Rich Couples

The idea to start his own ticketing service came while Andrew Meader was working as an independent contractor for Tim Bostock Productions three years ago.

“It was frustrating that there wasn’t a ticketing service that didn’t have exorbitant fees for the customer,” said Meader, who also is an actor, director and producer. “Having talked to several other promoters, they were having similar frustrations. Thus, Honolulu Box Office was born.”

There was little initial cash outlay, because there was no need. With a phone line, Web site and leased ticketing software, Meader was soon up and running.

His first office was at the Arts at Marks Garage in downtown Honolulu, a collaborative arts center founded to help nurture artists, organizations and arts-related businesses.

Many of Meader’s clients called asking not about tickets to events he was promoting through his small Meader Arts production company, but about Honolulu Box Office. In just six months, the need for more staff necessitated a move to a larger office at Century Square at 1188 Bishop St. Today, there are two full-time employees besides Meader, and up to 12 part-time ticketing agents when necessary.

Meader charges a fee of $2.50 per ticket, regardless of the ticket price or performing venue. That compares with what Meader estimates is an average fee of $4.75 for Ticketmaster, the world’s largest ticketing company. With add-on charges for ordering and printing the ticket, the total fee per ticket could run well above the basic ticket price.

“Even though we’re in the same business, I don’t consider them competition,” Meader said. “We are filling a niche they are not worried about. It’s like comparing a small coffee shop with Starbucks.”

In fact, this past spring Meader worked with Ticketmaster on the Diamond Head Crater Festival.

Bonnie Poindexter, Ticketmaster spokeswoman in Los Angeles, confirmed that add-on charges are common. But she said ticket prices and fees “vary considerably” for her company’s 9,000 clients nationwide, depending on contractual agreements.

source BizJournal
Site: Honolulu Box Office