Really Seth, you could sell tickets right off the 930 site an not lose a dime (in fact probably make a lot more)
i support your sentiment, but selling tickets to in-demand shows isn't like selling crafts on Etsy. a good ticketing site needs:
- big infrastructure, and one that can't be hacked and can deal with evolving bot threats
- a call center
- varied staff (front-end, back-end, security, management, customer service, marketing, etc.)
- printing
- mailing
- credit card processing
- integration with venues (scanners)
- integration with point of sale
- integration with website (ex: Friends with Benefits program)
- integration with financial/accounting system(s)
- inventory management
etc etc etc.
ticketing is a business on to itself. seth is in the business of organizing and promoting shows.
i'm no fan of paying those stupid surcharges, but saying that seth should do it himself is silly. the startup cost would be huge, and a distraction from what he does best.
I'd like boardies list just a few things that you would pay that premium for?
given the choice between paying ticketing surcharges, and spending an hour of my time to go to the venue to pick up tickets in person, i'll pay the surcharges. i would LOVE for there to be an easier and cheaper way for me to get tickets.
i have no doubt that if there was a way for venue operators to seize that ticket surcharge by offering the services themselves, a lot more venues would be doing it.
I'm in agreement with you on this with the complexity and initial investment, it would totally be a distraction from the core of what IMP does (and does well)
While a lot of those things are somewhat complex and onerous...their are hundreds of other business that seem to run a very similar type of operation at a fraction of the cost. A lot those systems are already in place too.
- a call center
- printing
- mailing
- credit card processing
these type of things can be done fairly cheaply by 3rd parties (in fact I'm sure that Tickeyfly uses a third party)
I know that their are ton of other details.
The problem would be dealing with the booking companies/band management. But a brand like IMP in DC, I'm certain that people know how to reach him if they want their band to play in DC. (might not be the same for smaller venues)
I think with using smart phones and the web as the backbone ...you would remove 70% of what you listed
Then charge a premium if you want the tickets printed and mailed (so the charge could be justifiably higher for that service).
I'm sure there are a lot of smarter people than I (OK you can stop chuckling and thinking of a witty retort) that have thought about this
Probably created business plans and such.
I just have to believe you could use an UBER-like system to manage selling of tickets
I think a system could sell 10,000 tickets in 1 second and keep track of who has what ticket and that it was paid for, then you just bring your phone (or any device you could log into i.e. tablet )
And my feeling is that type of system could sell tickets for $2 per ticket....and still make a lot of money
at most charge you another $2.50 to print and mail the ticket
eddy vedder you forsake me....
