Has anyone had experience working with ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster, See Tickets, Fever, and Dice? I’m seeking to understand the challenges faced by small venue owners, promoters, and event organizers.
As I dive into research on the ticketing industry from the perspective behind the scenes, I’m eager to hear from professionals in the field.
While it’s no secret that fans find ticketing platforms frustrating—thanks to surprise fees, website crashes during high-demand sales, and scalping issues—I’m particularly interested in the experiences of those who interact with these platforms on a daily basis.
If you’ve worked with any ticketing platforms (Ticketmaster, See Tickets, Skiddle, DICE, Fever, etc.) in roles such as venue owner, event organizer, promoter, or sales/accounts at a venue, I’d love to get your insights:
- What’s your biggest frustration when using these platforms?
- How clear are they about their fee structures and revenue splits?
- How much influence do you have over pricing and customer fees?
- What is the payout process like? Do you receive funds promptly after sales?
- How responsive is their technical support when issues arise?
- Are their backend systems user-friendly or cumbersome?
- Do you receive valuable analytics and customer insights?
- For high-demand events, how well do their systems handle the traffic?
- Have you used multiple platforms? What key differences did you notice?
I am working on a project in this area and want to gain a genuine understanding of the problems faced by venues and organizers, rather than relying on assumptions.
Thank you in advance for any insights you can provide!
2 Comments
I’m glad to see your interest in the ticketing industry from the perspective of venue owners and event organizers! Having worked with a few ticketing platforms, I can share some insights based on my experiences:
Biggest Frustrations: One of my biggest frustrations has been the lack of flexibility. Some platforms have rigid structures that don’t accommodate unique event needs. Additionally, the hidden fees can complicate pricing strategies and alienate customers.
Fee Transparency: Transparency varies significantly from one platform to another. Some outline every fee clearly, while others have convoluted fee structures making it hard to predict costs. This lack of clarity can complicate budgeting and pricing strategies.
Control Over Pricing: Generally, there’s a degree of control over ticket pricing, but additional fees often get passed straight to customers, which can affect sales. It can be frustrating to navigate how much of the final price is influenced by the platform.
Payout Process: The payout processes can also vary. Some platforms are prompt, while others may have lengthy waiting periods after the event. This can be tough for small venues that rely on timely funds.
Technical Support: Technical support can be hit or miss. During high-stakes situations, such as ticket drops, it has been difficult to get timely assistance—leading to increased stress.
Backend Systems: User experience with backend systems has also been mixed. Some platforms offer intuitive dashboards and reporting tools, while others are cumbersome and difficult to navigate, making essential tasks take longer than they should.
Analytics and Customer Data: Valuable analytics and customer data are key for effective marketing strategies. However, some platforms provide limited data, which can restrict our ability to engage past attendees and optimize future events.
Handling High-Demand Events: In terms of system performance during high-demand events, it’s a mixed bag. Some platforms have robust systems that handle traffic well, while others have experienced crashes that frustrate both us and customers.
Experimenting with Multiple Platforms: I’ve tried various platforms and definitely noticed significant differences. For example, some platforms are better for larger events, while others excel with smaller niche events. It’s essential to choose the right platform that aligns with specific event goals.
I hope this helps shed some light on the challenges and frustrations from our side of the industry. The ticketing landscape is continuously evolving, and understanding these pain points can help improve our experiences. If you have any more specific questions or need further insights, feel free to ask!
This is a great initiative to gather insights on the ticketing landscape, especially from the perspective of those who are most impacted. Having worked with several ticketing platforms for various events, I can certainly relate to the pain points you’ve mentioned.
One major frustration is the lack of transparency around fees and revenue splits. Many small venue owners and promoters I’ve spoken with feel blindsided by the last-minute service charges that get tacked onto ticket prices. It often erodes the relationship with customers who may not fully understand why the ticket price they see is higher at checkout.
Furthermore, the payout process can indeed be a slow and cumbersome affair, with some platforms taking weeks to process sales. This delay can be especially challenging for small venues that operate on tight cash flow and rely on timely funds to manage their expenses.
Technical support responsiveness is also a significant concern. When issues arise—such as system outages during high-demand sales—there is often a frustrating lack of immediate assistance. This can result in lost sales and a bad experience for both organizers and customers.
In my experience, the backend systems’ usability greatly varies between platforms. Some are intuitive and offer valuable analytics that can help optimize future events, while others are clunky and lack insightful data.
Additionally, if you’re exploring solutions to enhance the ticketing experience, it might be worth investigating rising platforms that focus on transparency, user experience, and scalable solutions. Engaging with niche ticketing services may sometimes yield better results for smaller events compared to the