ShowClix
Encyclopedia
ShowClix is a full-service ticketing company that offers web-based solutions to event organizers, promoters and venue managers internationally. The company provides its clients, which include live music venues, performing arts groups, museums, festivals, nightclubs, artist management companies, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities with services and software to manage their ticketing operations, including online and telephone ticket sales, box office
management, entry control, product bundling
and event promotion
.
ShowClix is notable for developing several innovations in event ticketing, including introducing mobile ticketing
in the United States, building the industry's first cloud-based queuing system
and launching one of the first ticket scanning applications for smartphone
s. The company also helped pioneer the advent of electronic ticket
s and the use of social media
integration to promote events, offer discounts and sell merchandise.
ShowClix's headquarters are located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
Dziabiak sold his first company, a web design firm called MediaCatch, when he was 18 years old. He met future business partner Campbell while working together at Spreadshirt
, an online platform for creating and selling personalized apparel. The pair originally built ShowClix as an event registration database, but revamped the site as a web-based ticketing solution after hearing the concerns of promoters and venues in regards to the ticketing industry's standard model of high service fees and complicated proprietary software.
ShowClix has evolved into an international event ticketing agent, with ticketing partnerships across North America, Canada and Australia. In 2010, the company experienced its greatest period of growth with a 650% increase in ticket sales and a 275% increase in new clients.
Summer Blowout at Pier 36 in Manhattan
. The event, which featured live performances from Swizz Beatz
and LMFAO
, was billed as the very first event to rely entirely on mobile ticketing
.
The company has provided mobile ticketing as an optional service to its customers since 2008, and the event served as an experiment and marketing push for the paperless ticketing platform. The system sends digital tickets to customers via secure SMS
text messages, which are scanned by event staff at the gates to the event or venue.
s and in multiple currencies.
s on hard tickets, email tickets and mobile tickets, and can verify scanned tickets online in real-time when connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. If a network is not available, the app will continue to scan tickets and verify authenticity against event data downloaded to the device, allowing it to function both online and offline. The app stores the scanned data and syncs it with the client's ticket selling account during the next Wi-Fi or network connection. It also includes a checkout
and reentry mode that lets a user scan customers in and out of an event, and a search function that helps a user look up and check in a customer without a physical ticket. Multiple devices can run the app at several check-in points at a venue without the need for networking.
The Android version of Axess is available to download for free in the Android Market
. Android-using devices loaded with the app are also available for lease through ShowClix. In October 2010, ShowClix announced an Apple iOS version of Axess that works with both the iPhone 4
and iPod Touch
. iOS-using devices available for lease come with an attachment that includes a Linea laser scanner and credit card reader
. In February 2011, the iOS version of Axess became available for download in the iTunes app store.
and promotional tools that sync with Facebook
, Twitter
and Disqus
. The Groupon partnership allows ticket sellers to apply for, manage, track and run reports on Groupon offers from their ticketing admin.
ShowClix event pages are directly synced with Facebook and Twitter, allowing visitors to share events they like. In addition, clients are able to tweet links to event pages, promotional codes and merchandise offers from their ticketing admin. Ticket buyers can also chat with each other on event pages using a commenting system powered by Disqus.
(API) along with fully customized administration areas, event page templates and printable tickets. Private-label clients can manage ticket and merchandise sales for multiple accounts at once, collect targeted customer data during checkout and integrate their account with existing fulfillment
and shipping processes.
, Meredith Music Festival
, Rainbow Serpent Festival
, and the Great Southern Blues Festival.
ShowClix also has a large event ticketing presence in New York City
. The New York Public Library
tickets their speaker series through ShowClix, including the 2010 book signing sessions for both Jay-Z
and Keith Richards
. In February 2011, ShowClix announced a ticketing partnership with the Museum of Modern Art
(MoMA) to provide online ticketing for the Museum's extensive program of film screenings. Matinee New York also tickets exclusive events through ShowClix.
Other ShowClix ticketing partners include Clear Channel Communications
, Hard Rock Cafe
, Opera Nightclub, Rainmaker Artists, FanGrab, Callaway Gardens
, Heineken
and Dos Equis.
in February 2011. In March 2011, Dziabiak was profiled by Forbes Magazine.
ShowClix has been recognized locally in Western Pennsylvania for being one of the region's leading innovation and technology companies. In 2010, they were featured in Pittsburgh Magazine
as one of Pittsburgh's Great Places to Work, profiled in the Pittsburgh Business Times and honored as a finalist in the "Rising Stars" category of the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Tech 50 Awards. In January 2011, they were named as one of Pittsburgh's Coolest Tech Companies.
paint so employees can write or draw on almost any wall and the lobby is equipped with a PlayStation 3
, a Rock Band
set, a popcorn machine and a wall of 66 snack dispensers that contain various types of cereal and candy. Nerf
gun battles often take place during working hours and after-hour activities like karaoke
, bowling
and game nights are held regularly by the company.
