Archive for March, 2011
PayPal seems to be getting serious about ticket sales, amongst other retail possibilities?
I received an email today from PayPal that was interesting and I thought it worth sharing with you.
PayPal is madly developing partnerships left right and centre.
They are trying to steer consumers to buy tickets on their mobile, but importantly using PayPal as a payment method as opposed to using credit card companies to facilitate the transaction.
Given the demographic, not surprisingly, cinema and concerts are the first targets, followed by flowers? 
Read about it online here>> PayPal Mobile Email
It appears they are attempting to position PayPal as different to credit cards as a method of purchase:
“PayPal offers a series of unique security features that ensure your personal and financial details are protected when you shop online, or on your mobile.
- Your financial details are not shared with online stores and sellers
- State of the art anti-fraud tools help prevent fraud before it occurs
- You could be reimbursed in full for any losses from unauthorised transactions <hmmm COULD BE>
- There is protection for eligible purchases in the case they don’t arrive
- The transaction process is completely encrypted to prevent hacking
- There’s no need to key in 16 digit credit cards numbers, simply use your login and password for faster check-out
- No information related to your PayPal account is ever stored on your mobile device, so even if you lose your phone, your credentials won’t be on there.“
30 March, 2011 at 10:22 am Tim Roberts ARTS Australia Leave a comment
Fred Rosen Taking on Ticketmaster
Wired recently carried an interview with Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard Young CEO Seeks to Reset Ticketmaster With Tech and Transparency
In it he addresses the “challenge that faces Ticketmaster: its reputation as one of the most loathed companies in America.“
“… given Ticketmaster’s abysmal track record on fees, transparency, privacy and customer service, it’s going to take more than a sweet jam to change the public perception of the ticketing giant.“
Meanwhile, ex-Ticketmaster CEO Fred Rosen is back and rattling Ticketmaster’s cage with a ‘new model’ partially explained in Taking on Ticketmaster
The article includes a video of Fred Rosen explaining how the model works.
Rosen “estimates that over the next 24 months, as many as a third of the current contracts between venues and Ticketmaster will expire, and Outbox hopes to make a play.“
We wish him luck, many have tried in the past as Fred well knows. I hope Outbox has deep pockets to stump up with key money or a suitable replacement in terms of financial incentive.
28 March, 2011 at 9:52 am Tim Roberts ARTS Australia Leave a comment
What Does it Mean to Have a Relationship with an Institution?
Nina Simon (author of The Participatory Museum) explores an interesting question in her Blog Museum 2.0:
What Does it Mean to Have a Relationship with an Institution?
How can we “develop relationships between organizations and users that are authentic, meaningful, and positive?“
Nina expands on three elements she believes can support “healthy, inspiring relationships between organizations and users.“
- Make room for personal expression and ownership–both by staff and audience members.
- Wherever possible, use institutional resources to encourage relationships among members and users rather than just with the institution.
- Support and enhance relationships through consistent multi-platform engagement.
22 March, 2011 at 8:18 am Tim Roberts ARTS Australia Leave a comment
Coughing is heckling according to Seth Godin
“No, a cough is not as overt or aggressive as shouting down the performer. Nevertheless, it’s heckling.“
“Yes, you’re a professional. So is Jarrett. A professional at Carnegie Hall has no business stopping a concert over some coughing. But in many ways, I’m glad he did. He made it clear that for him, it’s personal. It’s a useful message for all of us, a message about understanding that our responsibility goes beyond buying a ticket for the concert or warming a chair in the meeting. If we’re going to demand that our partners push to new levels, we have to go for the ride, all the way, or not at all.“
I wonder if there is a sub-text there re: sustainable audience development? Is not a cough possibly a sign of discomfort?
21 March, 2011 at 11:33 am Tim Roberts ARTS Australia Leave a comment
Comparison of Top Ten CRM Software
A comprehensive overview of a variety of features of many of the main CRM options.
Some may be a little more PIMs than CRM.
2011 Comparison of Top Ten CRM Software.
10 March, 2011 at 10:17 am Tim Roberts ARTS Australia Leave a comment
The beauty of data visualization – David McCandless “… let the dataset change your mindset” Hans Rosling
“… let the dataset change your mindset“
9 March, 2011 at 12:36 pm Tim Roberts ARTS Australia Leave a comment
We believe that we own the tickets we buy, but do we?
I have been watching this movement with interest since the start of the year.
The Fan Freedom Project rails against the “new restrictive paperless ticketing technologies under the guise of innovation and convenience.“
It is the terms and conditions that are now being applied to paperless tickets that the Fan Freedom Project sees as restrictive:
Two types of paperless ticketing, both of which have negative implications for fans of live events:
- Restricted transfer (closed-loop system administered by the ticket agent)
- Prohibition of ticket transfer (ticket tied to one credit card or ID)
While I applaud the sentiment and the call to action for change, I am not so sure about the statement – “We the fans believe we own the tickets we buy.” My understanding is that a ticket is just a licence to attend an event at a specific location, date and time (and maybe seating location). Does the consumer really own it and own what? Any opinions?
Take a look at the infographic for a quick summary of the issues.
1 March, 2011 at 1:06 pm Tim Roberts ARTS Australia 1 comment
