3rd Party Ticketing Logistics

Hello!

We are currently examining how to better handle 3^rd-party ticketing with our programming partners who also sell tickets for co-sponsored events held at our venue (a Museum with 2 theaters inside).  In our previous ticketing arrangement, we did not allow outside tickets to be used for entry (i.e. if the 3^rd party offered printed tickets or a variation thereof, those ticket holders still had to present their name at our box office to obtain their tickets on our venue ticket stock after being cross-checked with an order list).  We did not have a Print-At-Home option in our system at that time, however some of our 3^rd party partners did, so we would frequently have program attendees arriving with a variety of order confirmations, tickets, PAH, tickets on phones, etc. which would cause considerable confusion for all involved. 

Depending on the 3^rd party's system (which varies greatly from partner to partner), the information which they collect, and our need to be able to scan an N-Scan barcode at our venue, we are inclined to use some method of importing their customers/order data, and we would subsequently create Tessitura orders that could be sent out via our method of Print-At-Home email.  We do want to continue with the following protocols that hopefully will make the process easier:

• Cutting off 3^rd party sales at a pre-determined date far enough out from the event so as to allow importation of that data into our system
• We are currently utilizing a General Admission style house, so we do not have to match actual seat locations
• The number of tickets being sold by the 3^rd party is agreed upon in advance of any sales by either side, so as to hold that number of seats in reserve for their sales

Has anyone worked with a similar 3^rd party arrangement, and if so, what solutions did you find that best served your venue, the 3^rd party, and the customer?   If your venue issued a ticket or PAH ticket, what steps did you take to keep that process as smooth as possible with inquiries regarding the initial sale through the 3^rd party?

Any insights or recommendations would be welcome, and I look forward to hearing what our fellow Tessiturians have to share!

Thanks,

Anne Schleigh

Assistant Operations Manager

Museum of Fine Arts Boston