Selecting the right ticketing provider for your venue is a big decision. It’s not just about selling tickets or getting the biggest pile of advance cash; it’s about creating a smooth experience for your attendees and making your life easier as a GM or box office manager. With so many options out there, how do you pick the best one? Don’t just grab the first attractive offer! It’s crucial to look beyond the surface and understand how a ticketing company can truly support your event. Let’s break down the essential areas to consider when vetting your next ticketing provider.
- Prioritize the Mobile Ticket Buying Experience
In today’s world, most people are buying tickets on their phones, so your ticketing provider absolutely must offer a fantastic mobile experience. Think about it: can attendees easily view event details, images, and purchase buttons on their phone? If the text is too small, images aren’t clear, or buttons are clunky, you’re likely to lose sales. Furthermore, avoid providers that force attendees to click through multiple screens, create logins, or sign in just to get to payment. Data shows that every extra step can reduce your sales conversions by 5% or more. Look for a mobile-first, single-view checkout process to keep things seamless for your buyers. Here’s an example of EventHub’s single-view checkout on a real customer’s Taylor Swift Cover Artist or click here to review our ticketing features and request a demo.
- Look for Powerful, Self-Serve Backend Capabilities
Behind the scenes, your ticketing platform needs to be a powerhouse that puts you in control. Can you easily design your event ticket options and customize their look and feel? Event planning often involves last-minute adjustments, so it’s vital to choose a provider that allows you to quickly make changes on the fly – whether it’s adjusting capacities or other details, even during the event itself. You’ll also want to easily spin up bulk sponsor comps, text or email attendees, and view live statistics reports without a hassle. The more self-sufficient you can be, the more time you save during those critical crunch times.
- Ensure Seamless Onsite Operations
The ticketing experience doesn’t end when someone buys a ticket; it extends to the event day itself. Your ticketing provider should make onsite management incredibly smooth. Can you easily sell tickets via various methods like cash, credit card tap, Apple Pay, and Google Pay? For entry, consider if you can scan online tickets at specific access control points, and if the same ticket can be scanned in multiple places for different access levels (like GA, VIP, or reserved seating). Additionally, look for an app that allows you to view sales and capacity reports, and handle refunds, exchanges, and comps on the fly when needed. (EventHub Ticketing Box Office App can do all of this and more, on any iOS or Android device!)
Bonus: Don’t Underestimate Engaged Support
Beyond the features, the level of support you receive from your ticketing provider can make a huge difference. Do they offer a dedicated account manager who understands your specific events and account intimately? Will this account manager proactively suggest improvements to help you grow revenue or increase check-in efficiency? Can they provide best-in-class examples and build-out guides to help you maximize all the available features and marketing tools? A truly engaged support team acts as a partner, helping you get the most out of their platform and ensuring your success.
Making Your Smart Choice
Vetting a ticketing provider goes far beyond simply accepting the biggest upfront payment. While that might seem tempting, if the wrong provider underperforms over the life of your contract, it won’t matter in the long run. By carefully considering the mobile experience, backend capabilities, onsite management tools, and the level of support, you’ll be well-equipped to choose a ticketing partner that truly helps your events shine. These critical aspects are key to a successful partnership and ultimately, a successful event. We think EventHub answers the call on all of these, plus advanced hardware like self-serve kiosks, while also being the only platform with a marketplace for finding venue sponsors. Check out https://eventhub.net or email sales@eventhub.net to learn more.
