Ticketmaster is an online ticketing platform that allows event organizers to sell tickets and manage events. It has become one of the most popular ways for venues, teams, musicians and more to handle ticketing. Setting up and using Ticketmaster to sell tickets requires some technical know-how, but it can be a very effective tool.
Some key things to know about Ticketmaster before getting started:
– It is designed for large-scale ticket sales for events like concerts, sports games, theater shows, etc. So it may not be ideal for smaller events.
– There are fees to use Ticketmaster services, including per ticket fees, service fees and more. These fees can add up, so pricing tickets accordingly is important.
– Ticketmaster integrates with venue box office software, so you can manage both online and in-person sales.
– There are additional features available including flexible pricing, access control, promotional offers and more. These often cost extra.
– Ticketmaster requires a contractual agreement. You’ll need to reach out to a sales rep to get the contract process started.
Setting up and configuring Ticketmaster properly takes some time and effort. But once it’s set up, it can handle ticketing seamlessly show after show. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your Ticketmaster account created and ready to sell tickets.
Step 1: Sign Up for an Account
The first step is signing up for a Ticketmaster account. You can begin the process on Ticketmaster’s website by clicking the “Sign Up” button.
You’ll need to provide some basic contact information including:
– Your name
– Email address
– Phone number
– Physical address
This will allow Ticketmaster to reach you and verify your identity.
You’ll also be asked about the type of events you plan to use Ticketmaster for. Options include music, sports, arts and theater. Choose any that may apply.
Next, you’ll need to create a password for your account. Make sure to choose a strong, secure password.
And that’s it for creating your basic account. However, there are still more steps before you can actually sell tickets.
Step 2: Provide Company Information
Now that you have an account, you’ll need to provide some key details about your company. Ticketmaster needs this info for legal and logistical purposes.
Start by providing your company’s legal name and tax ID number.
You’ll also need to give your company’s URL or website if you have one. Add social media pages as well.
Next, enter your business category such as venue, sports team, festival, etc.
You’ll need to provide a customer service phone number and email that ticket buyers can contact if needed.
Finally, add your company’s physical address and select the estimated event capacity size.
Providing complete and accurate company information is crucial at this stage. Double check that everything is entered correctly.
Step 3: Choose Your Ticketing System
Ticketmaster offers several different ticketing systems to choose from. The options include:
– **Ticketmaster Classic:** Basic online ticketing with event setup tools.
– **Ticketmaster Premier:** More advanced ticketing with expanded features and customization.
– **Ticketmaster 360:** Fully integrated ticketing including box office POS software.
– **Ticketmaster Event Manager:** Specialized for large venues with recurring events.
Take some time to explore which system is right for your needs. Larger venues will require the more robust options like Ticketmaster 360 or Event Manager. Smaller users can stick with Classic or Premier.
You can get demos and quotes for any of the ticketing systems from the Ticketmaster sales team before committing. Contact a representative to explore your options.
Step 4: Sign Ticketing Agreement
Once you’ve chosen your Ticketmaster ticketing system, it’s time to enter into an official agreement.
A Ticketmaster sales representative will send over the full contract for your selected system. Read through the agreement carefully to understand all the terms and conditions.
Some key points the agreement will cover include:
– Length of contract term
– Fees involved for ticket sales, software, etc.
– Acceptable use policy
– Privacy policy for customer data
– Your responsibilities for events, customers, etc.
If you have any questions or concerns about the agreement, address them with the sales rep before signing.
You will need to provide your signature to make the agreement official. This is usually handled electronically for convenience.
Once signed, you will be able to move forward with setting up your ticketing system.
Step 5: Set Up Your Events
Now comes the fun part – setting up your events and shows in Ticketmaster! This is handled through the Event Manager tool.
Start by clicking “Add Event” and choosing whether you want a one-time or recurring event.
For each event, you’ll enter key info including:
– Event name
– Type (concert, game, festival, etc.)
– Event date, time and duration
– Venue location
– Ticket prices
– Lineup/performers
– Age restrictions
You can set up the floor plan for each event by creating customizable seating charts. Define ticket sections, rows, seats and their prices.
Add ticket purchase limits per customer as needed.
When setting up recurring events like sports games, you can create a season schedule with all the dates pre-loaded.
Take time to input all the important event details carefully. This provides the info customers will see when buying tickets.
Step 6: Configure Your Ticketing Settings
There are a variety of settings you can configure to get your Ticketmaster system working just right:
**Fees**
– Set your services fees, delivery fees and other additional charges that get tacked onto ticket purchases.