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
management, entry control, product bundling
Product bundling
Product bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as one combined product. This strategy is very common in the software business , in the cable television industry Product bundling is a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as...
and event promotion
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
.
ShowClix is notable for developing several innovations in event ticketing, including introducing mobile ticketing
Mobile ticketing
1. Mobile ticketing is the process whereby customers can order, pay for, obtain and validate tickets from any location and at any time using mobile phones or other mobile handsets. Mobile tickets reduce the production and distribution costs connected with traditional paper-based ticketing channels...
in the United States, building the industry's first cloud-based queuing system
Cloud-based networking
Cloud-based networking solutions are beginning to come to market that promise to deliver the same cost, efficiency, and scalability benefits to the networking sphere as software as a service has to enterprise applications. Multi-tenant architecture based SaaS applications like SalesforceTM changed...
and launching one of the first ticket scanning applications for smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s. The company also helped pioneer the advent of electronic ticket
Electronic ticket
An electronic ticket is a digital ticket. It may be issued by an airline, in road, urban or rail public transport, and in entertainment.-Airline ticket:...
s and the use of social media
Social media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
integration to promote events, offer discounts and sell merchandise.
ShowClix's headquarters are located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
History and growth
ShowClix was co-founded in 2007 by Joshua Dziabiak and Lynsie Campbell, two Pittsburgh-based entrepreneurs with experience in marketing, promotions and the entertainment business.Dziabiak sold his first company, a web design firm called MediaCatch, when he was 18 years old. He met future business partner Campbell while working together at Spreadshirt
Spreadshirt
Spreadshirt is a German company offering an online platform for private individuals and commercial organizations to design, buy and sell creative and personalized apparel.-History:...
, an online platform for creating and selling personalized apparel. The pair originally built ShowClix as an event registration database, but revamped the site as a web-based ticketing solution after hearing the concerns of promoters and venues in regards to the ticketing industry's standard model of high service fees and complicated proprietary software.
ShowClix has evolved into an international event ticketing agent, with ticketing partnerships across North America, Canada and Australia. In 2010, the company experienced its greatest period of growth with a 650% increase in ticket sales and a 275% increase in new clients.
Mobile ticketing
In August of 2011, ShowClix provided mobile ticketing for the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Summer Blowout at Pier 36 in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The event, which featured live performances from Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
and LMFAO
LMFAO (group)
LMFAO is an American electro pop duo consisting of rappers, producers, dancers, and DJs Redfoo and SkyBlu . The group formed in 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Redfoo is SkyBlu's uncle. Redfoo is also the son of music mogul Berry Gordy, SkyBlu a grandson...
, was billed as the very first event to rely entirely on mobile ticketing
Mobile ticketing
1. Mobile ticketing is the process whereby customers can order, pay for, obtain and validate tickets from any location and at any time using mobile phones or other mobile handsets. Mobile tickets reduce the production and distribution costs connected with traditional paper-based ticketing channels...
.
The company has provided mobile ticketing as an optional service to its customers since 2008, and the event served as an experiment and marketing push for the paperless ticketing platform. The system sends digital tickets to customers via secure SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
text messages, which are scanned by event staff at the gates to the event or venue.
Ticketing solution
The ShowClix mission statement declares that event ticketing should be easy-to-use, driven by innovative technology and affordable for everyone. They do not charge any start up fees for building events in their system and offer low per ticket service fees. The company also gives clients real-time access to their inventory and marketing data, and maintains a customer service department that assists both sellers and buyers with the system.Ticketing and event management
Customers can purchase tickets to a ShowClix event on customized event pages that ticket sellers build and manage themselves. When tickets are purchased, ShowClix will distribute them electronically. Ticket sellers can oversee their events by using the ShowClix ticketing admin, a web-based event management system. The admin can be launched from any web browser and acts as a control panel for all ticketing operations, including setting up events and monitoring sales. The system supports general admission and reserved seating events along with recurring event series. Additional features include the ability to create custom event page templates and assign discount and promotional codes quickly. ShowClix also supports ticket selling through existing merchant accountMerchant account
A merchant account is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept payments by debit or credit cards. A merchant account is established under an agreement between an acceptor and a merchant acquiring bank for the settlement of credit card and/or debit card transactions...
s and in multiple currencies.
