Highwire is still using Eventbrite. I totally get the fees thing, but since we cater so much to non-improv audiences, that is where so many people find us. I am continually amazed how many people just go to that site, search for fun things to do and end up buying a ticket to see our nonsense. Whatever software you use will vary by city, likely so I wouldn't stress on that if you can reach people somehow.
To track, we have spreadsheets because isn't that why we all started improv theaters? We have tied performer pay increases to audience size so that is the easiest way to track. The things we don't do well are 1) engaging people to get repeat business and 2) tracking and marketing to folks who buy at the door since we use Square or Venmo for that.
I think about the ticket thing all the time. I don't have a better comment than the others other than this: when I was in scotland this summer, something felt different about the ticket platforms. It felt less suffocating than the ticketmaster of it all here. Seems like eventbrite/fourth wall are good options. Can't wait to check out your theatre.
Count me as another vote for Fourth Wall. An improviser with a developer career made it, and he's meticulous about adding features to it. I tested a LOT of systems when we were opening, and Fourth Wall checked the most boxes and keeps getting better with each update.
Subscribed to leave this comment but I'll probably stick around.
I run an improv theater in Birmingham, Alabama called Faraway Theater. Been open about a year and we have used Fourth Wall Ticketing to great success for our weekly shows and jams and ticketing for classes. Fourth Wall is basically a business founded to help small theaters do exactly this.
Will, you were my 101 teacher at UCB in LA around about 10 years ago. Domino effect lead to me opening my own across the country a decade later. Keep doing great things. Be Well.
Yeah, Brian was the one way back when who told me to take your class specifically. He jumps in occasional shows and just taught a great series of workshops. Come on down and y'all have lunch then jump in a show.
At Kickstand Comedy in Portland we use a system called "MercTickets" that is tied to a local alt-weekly, so we get some perks with getting listed on their event listings and credit towards advertising. Could be interesting to explore any local outlets that offer a similar deal.
The online ticket fees are all passed on to the buyers, so our payout is exactly how we set ticket prices. It lacks functionality, including clean website integration. And we opt to use Square for our in person box office because theirs is all browser based and clunky. Interested to see the other systems folks are using because this one ain't great!
We use Fourth Wall at our theater too. It’s not perfect, but it’s on its way and it’s specifically for improv theaters. They’re real humans (well, improvisers,) who will answer your emails.
Highwire is still using Eventbrite. I totally get the fees thing, but since we cater so much to non-improv audiences, that is where so many people find us. I am continually amazed how many people just go to that site, search for fun things to do and end up buying a ticket to see our nonsense. Whatever software you use will vary by city, likely so I wouldn't stress on that if you can reach people somehow.
To track, we have spreadsheets because isn't that why we all started improv theaters? We have tied performer pay increases to audience size so that is the easiest way to track. The things we don't do well are 1) engaging people to get repeat business and 2) tracking and marketing to folks who buy at the door since we use Square or Venmo for that.
I think about the ticket thing all the time. I don't have a better comment than the others other than this: when I was in scotland this summer, something felt different about the ticket platforms. It felt less suffocating than the ticketmaster of it all here. Seems like eventbrite/fourth wall are good options. Can't wait to check out your theatre.
Improv Cincinnati uses Fourth Wall tickets. Created by improvisers for improv theaters.
I'm pretty sure that Spolin created "Explore and Heighten".
Ah! I will check out that Spolin -- that's a pretty big error. Thank you re: 4th wall.
Count me as another vote for Fourth Wall. An improviser with a developer career made it, and he's meticulous about adding features to it. I tested a LOT of systems when we were opening, and Fourth Wall checked the most boxes and keeps getting better with each update.
Subscribed to leave this comment but I'll probably stick around.
I run an improv theater in Birmingham, Alabama called Faraway Theater. Been open about a year and we have used Fourth Wall Ticketing to great success for our weekly shows and jams and ticketing for classes. Fourth Wall is basically a business founded to help small theaters do exactly this.
Will, you were my 101 teacher at UCB in LA around about 10 years ago. Domino effect lead to me opening my own across the country a decade later. Keep doing great things. Be Well.
Whoa! So cool! Glad to hear you're doing a theater. Do you know Brian Barrett?
Yeah, Brian was the one way back when who told me to take your class specifically. He jumps in occasional shows and just taught a great series of workshops. Come on down and y'all have lunch then jump in a show.
FYI: NY Comedy Club folks also run a white label ticketing platform used by a lot of comedy venues: https://www.standuptix.com/
At Kickstand Comedy in Portland we use a system called "MercTickets" that is tied to a local alt-weekly, so we get some perks with getting listed on their event listings and credit towards advertising. Could be interesting to explore any local outlets that offer a similar deal.
The online ticket fees are all passed on to the buyers, so our payout is exactly how we set ticket prices. It lacks functionality, including clean website integration. And we opt to use Square for our in person box office because theirs is all browser based and clunky. Interested to see the other systems folks are using because this one ain't great!
Our little theatre company has been using TicketTailor for about a year, and we really like it!
In the Uk I use ticket tailor for my clowning workshops- it's so good I don't even need a proper website
We use Fourth Wall at our theater too. It’s not perfect, but it’s on its way and it’s specifically for improv theaters. They’re real humans (well, improvisers,) who will answer your emails.