Really struggling with market research for a new concept

[bogeyface]

The market I work in is arts based and I have a new idea for an independent project that I believe could be very big.

The problem is that I cant do effective MR because it will give away far too much of the idea. There isnt a way of doing it that wont make it obvious what the concept is and that make it vulnerable to theft.

Any ideas?

Can you patent a project that doesnt actually produce an end product in terms of manufacturing etc?

i dont really know but i would get students to be participants in your market research because they cannot afford to nick your product if it involves any kind of investment

but then if you're worried about that when you do launch it is wide open to copying by others anyway.
i'd advise you to get it as ready as possible, do some research and launch FAST. it sounds like speed to market is your main benefit.