ticketed.

I tried something new today, something that I hope will change the way I buy concert tickets in the future.

A week ago I got an email inviting me to attend a Tokyo Police Club show at Mr. Small’s next week. The email came from Lynsie Camuso, one of the founders of Pittsburgh-based ShowClix, a concert ticket business — and a budding social media network — that’s just getting started here and across the country. It’s a cool idea — here’s how they explain:

ShowClix is a Pittsburgh-based event search engine and online ticketing company created to connect artists, venues and show promoters with the millions of people around the world that are seeking local events. The website combines an open, event database with an online ticketing platform, giving show promoters, artists and venues an easy, affordable way to promote their shows and sell tickets to users who search for, track and share events on the site.

When I signed up for the Tokyo Police Club show, I opted for the paperless ticket option, which means I’ll get my tickets on my phone, via text message, on the day of the show. I have no idea how this is going to work, but I’ll find out in a week.

I hope it goes well, in no small part because of my hatred for Ticketmonster, which makes buying tickets for concerts or games such a pleasure as they rip extra money from my wallet to cover service charges, venue charges and other fees related to doing business with a monopoly. ShowClix touts virtually non-existent service charges, and looks to be dealing with independent venues, like Mr. Small’s, which should give them the flexibility to keep those charges to a minimum.

The social media aspect of the site looks interesting as well. There’s what appears to be a pretty thorough concert listing — Columbus and Cleveland are both on the list — and plenty of chances for users to tweak their profiles and find others with similar musical interests. Bands, promoters and venues are encouraged to sign up as well; if they do, they would be removing a long-time — and sort of pointless — barrier that’s always existed between musicians and fans.

I have one small concern: I love my old ticket stubs. I know, I know — yet another vestige of Uncle Crappy clinging desperately to the ways of the old world. And I understand going ticketless is a better, more manageable system in many ways — but when it happens for good, I’ll still miss having that faded piece of paper as a reminder of a fun night.

But with that caveat aside, I’m hoping ShowClix does well. If it works as planned, it should make this whole process easier and more fun. See you at Mr. Small’s.

9 thoughts on “ticketed.”

  1. I have the ticket stubs of everything I go to so you’re not alone. In fact when I was home for easter I found movie stubs from 1989-93. I’ve always kept random things.

    When my place flooded last October I lost my collection of Pirates opening day stubs since 84, 1990-92 NLCS and First games at PNC Park.

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  2. Thanks for the mention – and for taking us up on the invite to the show! We’re really looking forward to debuting the new service.

    Yeah, I’ve had a few other people mention the whole ticket stub thing to me – one solution would be for bands to design some really cool limited edition tickets that they could sell at the show for fans to take home as a piece of memorabilia.

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  3. I keep ticket stubs too. And I tuck them into the jewel-cases of the CDs the bands were promoting on that tour. So in all ways, I’m clinging to vestiges of earlier times.

    I like Lynsie’s limited edition stubs that can be sold/given away at shows. (I like the given away option better, particularly if band members will sign them, because I am an unashamed fangirl at these events.)

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  4. Spoon: Ugh. Losing those tickets had to be heartbreaking. I have every stub from Ohio State’s 2002 national title season, including our tickets from that season’s Fiesta Bowl. Losing those would be like losing a limb.

    Lynsie: It’s an awesome idea, and I hope it goes well. And, yeah, I’d probably spend a couple bucks for a souvenir ticket at the merch table. How would this be for irony: Use that old multi-colored Ticketmaster form as a template…

    Cindy: I have a few tucked into photo albums, but most are in a plastic folder that I still take out once in a while. The oldest stub is from my first show: Kiss at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati in the fall of 1979, about two months before the infamous Who concert there.

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  8. Hey — were you even alive in 1979? Don’t hate on me because I saw them when they were wearing makeup and not wrinkle concealer…

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