| If you're thinking of selling tickets to your events | | | | any location where they have an Internet connection. |
| online, there's now a number of different alternatives | | | | Such systems normally offer both box-office ticket |
| that you could consider. This article briefly explains | | | | sales, Internet ticket sales, and sales by any number |
| the different options so that you can make a more | | | | of resellers. The online booking capability is either |
| informed decision on which system would suit you | | | | integrated into the organisation's web page by the |
| best. | | | | insertion of a few lines of code, or else a template |
| Box office software for ticketing can basically be | | | | will be created to match the look and feel of the |
| categorized into six distinct groups. | | | | venue operator's website, but where the URL is a |
| 1. PC based (offline) software. | | | | unique web page on the box office ticketing |
| Stand-alone software which is installed on the | | | | company's website and exclusively processes and |
| organisation's computer and is maintained and | | | | records bookings for that organisation only. |
| operated exclusively by that organization. No online | | | | Alternatively, in some systems, the code may be |
| booking ability is provided. All bookings must be input | | | | inserted directly into a page on the venue operator's |
| manually by an administrator and tickets issued and | | | | website. |
| printed by the administrator. | | | | 4. Online in-house hosted system. |
| Some companies offer a hybrid type of system | | | | This system is similar to the above with the |
| where online capability is offered as an extra module | | | | exception that the main database is hosted by the |
| either from the same company or via the services of | | | | venue operator rather than be box office ticketing |
| another company. In such cases you need to check | | | | company. |
| how well the system is integrated and in particular | | | | 5. Online Internet hosted ticket selling services. |
| whether the customer database for online | | | | A relatively new option where the venue operator |
| transactions is directly linked to the database for the | | | | sets up all the details of their event on a web page |
| PC application. | | | | nominated by the hosting company and establishes a |
| 2. PC based software with online ticket selling | | | | link on their own Web sites to this particular URL. |
| capabilities. | | | | Ticket sales are processed by the hosting company |
| Stand-alone box office software which is installed on | | | | and proceeds forwarded to the venue operator |
| the organisation's computer and offers the ability of | | | | either immediately or after the event has taken |
| enabling patrons to book tickets online. The | | | | place. |
| administrator will also able to process bookings via | | | | 6. Ticket selling services. |
| the online interface. | | | | Specialist ticket booking and ticket issuing |
| The software may be offered for use only at a | | | | organizations which handle bookings on behalf of |
| single PC or terminal, or may be offered with | | | | many different organizations. Patrons purchase |
| capabilities of using the system in multiple terminals | | | | tickets via the ticketing company's website and the |
| (often extra fees are charged for additional | | | | organisation pays a $ amount per ticket or % of the |
| terminals). The online ticket selling capability may | | | | ticket price and possibly an establishment or set-up |
| offer the ability for patrons to choose seats | | | | fee. The database is maintained by the ticketing |
| interactively online from a seating plan or may only | | | | company and the organisation normally does not |
| offer "best available" seat selection. | | | | have access to the database but relies on standard |
| 3. Online Internet hosted system. | | | | set of reports generated by the ticketing company. |
| Booking system hosted by the box office ticketing | | | | Of course within each system they are a multitude |
| company where the organisation pays a fee per | | | | of different variations and features which may be |
| ticket on every ticket sold. This may be either a $ | | | | offered. Often the only way to determine whether a |
| amount per ticket or % of the ticket price. The | | | | particular box office software system would suit |
| database is maintained by the hosting company but | | | | your specific needs is to obtain a demonstration or |
| the venue operator normally has full and complete | | | | sign up for a trial of several alternative online |
| access to the database. Generally it will be possible | | | | ticketing systems, which many vendors are prepared |
| for administrators or ticket resellers to sell tickets in | | | | to offer. |