Spektrix has found most customers are choosing to put their ticket funds back into the industry, while Vivid Seats launches a new charitable gift card and Patron Technology rolls out a solution to power virtual events. Here’s some positive industry responses to the COVID-19 crisis…
Spektrix
Spektrix, a cloud-based ticketing platform, has found that 66 per cent of customers are donating or crediting the value of tickets for events cancelled by the Covid-19 crisis.
The company last month developed a ticket converter tool to make it easier for audiences to donate or accept refunds as credit.
Spektrix has revealed that more than 120,000 customers have used the tool, with touring companies having benefited the most from donations as 56 per cent of customers chose this option. Visitor attractions and arts centre are seeing the highest returns to credit.
On average, people are donating £45, and the UK government has now confirmed that those donations are eligible for Gift Aid
(via Spektrix)
INTIX
The International Ticketing Association (INTIX) has established the Member COVID-19 Relief Fund offer a helping hand to ticketing professionals with a one-time $100 assistance award.
The Fund has been launched in partnership with the INTIX Board of Directors and Stewardship Circle.
Maureen Andersen, president and chief executive of INTIX, said: “This pandemic is wreaking absolute havoc throughout our beloved live entertainment industry and no area of the world, genre, event size or event type is unaffected.
“Throughout all this, ticketing professionals have been on the front lines. They are brilliantly representing their organisations in all levels of communication regarding events, postponements and cancellations while also shouldering the heavy lifting for reverse logistics such as refunds, refunds-turned-donations, exchanges and credits.”
INTIX is seeking donations from across the live events industry and will open applications for members as the fund grows.
The process of claiming aid will only require some basic information from the requesting member so that INTIX can process awards and track the granted funds. There will be no judgment on need and no proof of need will be required and requests will be processed in order of receipt.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats has launched a new charitable gift card programme that offers customers an extra 10 per cent towards the total value of the gift card.
As part of the new initiative, Vivid Seats Gives Back, the ticketing company has also vowed to donate 10 per cent of the gift card’s value to the MusiCares Foundations’ COVID-19 Relief Fund.
The Vivid Seats Gives Back scheme will also include a new Voucher Incentive Program, which will allow customers who have been impacted by COVID-19 related event cancellations to get an extra 10 per cent value while also supporting the efforts of MusiCares.
Customers who have purchased tickets to cancelled events will receive a Rewards Cash loyalty credit for 110 per cent of the full value of their order total. Vivid Seats will then donate an extra 10 per cent beyond the order total to the MusiCares Foundation.
The company also assured fans that they could seek a refund within seven days of receiving the cancellation email.
Formula E
Formula E electric car-racing series announced it is looking to complete “five or six” races this season behind closed doors.
The series is currently in a two-month suspension, which began in March, due to the COVID-19 outbreak that shut down sports across the world.
The Formula E sporting regulations require a minimum of six events for the campaign to qualify as a championship, and the series still has events planned for June and July across Berlin, New York and London.
Formula E founder and chairman Alejandro Agag told Autosport: “For us, it would be great if we can finish the season with more races. That’s the objective. Will we be able to? We don’t know. Right now, it seems that probably or maybe yes.
“We may be able to get going in July, in August, in September. So we have those months to organise races. I think another five or six races in Europe or in one of those places [Jakarta or Seoul] is our objective and anything is achievable at this point.”
Patron Technology
Event technology firm Patron Technology, the parent company of products including ShowClix, PatronManager, and GrowTix, has rolled out a solution built to power virtual events.
The platform features live streaming, video, and collaboration capabilities integrated directly into its ticketing products.
Patron said the solution has been designed to provide a way for event organisers to manage virtual events through a single platform, collect customer data, and offer ways to monetise their online events.
In addition to ticket sales and streaming, the virtual event solution includes fan engagement, community building, and reporting features.
Marc Jenkins, Patron Technology chief executive said: “While many performers and content creators have already taken to the internet to maintain connections with their fans and provide some much needed entertainment while social distancing guidelines are in effect, we are actively shaping the future of the industry.
“We’ve put together a product offering that will enable event organisers to curate fully-virtual events using integrated ticketing, streaming, and participation tools. This offering creates exciting new experiences now and in the future, while providing the opportunity to generate additional revenue.”
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