Hello everyone,
We've recently started exploring the possibility of implementing N-Scan for KWS concerts once we have resumed in-person performances. This isn't the first time we've explored this option, but timing and other logistical roadblocks have prevented my predecessors from being able to move forward with the project previously. We have seven different venues where we hold concerts, but our largest and main venue is what is causing most of our logistical issues. The venue also sells a limited number of tickets to our concerts on a consignment basis through a different ticketing system, with the large majority of those tickets being walk-up the night of the concert. This might account for 20 tickets some nights, but could be 100-200 on other nights.
The problem we're running into is twofold:
If anyone is willing to share their insight with the above to questions in mind, or just their experiences with N-Scan in general I would really appreciate it. I have met with someone at Tessitura, of whom provided a lot of useful information as well, but additional details about N-Scan from our communal perspective would be great.
Thanks so much everyone!
Kim
Hi Kim,
We had a similar but different situation at the Young Centre - rental client sold tickets, on another system, right up to curtain.. Happy to tell you all the tales!
karen.turner@youngcentre.ca
I'm not sure if this would work in your situation, but have you considered an API call between your two systems?
Chris
Hey Kim - I recommend you take Karen up on her offer to share stories - some of those stories are hilarious! I used to work at the KWS so I know your set up and perhaps one option, although not ideal would be to pre-print the tickets you allocate for sale at the venue's box office. It might cost you more in ticket stock, but at least it would mean you're tickets would be fully scan-able. You could reconcile after the show goes in by returning their unsold inventory so you'd still have accurate house counts. Just a thought.
Happy to brainstorm with you sometime if you want.
Cheers,
Tal
I know your pain well as I was one of those predecessors that tried. I really like Tal's idea. You could have a different ticket design that doesn't have a price on it. Just the seat and concert info.
My initial reaction was to just not scan at CITS and go on the honour system. I know I attended at least one Stratford performance where they weren't scanning. BUT, knowing the volume of exchanges that happens with your subscribers, that might not be available option.
I too am curious about Karen's story.
Good luck and I hope you find a solution that works for you and the CITS team!
Jessica
We've had quite a lot of experience dealing with ticket sales using other systems. Many of our events have a Ticketmaster allocation. Our original solution was to import all the Ticketmaster orders before the event and use nscan. This did mean we had to cut off sales in Ticketmaster once the import was completed which wasn't an ideal solution for all of our events. It was also quite a labour intensive process which as you say is not the best when event days are already very busy. A few years ago we changed our approach. We brought in Ticketmaster scanners and had FOH scan using both systems. This did make things a little trickier for FOH but had lots of advantages for the patrons, the rental clients and made things easier for us. We still import the orders but are able to do so at a more leisurely pace after the events.
Alan
Hi Karen, I really appreciate your quick response and offer to chat! I will send you an e-mail soon.
Hi Chris, I am not sure if this is possible for our situation, but will look into it. I really appreciate the suggestion.
Hi Tal, It is nice to hear from you again! I will definitely take Karen up on her offer to share stories soon. I appreciate the suggestion to pre-print tickets, I somehow didn't think of such an obvious possible workaround for our situation. This would also save on time the day-of uploading ticket information & barcodes from the venue's ticketing system. I might have to take you up on your offer to brainstorm soon.
Thanks for adding to the conversation Jessica! I think the honour system will be our final resort, but we're hoping this will help us reduce possible double seating issues as a result of those exchanges that I know you're all too familiar with. Hopefully we will come up with a good plan here and can move ahead with N-Scan.
Hi Alan, thank you for your input! It turns out, there may be a chance that the venue in question is also installing a scanning system that is compatible with our tickets that are sold via their system (but not Tessitura), so we may be in a duplicate scanner situation in the end as well. Did your FOH scan the tickets for patrons or did the patron's scan themselves with an attendant present? We usually use different ticket colours so FOH can differentiate between tickets purchase at either venue, and I suppose this would help them moderate which scanner to use. I will welcome any further insights and suggestions regarding a double scanner situation.