In this episode of Festival Soup, host Mike Baxter sits down with Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec of S Saffire, a leading player in the event ticketing tech space. They discuss how online ticketing, reserved seating, and cashless payments have revolutionized the festival and event industry. From small-town fairs to major state festivals, Jessica shares insights on overcoming resistance to new technologies, the growing importance of cashless transactions, and how presale tickets can boost event profitability.

Key Points:

- [0:40] - Introduction to Online Ticketing

Mike welcomes Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec from Saffire. They dive into how her company grew from a small team to an industry leader by focusing on event websites and online ticketing.

- [3:43] - Serving All Sizes of Events

Jessica highlights the variety of festivals they work with, from the small Mosquito Festival in Clute, Texas, to the large San Diego County Fair.

- [5:33] - Shifting to Online Ticketing

Discussion on how even smaller festivals are embracing online ticketing, with many customers now expecting to purchase tickets in advance.

- [6:11] - Benefits of Presale Tickets

Jessica explains the advantages of selling tickets in advance, including year-round revenue and reduced day-of logistics.

- [10:53] - The Return of QR Codes

QR codes have made a comeback, and Jessica recommends using them everywhere—from parking lots to grocery stores—to drive ticket sales.

- [15:06] - Real-Time Ticket Payments

Unlike many third-party platforms, Saffire ensures ticket payments go directly into clients' accounts the same day.

- [17:16] - Going Cashless at Events

Jessica discusses the move towards kiosks and cashless gates, highlighting the benefits in terms of security, staffing, and reduced fraud.

- [26:58] - New Trends and Future Innovations

Fraud mitigation and real-time tracking of attendee behavior are the next big things for event ticketing, including geo-targeted marketing messages for event-goers.

Quotable Moments:

- [5:33] "Even smaller fairs are now seeing that people welcome online ticketing with open arms." – Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec

- [6:33] "Presales are great because they give your event cash flow year-round, not just in the event month." – Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec

- [10:53] "I love QR codes back as a tool! People know how to use them, which makes me so happy." – Jessica Bybee-Dziedzec

Links Mentioned:

• Texas Festivals and Events Association: https://www.tfea.org
• International Festivals and Events Association: https://www.ifea.com
• Saffire Event Solutions: https://www.Saffire.com
• Texas Festival and Tourism Consulting: https://texasfestivalandtourismconsulting.com/

Thank you for tuning into this episode of Festival Soup. If you’re planning a festival or event, now’s the time to embrace online ticketing and new technologies like QR codes and cashless systems. Want more festival insights? Be sure to subscribe to Festival Soup on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. See you next time for more industry tips and tricks!