possibly noob question
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meeotch
Dec 10, 2009, 12:26:35 AM12/10/09
to ATHENA Tix Planners
Just got an email notice about this project from Fractured Atlas. I
have a question, and feel free to let me know if it's way out of
context, or otherwise invalid....
Has there been any discussion of how ATHENA Tix could potentially aid
in loosening the grip of companies like the Ticket-Serivce-that-Shall-
Not-Be-Named? My understanding is that they maintain their near-
monopoly by paying venues huge sums for exclusive ticket-selling
contracts, shutting out competitors. The venues don't fight back
because they're getting paid, and it's all funded by boning the
consumer with fees. It seems as it would take more than free software
to overcome that sort of (anti)competitive disadvantage... But open
source has been instrumental in leveling the playing field before.
(Is this one of the goals of the "hosted version"?)
Anyway, long question short - I'd think a chance to "fight the good
fight" against Big Ticketing might be attractive to potential
contributors. (I know it is for me.)
have a question, and feel free to let me know if it's way out of
context, or otherwise invalid....
Has there been any discussion of how ATHENA Tix could potentially aid
in loosening the grip of companies like the Ticket-Serivce-that-Shall-
Not-Be-Named? My understanding is that they maintain their near-
monopoly by paying venues huge sums for exclusive ticket-selling
contracts, shutting out competitors. The venues don't fight back
because they're getting paid, and it's all funded by boning the
consumer with fees. It seems as it would take more than free software
to overcome that sort of (anti)competitive disadvantage... But open
source has been instrumental in leveling the playing field before.
(Is this one of the goals of the "hosted version"?)
Anyway, long question short - I'd think a chance to "fight the good
fight" against Big Ticketing might be attractive to potential
contributors. (I know it is for me.)
Adam Huttler
Dec 10, 2009, 6:53:53 AM12/10/09
to athena-ti...@googlegroups.com
The short answer to your question is that, yes, there has been extensive
(private) discussion about the big ticketing services and their role in
the marketplace and what role we might play in leveling various playing
fields. We're a few years away, at best, from being a credible competitor
to Ticketmaster or Telecharge, and that's not something that we consider a
primary goal. But generally speaking, the more options we can provide, and
the more we can reduce the costs associated with running a first rate
ticketing system, the more everyone (i.e. audiences and producers alike)
benefits.
(private) discussion about the big ticketing services and their role in
the marketplace and what role we might play in leveling various playing
fields. We're a few years away, at best, from being a credible competitor
to Ticketmaster or Telecharge, and that's not something that we consider a
primary goal. But generally speaking, the more options we can provide, and
the more we can reduce the costs associated with running a first rate
ticketing system, the more everyone (i.e. audiences and producers alike)
benefits.
meeotch
Dec 14, 2009, 12:15:36 PM12/14/09
to ATHENA Tix Planners
Well, chalk me up as a supporter for that sort of goal (primary or
not). Payola schemes in the millions of dollars will be a tough nut
to crack... But who knows - maybe building a ground-up network of
smaller indie productions and venues will eventually make the larger
venues sit up and take notice. Particularly if attendance at their
shows starts to slip b/c people are finding a rich pool of choices
that come without outrageous fees. And if not, well - the network is
a worthy end unto itself.
On Dec 10, 6:53 am, "Adam Huttler" <adam.hutt...@fracturedatlas.org>
wrote:
not). Payola schemes in the millions of dollars will be a tough nut
to crack... But who knows - maybe building a ground-up network of
smaller indie productions and venues will eventually make the larger
venues sit up and take notice. Particularly if attendance at their
shows starts to slip b/c people are finding a rich pool of choices
that come without outrageous fees. And if not, well - the network is
a worthy end unto itself.
On Dec 10, 6:53 am, "Adam Huttler" <adam.hutt...@fracturedatlas.org>
wrote:
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