ADVERTISING FEATURE
Hot Tickets
EDINBURGH-BASED SCOTTISH CONNECTIONS IS DISPENSING TICKETING GENIUS WITH THE SMARTEST
BOX OFFICE SET-UP AROUND - THE WEMBLEY TICKETING
SYSTEM.
The arts and entertainments industry is reaping the benefits of the information age with the introduction of a state-of-the-art ticketing system making it easier to put bums on seats. Using Microsoft Windows 95, which is fast becoming the industry standard, Wembley lnternational’s Wembley Ticketing System (WTS) software is now used internationally. Some of Scotland’s biggest ticket vendors. including major- league Fringe venue Assemny Theatre. Gilded too. Balloon (leading Fringe venue and all-year-round comedy promoters) and World League Of American Football’s Edinburgh-based local heroes The Scottish Claymores, have opted for the system. ’It’s fast, efficient and extremely user-friendly,’ says the Gilded Balloon, which ushered 100,000 people through its doors at last year’s Fringe.
WTS is distributed by ticketing industry professionals Scottish Connections. It is PC-based with an easy-to-use Windows 95 based interface combining speed and reliability with a massive capacity that can handle data for all from the smallest auditoriums to a 67,000 seater stadium like Murrayfield. home of the Scottish Claymores (and over 80,000 seats at Wembley Stadium). Graphic User Interface advanced technology makes life easy by allowing all aspects of processing a sale — from choosing a seat to booking it — to be contained within a single screen. Colour coding of ticket prices on customised seating plans allows operators to assess ticket
Gilded 33 Donna “c232,”! Presents
availability at a glance - essential for football teams and arts venues alike. The complete transaction — planning, paying for and printing tickets is over in seconds. Good news for operators, and customers
The beauty of all this is it can be done entirely in- house. World League Of American Football installed The Scottish Claymores celebrate their 1996 "Odd Ml victory WTS for the Claymores and
London Monarchs in November 1996. ‘It’s excellent,’ says Stephen Auty, Vice-
President, Sales and Marketing Europe.
‘Before we were using outside [ticket]
agencies. Now we’ve brought everything in- house we have far greater control over our selling process. And we’re able to provide a ' better service for customers as we’re building up a personal relationship with them. We can be a lot more flexible - giving them very specific advice on where they want to sit.’ Essential for devoted fans for whom getting favourite seats can be as important as a home win for the team.
Assembly Theatre, which had over 194,000 tickets on sale over a period of three weeks at last year’s Fringe, has been equally impressed
by the performance of WTS. ‘lt streamlined and
speeded up an extremely complex box-office set- up,’ says Assembly Theatre General Manager, Mary Shields. ‘The system is incredibly user-friendly and
"‘ r r x J 3... ‘ l ..
\\ a L‘!’
3.3.. ‘t,","
its ability to organise and manipulate information revolutionised the Festival experience for public and promoters alike.’
Another attractive aspect of this smart little system is its ability to transform information gathered at the point of sale into a powerful marketing tool. Details collected when tickets are bought, are downloaded into Microsoft Access. giving a permanent database of bookers and an instant customer profile. For World League’s Stephen Auty it’s this that puts WTS head and shoulders above the rest.
‘The system we used before provided information,’ he says. ‘But WTS gives you so much more information - from names and addresses to where customers saw our advert.’ Previously the World League had to wait before figures were bounced back to them. ‘The advantage with this system is that it happens in real time,’ Auty comments, ‘allowing us to be more reactive and proactive with customers. If they have a query we just key in their postcode, pull up their details and deal with it there and then.’ (Ellie Carr)
GILDED BALL
BRUCE MORTON
Stirling Tolbooth Wednesday 19th February 8.00pm Rothes Halls, Glenrothes Thursday 20th February 8.30pm Dundee Rep Theatre Friday 21st February 10.45pm Aberdeen Arts Centre Saturday 22nd February 9.30pm The Tron Theatre, Glasgow Sunday 23rd February 9.00pm
BILL BAILEY
Queen's Hall, Edinburgh Saturday 1st March 8.000m The Tron Theatre, Glasgow Sunday 2nd March 9.00pm St Andrews Student Union Monday 3rd March 9.00pm The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Tuesday 4th March 10.000m Stirling Tolbooth Wednesday 5th March 8.00pm
East Kilbride Arts Centre Thursday 6th March 8.00pm
DYLAN MORAN
St Andrews Student Union Tuesday 18th March 9.00pm Stirling Tolbooth Wednesday 19th March 8.00pm
Rothes Halls, Glenrothes Thursday 20th March 8.30pm
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Friday let March 10.00pm
The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Saturday 22nd March 9.00pm The Tron Theatre, Glasgow Sunday 23rd March 9.00pm
DONNA MCPHAIL
Rothes Halls, Glenrothes Friday 9th May 8.30pm
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen Sunday 1 1th May 10.00pm Paisley Arts Centre Monday 12th May 8.00pm
Albert Halls, Stirling Tuesday 13th May 8.00pm Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh Wednesday 14th May 8.00pm Perth Theatre Thursday 15th May time 7.30pm Dundee Rep Theatre Friday 16th May 10.45pm
THE GILDED BALLOON MAILING LIST, 233 COWGATE, EDINBURGH
TEL 0|3I 226 6550
TOTAL ACTION
ARE YOU READY?
The World Bowl Champions, The Scottish Claymores start the defence of their crown on April 13th. The Scottish Claymores experience is more than just American Football, it is a whole afternoon of entertainment, live music and sport at Murrayfield - American Style. Season Tickets available from just £15 (plus booking fee) - Simply call FREEPHONE 0500 35 35 35 to order:
CLAYMORES AT MURRAYI'IELD
Sunday 20 April
vs. Barcelona Dragons
Sunday 21 April
vs. Rhein Fire
Sunday 18 May
vs. Amsterdam Admirals
Sunday 1 June
vs. Frankfurt Galaxy
Sunday 8 June
vs. London Monarchs
All games kick off at 3pm. Party
starts at Noon.
FREEPHONE 0500 35 35 35
~
5 a. “‘ \v u < ‘ y; - "g, 3 y "7 . ’ , x c I).
i '/
, /‘
bu
ASSEMBLY
GILDED BALLC39N
PLEASANCB The essence of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Join our mailing list
0131-226 5992
Onlg 201 shopping dogs to the festival!
Scottlstfonnoctlono
For more information about Wembley Ticketing System contact
Scottish Connections
FREEPHONE 0800 163 338
Fax 0131 555 4993 E.Mail
101354.2546@compuserve.com
The List 24 Jan-6 Feb 1997 31