, like James Sommerville, a former VP of Coca-Cola. He is an excellent example of a random knowledge-packed individual that can instantly change the way you see marketing, design, and brand strategy. 

I’ve changed my profile photo 11 minutes after James started speaking. 

eBay ad for Clubhouse invites

Invites sell for up to $125 each on eBay 

The average prices range from $20 to $50, with some resellers making $300/day. 

Is getting behind virtually closed doors worth the price?

Maybe. Some members have attracted thousands of new followers after interacting with a Clubhouse room. When you start speaking, the audience immediately checks your profile out. James Sommerville received almost 3,000 followers during his debut.

Clubhouse is crazy viral, and people are making money from the platform. Marketers link social media accounts and create lucrative Clubhouse funnels. Comedians host paid rooms. And founders find co-founders to jumpstart new companies.

The app is currently available only for iPhone, and users can get inside only with an invitation of a Clubhouse member. New users can register a handle and get on the waitlist, but that’s not a guarantee of getting inside anytime soon. 

I’m personally having loads of fun on Clubhouse, but I’m not sure if I’d pay for an invitation.

Courtesy of App Annie

Clubhouse could be the next big thing

Clubhouse has 8 million downloads, and it’s currently valued at $1 billion while still in beta.

The social network debuted in early 2020, instantly getting attention from the right Silicon Valley investors. The company raised $10 million with Andreessen Horowitz last May and another $100 million in January 2021.

Founders Rohan Seth and Paul Davison say the platform is pacing its development with the invite-only system. Many startups crash and burn while scaling at rocket speed. And while Clubhouse is not moving slowly by any means, the company still reserves the right to control the acquisition rate.

Some could speculate that invite-only actually contributes to Clubhouse's popularity (besides celebrity endorsements), as exclusivity usually drives people's curiosity.

Voice apps have strong momentum. Twitter has already launched Spaces, while many other startups try to replicate similar platforms.

The voice network resembles a large Zoom call with virtual panels and no cameras. 

• The stage is set of several individuals who can talk as they choose.
• The audience members can raise their hands to pose a question.
• The rooms have a maximum capacity of 7,000 people, but that could change soon. Once the room is maxed, you have to wait for someone to leave in order to join.
• Moderators can get overwhelmed with requests from the audience, so you may not exactly get the opportunity to speak with a celebrity. However, many Clubhouse rooms organize Q&A seasons, where more people get a chance to speak and introduce themselves.

Once you get invited to the stage, everything starts making more sense.

 Spontaneously speaking to a room of new people is a luxury we haven’t experienced lately. I’m in London, England, and the city had been under a heavy lockdown since November last year. 

I’ve yet to meet a stranger in-person this year, so Clubhouse fills that gap with spontaneous and real-time conversations.

Log-in screen for new members

Clubhouse is the opposite of everything that’s wrong with social networks.

• Influencers don’t upload naked bodyparts for attention
• Nobody cares about the way you look
• No doctored photos from private jets
• Your background doesn’t matter
• Facilitated democratic discussion (Brexit, Mee Too, elections, etc.)
• Higher chance to stumble upon someone who can change your life

Your ideas are the only thing that matters on Clubhouse, but it’s not all peachy. 

Clubhouse lets you share your opinion and experience in real-time — just like we once did in Great Outdoors (I mean bars, clubs, festivals, and conferences).

However, Clubhouse has several pitfalls, including low moderation, which makes room for antisemitism, racism, Covid-denialism, and abusive conversations that could spiral out of control. 

Davidson, Clubhouse’s CEO, said that “Any social network needs to make moderation a top priority, ” while stressing that he wants to preserve free speech and dialogue.

Recording conversations is no Bueno, and what happens in the room stays in the room (unless everybody agrees otherwise.) 

While the app doesn’t have any technical barrier for recording room conversations, you’re technically breaking the law by recording without prior approval. People could press charges, and Clubhouse could suspend your account for distributing the content.

Clubhouse is an exclusive social media network

The invite-only, iPhone-only, voice-only, beta-only, live-only app has captured global attention. 

Clubhouse offers real-time interaction with strangers, which is exciting for many around the globe.

People exchange ideas on entrepreneurship, social issues, feminism, and other popular topics. For some, Clubhouse is a lucrative business worth the $125 invite fee on eBay.

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