Online Ticketing

Choice is pleased to offer its clients online ticketing via its internet ticketing gateway, Choice.Net. This software results in a seamless, integrated ticketing solution, allowing for the sale of tickets on one common database in the Box Office, at Remote Sites and over the Internet... all at the same time. No more allocations and split inventories!

The Technical Requirements

To accomplish this, Choice clients must have their File Server or a dedictated Workstation connected to the Internet via a high-speed broadband connection, such as a DSL or Cable Modem, or T1 line.

The Online Sale

The patron logs on to the client's website, which has a link offering them the opportunity to purchase tickets over the Internet. When the patron clicks onto this link, they are seamlessly transferred to the client's private web interface on the Choice.Net Server. The patron then chooses the performance and Choice.Net displays views of the stage, arena, field, etc. from any seating section within the venue. Once the patron decides which section they want to sit in, Choice.Net displays an updated seat chart, allowing the patron to choose seats directly from the chart! The patron's demographic information (Name/Address/Phone) is then captured and the client's Choice database is updated in real time to reflect the sale.

The Money and The Tickets

When the patron enters their credit card information, the order is authorized by using an internet credit card gateway such as Authorize.Net. This means that the revenue is immediately captured and deposited in the client's bank account, in contrast to most other Service Bureau or Internet Sales operations which collect the money and then pay the client at a later date (while keeping all the interest earned on the "float" for themselves!). Once the authorization is complete, the patron is given a confirmation number and the order is finalized in Choice. If the patron wants their tickets mailed to them, the client can print these tickets in batch at any time. If the patron wants to pick their tickets up, these tickets would be set up as a Will Call order and processed like any other Will Call order. In other words, the Internet simply becomes another Operator on the Choice system.

The Cost

There is no charge for the gateway connecting Choice and Choice.Net. There is a one time set-up fee to create the client web pages, the graphical overviews and seating charts, the final cost of which depends upon the size of the venue and number of configurations. In addition, there is a Per Ticket Convenience Fee collected by Choice.Net, which is typically paid by the patron. The cost of the Convenience Fee is dependent upon the price of the ticket and other market conditions, but in almost all cases, is considerably lower than fees being charged by other Service Bureau or Internet Sales operations. Note that all hardware and telecommunication expenses are paid by the client.

What To Do

Interested in Choice.Net? Contact Robert Friend at Choice Ticketing (203-245-9374) for more information. We will be more than happy to provide you an online demonstration of the system, as well as a price estimate.