**Page design**
– Customize the look of your Ticketmaster event pages with colors, logos and images.
**Buyer requirements**
– Require an account for purchases or allow guest checkouts.
– Set limits for number of tickets purchased.
– Require customer info like names, emails, etc.
**Ticket delivery**
– Choose electronic, print-at-home or mail ticket delivery.
– Set when tickets get delivered to buyers.
**Reporting**
– Configure sales, traffic and other reports to be emailed.
– Set up QuickBooks exporting.
Take time to explore all the options and tailor them for your ticketing needs. Adjust settings as you go to optimize operations.
Step 7: Integrate Payment Processing
A key part of getting Ticketmaster ready is setting up payment processing. This allows you to collect payments from ticket sales automatically.
Start by contacting a Ticketmaster payments representative. They will help you through the steps to integrate.
Here are some of the options for processing transactions:
– **Verifi:** Ticketmaster’s own payment system to collect credit card payments.
– **Chase Paymentech:** External payment processor you can use.
– **PayPal/Venmo:** Popular online payment platforms.
You will need to open merchant processing accounts with whichever services you choose. This allows accepting credit card payments.
The payment representative will assist in getting these accounts set up and connected with your Ticketmaster system.
Make sure to choose payment processing options that fit with how you want to collect ticket revenue. Popular choices include Chase, Verifi and PayPal.
Step 8: Set Up Box Office Software
If you are running a venue with an on-site box office, you’ll need box office software to integrate with Ticketmaster. This allows selling tickets in-person along with online sales.
Ticketmaster offers venue box office solutions like “Ticketmaster Window” for this purpose.
Setting it up involves:
– Installing the Window software on box office computers
– Connecting it to your Ticketmaster account
– Configuring settings like receipt printing
– Training staff on using the Window system
With box office software in place, your physical ticket windows will have access to the same events, tickets and customer info as the Ticketmaster website.
The two sales channels will be fully integrated for seamless ticketing management.
Step 9: Get Staff Accounts and Training
To allow your other staff members access to your Ticketmaster account, you’ll need to set them up with their own logins.
Under your account settings, you can create separate logins for each person. Assign appropriate user permissions for what they need access to.
Provide the login details to each staff member. Be sure to give an overview of how the system works.
Further training resources are available from Ticketmaster including:
– Online knowledge base articles
– Getting started webinars
– Onsite training sessions
Take advantage of these materials to train your box office, sales and support teams on using the Ticketmaster system properly.
Smooth usage by your staff helps ensure customers have a great ticket buying experience.
Step 10: Promote Your Events
Now that everything is set up, it’s time to drive traffic, promote your events and sell those tickets!
Some tips for promotions:
– Add upcoming events to your website and social media channels.
– Send email blasts about new events to your mailing list.
– Place Facebook/Instagram ads targeting local audiences.
– Partner with local radio stations, TV news, bloggers, etc. for media promotions.
– Put up flyers and signs around town mentioning the Ticketmaster link.
– Run ticket giveaway contests to create buzz.
Make use of Ticketmaster’s tools as well. You can create discount promo codes to share with customers.
Take advantage of Ticketmaster’s large audience base and search traffic to boost visibility of your events.
Ongoing Best Practices
Once you are up and running with Ticketmaster, there are some best practices to follow:
– Check your events dashboard regularly and stay on top of sales.
– Keep your events and venue info updated on both Ticketmaster and your own website.
– Respond promptly to any customer messages or issues.
– Send email and social media reminders to boost lagging ticket sales when needed.
– Stay on top of collecting revenue and reconciling payments.
– Track data on your top selling events, popular ticket prices, etc. to optimize future sales.
– Follow up with customers asking for feedback on the ticket buying experience.
– Provide ongoing training refreshers for your Ticketmaster users and box office staff.
Optimizing your Ticketmaster usage allows you to keep selling tickets seamlessly for all your events, year after year.
Conclusion
Setting up Ticketmaster for your ticketing needs takes some upfront work but delivers major benefits. Once in place, it provides you with a customizable, easy-to-use platform for selling tickets in just a few clicks.
The key steps covered here include signing up, entering event details, choosing a system, signing an agreement, configuring settings, enabling payments, integrating box office software, training staff and promoting events.
Follow these steps carefully when first setting up Ticketmaster. Stay diligent with updates, training and promotions for ongoing success selling tickets.
With Ticketmaster providing a professional, automated sales process, you can focus on creating great events and delivering amazing experiences for fans. The platform handles the ticketing process smoothly from online sales to on-site box offices.
So don’t wait – get your Ticketmaster account created and start selling out shows in no time!