What to Look For in a Ticketing Partner
What is the startup process like?
Switching ticketing companies can be a real headache, and you already have so much on your plate! Find a partner that can help keep your ticketing hassle-free and help get you setup quickly and easily. The sooner you can start selling tickets online, the better!
What kind of support will you get?
The world of live events is unpredictable, so be sure to choose a ticketing partner that has your back. You should consider the type of training that is offered, evaluate the library of resources and documentation you can access and whether or not you can easily get a hold of someone you trust when you might need help. It’s also important to be sure you can get the kind of live, onsite support you might need from a ticketing partner.
What equipment will you need?
You will want to know if specific technology or equipment is needed to scan tickets or if your ticketing partner offers a mobile app. You’ll also need to consider if any other supporting equipment, such as network hotspots, self-serve kiosks, hip printers, etc. are needed and provided. It’s important to note if devices will need to be rented or purchased, and who is responsible for handling all of it.
Is your partner an expert in selling tickets online?
Most ticketing companies will create pages on their own site that your customers are directed to when buying tickets online. You should understand how you can drive traffic from your site to their ticketing page, and that ecommerce is happening securely. Consider what their online cart and checkout functionality is like and that they offer a wide variety of payments. If you’d like to fully brand the online ticket purchase process for your guests, make sure your partner offers fully integrated shopping with your website.
How can your chosen partner help you boost online ticket sales?
Ticketing companies process transactions, but you’ll want to partner with one that actually helps you sell more tickets. Explore what marketing tools and partnerships are offered that can take your ticket sales to the next level, and be sure to investigate references for events similar to yours for peace of mind.
Can tickets be sold offline through my box office?
To achieve maximum revenue, you’ll want to sell tickets online and offline, so choose a ticketing partner that can easily help sell through both channels, and make sure all transactions are logged and recorded so you can easily get live reporting on all sales regardless of channel.
Can you sell all the types of tickets you want?
It might seem like common sense, but before partnering with a ticketing company you need to make sure that they can sell the types of tickets you want to sell. This includes group packages, VIP tickets, reserved seating, timed entry, seasonal memberships, annual passes and any other non-GA ticket. Does your selected partner have a track record of helping clients sell what they want, how they want?
What type of reporting is offered?
There is so much data that can be collected during the ticketing process, from transactions to redemptions and everything in between. Make sure the ticketing company you partner with offers real-time reporting for more than just the number of tickets sold. It’s key to ensure you have access to revenue reporting from discount and promo codes, the average cost of an order, and so much more. Can this reporting be accessed from a mobile device from anywhere in the world, at any time?
How and when will you get paid?
It’s important to have the ability to access funds from ticket sales as soon as possible so you can be sure to cover expenses that come with planning and executing your event. Be sure you know if funds are held by the ticketing company, and how often they are paid out. You should find out if you can have all the ticketing revenue come directly to your own account as an alternative.