| A new ticketing system being touted by a local theatre organization promises to reduce admission prices for patrons and will be offered to Calgary’s not-for-profit performing arts groups for free.
RepeatSeat has partnered with the Pumphouse Theatres to offer its Ticketing Relationship Management (TRM) solutions, which it hopes to have up and running at the Pumphouse by June.
"It’s widely used in Europe and by U.S. sports teams," says Scott McTavish, executive director of the Pumphouse Theatres.
TRM will allow consumers the opportunity to purchase tickets with lower service fees via the Internet, telephone and at specified on-site locations.
McTavish hopes local groups that currently have no ticketing system, or that rely on one of the major ticketing companies that charge up to three per cent commission on ticket sales, will join them in pioneering TRM in Calgary.
"For groups with small budgets, three per cent on sales can end up being a lot of money," he says. "With this system, they can reduce their service charges and offer their customers better service."
Although the use of TRM will be free to not-for-profit arts groups, consumers will still have to pay a service fee, albeit at a reduced rate. According to McTavish, "convenience" and "delivery" fees charged by some large ticketing companies can add up to an additional $6 per ticket – a situation that he says will be rectified by RepeatSeat’s TRM system.
"Many senior citizens and students simply can’t afford those fees," he says. "With our system, the service fee will not be more than $1.75. We hope to keep it down to $1.60."
McTavish is planning on holding an open house at the Pumphouse in June to show off the new system and explain to Calgary’s performing arts groups all of its benefits.
"We want to put out a solution that’s a win-win for everybody," he says. |
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