My ticketing contract is up for renewal next year. I’ve been with the same ticketing company for several years. There is an automatic renewal and I have been asked to extend the deal “as is”. Other than replacing some hardware, my ticketing deal is essentially the same as its always been. What do I do? 

Don’t just rollover and check the box! 

Understanding your value.

If you were selling your business or home, would you use 5-year old data to determine the value of your business or home?  I would certainly hope not. Market conditions, your successes, where you are located, and industry dynamics ALL can have a significant impact on your valuation. So why wouldn’t you follow that logic with your ticketing company? In most venues, ticket revenue is one of largest sources of revenue. Your building has a value, and you need to understand it!

Some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Go through a disciplined evaluation process. Don’t just call your buddy that operates a venue in another market, change the date, and name of the venue and issue the RFP. An RFP evaluation process should reflect your venue’s needs, not someone else’s.
• Give your primary stakeholders a seat at the table (GM, Director of Marketing, Box Office Manager and Director of Finance). Give them an opportunity to tell you:

• • Must Have’s-You currently have this functionality and it is a crucial component to your department’s daily operation.
  • Would Like to Have-You either don’t have it, or you have partial functionality.
  • Pie in the Sky-Don’t have it, but gee should would be great if we could do “x”. 
• Don’t send your RFP out or start talking to ticketing companies 3 months before your agreement expires. That’s an instant tip off you’re not serious, let alone sincere about the process and are just “checking the box” You should start the “tire kicking” process 12-18 months before prior the expiration of your agreement.
• Keep It Simple-Are you really going to read a 100+ page response that may take a respondent several weeks to respond?
• •  

Happy shopping!

Marshall Pred is the Director of Business Development with Etix

For the first time ever, a rainbow flag celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride, equality, and social rights was raised over the Tacoma Dome Tuesday, July 9.

Tacoma Pride week started Friday, July 12 with another pride flag raising over Tacoma City Hall. The city’s annual pride celebration is on Saturday from noon–6 p.m. on Pacific Avenue between South 7th and 9th streets.

In larger cities, such as Seattle and New York, Pride is observed close to June 28 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New Year City that are considered by many to be the launching point for the modern LGBT rights movement.

Smaller cities, such as Tacoma, hold Pride either before or after to avoid competing celebrations. The flag will fly throughout the month of July — along with the U.S. flag.

Kim Bedier, CVE, City of Tacoma, Venues & Events, Director, Venues & Events is pictured near the raised flag.

For a complete story, click here.

Cliff Wallace, CVE, wants you to know he will be in Chicago for VenueConnect. If the esteemed industry veteran falls just shy of his usual gusto self, try to understand.

Wallace embarked on a Harley tour (some with wife Susan) that began on the West Coast and jogged east to eventually lead him to the Windy City. It was a tour that the photography phenom captured through his lens of some of the most breathtaking images and scenery found in the United States.

Wallace gave the final trip total tally as 6,788 miles, or 10.924 km.

“Simply put, it was a blast,” Wallace shared with many on his email list who received daily updates and photos from his journey. “Fifteen states, ocean-to-ocean and a whole lot of America. I learned a lot and appreciate our country even more.”

One can never predict the weather, but Wallace said that even more Mother Nature was quite cooperative.

“Amazingly, I only experienced one-half day of rain during the 25 days in the saddle,” he said. “The temperature during my ride (while riding) varied from 34F (1C) to 91F (33C).”

In signing off, Wallace said, “Thanks for ‘riding along’ and I hope the photos were a tiny indication of the extraordinary experience. You will note today’s photos include the arrival in Ellijay, GA, where our family mountain cabin is (photo attached). I was met by the Georgia family in the Ellijay town square (California clan checked in by FaceTime). Later, we celebrated Susan’s birthday.”

We, Cliff, thank you for taking us along on this beautiful journey!

Cliff’s Key Stats:

Cumulative Trip Mileage: 6,788 miles (10,924 km)

Average Mileage per day: 272 miles ( 438 km)

Miles per gallon of gasoline achieved: 43.66 miles/gallon (18.56 km/l)

IAVM member Beth Murray ends a storied 38-year career as managing director of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center when she retires on July 26.

A fixture in the Bay Area performing arts scene, Murray was hired when Davies Symphony Hall opened in 1980. The trained ballet dancer would end up overseeing not only the Davies, but eventually the War Memorial Opera House, Herbst Theatre, and Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall.

For more about the distinguished career of a distinguished individual and contributor to her community click here.

The Edmonton EXPO Centre is already home to the Stingers, and now it is officially home to the bees. As a newly licensed City of Edmonton urban beekeeping facility, the Edmonton EXPO Centre has welcomed two hives of honeybees to its roof.

Each hive holds a colony of approximately 20,000 bees, and the colonies are expected to grow in numbers as they settle into their new home on the venue’s rooftop. The beehives will enhance the current sustainability initiatives of the Edmonton EXPO Centre by contributing to a resilient local food and agriculture system. Not only will the bees provide honey for the Edmonton EXPO Centre’s culinary initiatives, but the addition of hives also provides a home for bees in a time where the bee population needs support. The presence of bees at the venue additionally allows opportunities for education to the 1.5 million guests who visit each year.

“One of our goals at the Edmonton EXPO Centre is to be environmentally conscious and sustainable,” says Jiju Paul, Executive Chef for the Edmonton EXPO Centre. “Having our own beehives can help us learn and educate others about the importance of bees while improving the environment around us. Our Edmonton EXPO Centre culinary team is also excited about the opportunities to use bee products such as raw honey and beeswax in our kitchen.”

The hives will be located on the rooftop of the Edmonton EXPO Centre ballrooms to eliminate the risk of interaction with guests at the venue, and they will be managed by beekeeper Dustin Bajer. Bajer has over 10 years of experience in handling bees and is a beekeeping instructor who is responsible for the care and maintenance of the beehives at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. He also teaches City of Edmonton approved beekeeping courses at the John Janzen Nature Centre in Edmonton’s River Valley.