Reporting and analytics
The ShowClix ticketing admin includes analytic tools that let clients monitor sales in real-time and generate instant reports. The reporting system also syncs with the ShowClix iOS/Android ticket scanning app for real-time attendance tracking at the gate.Online box office
ShowClix provides an online box office system for selling tickets at the gate or through a call center. The box office can sell tickets to any general admission or assigned seated event ticketed by ShowClix and include donations, custom questions and product bundling during checkout. It will launch from any web browser and sync with the admin to track ticket and merchandise sales in real-time.iOS/Android ticket scanners
In January 2010, ShowClix introduced Axess, one of the first ticket scanning applications for Google Android mobile devices. The app scans both 1D and 2D barcodeBarcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
s on hard tickets, email tickets and mobile tickets, and can verify scanned tickets online in real-time when connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. If a network is not available, the app will continue to scan tickets and verify authenticity against event data downloaded to the device, allowing it to function both online and offline. The app stores the scanned data and syncs it with the client's ticket selling account during the next Wi-Fi or network connection. It also includes a checkout
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
and reentry mode that lets a user scan customers in and out of an event, and a search function that helps a user look up and check in a customer without a physical ticket. Multiple devices can run the app at several check-in points at a venue without the need for networking.
The Android version of Axess is available to download for free in the Android Market
Android Market
Android Market is an online software store developed by Google for Android OS devices. Its gateway is an application program called "Market", preinstalled on most Android devices, allows users to browse and download mobile apps published by third-party developers...
. Android-using devices loaded with the app are also available for lease through ShowClix. In October 2010, ShowClix announced an Apple iOS version of Axess that works with both the iPhone 4
IPhone 4
The iPhone 4 is a touchscreen slate smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is the fourth generation iPhone, and successor to the iPhone 3GS. It is particularly marketed for video calling , consumption of media such as books and periodicals, movies, music, and games, and for general web and e-mail...
and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
. iOS-using devices available for lease come with an attachment that includes a Linea laser scanner and credit card reader
Card reader
A card reader is a data input device that reads data from a card-shaped storage medium. Historically, paper or cardboard punched cards were used throughout the first several decades of the computer industry to store information and programs for computer system, and were read by punched card readers...
. In February 2011, the iOS version of Axess became available for download in the iTunes app store.
Social media integration
ShowClix provides a social media marketing suite that includes email building tools, an integrated partnership with GrouponGroupon
Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies. Groupon was launched in November 2008, the first market for Groupon was Chicago, followed soon thereafter by Boston, New York City, and Toronto...
and promotional tools that sync with Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Disqus
Disqus
Disqus is an online discussion and commenting service for websites and online communities that uses a networked platform. The company’s platform includes various features, such as social integration, social networking, user profiles, spam and moderation tools, analytics, email notifications, and...
. The Groupon partnership allows ticket sellers to apply for, manage, track and run reports on Groupon offers from their ticketing admin.
ShowClix event pages are directly synced with Facebook and Twitter, allowing visitors to share events they like. In addition, clients are able to tweet links to event pages, promotional codes and merchandise offers from their ticketing admin. Ticket buyers can also chat with each other on event pages using a commenting system powered by Disqus.
Private-label solution
ShowClix offers a private-label solution called Directix to venues and artist management companies that want to sell tickets and product bundles directly under their brand. Directix includes access to the ShowClix application programming interfaceApplication programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
(API) along with fully customized administration areas, event page templates and printable tickets. Private-label clients can manage ticket and merchandise sales for multiple accounts at once, collect targeted customer data during checkout and integrate their account with existing fulfillment
Fulfillment house
A fulfillment house is a company specializing in product fulfillment services, on behalf of the product owner.- Fulfillment house overview :...
and shipping processes.
Ticketing partners
In July 2010, ShowClix signed its first international deal. Through a private-label partnership with GreenTix, an Australian ticketing company that offers eco-conscious event admission solutions, ShowClix provides ticketing services to some of the largest music festivals in Australia, including the Pyramid Rock FestivalPyramid Rock Festival
The Pyramid Rock Festival is a New Year's Eve camp-out rock music festival at Pyramid Rock, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia.Beginning in 2004, it runs over two nights with two stages - the Main Stage, and the Pharaoh's Annex...
, Meredith Music Festival
Meredith Music Festival
The Meredith Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music festival held every December at the Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre located on private farmland near the town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia...
, Rainbow Serpent Festival
Rainbow Serpent Festival
The Rainbow Serpent Festival is a large electronic music, art and lifestyle festival, located in Victoria, Australia. The festival is mainly known for Psychedelic trance and Minimal Techno music, but also features other genres of electronic music and non electronic music in the smaller stages...
, and the Great Southern Blues Festival.
ShowClix also has a large event ticketing presence in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
tickets their speaker series through ShowClix, including the 2010 book signing sessions for both Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
. In February 2011, ShowClix announced a ticketing partnership with the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
(MoMA) to provide online ticketing for the Museum's extensive program of film screenings. Matinee New York also tickets exclusive events through ShowClix.
Other ShowClix ticketing partners include Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
, Opera Nightclub, Rainmaker Artists, FanGrab, Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens is a resort complex located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, just outside of Columbus, Georgia. The resort draws over 750,000 visitors annually....
, Heineken
Heineken
Heineken is a Dutch beer which has been brewed by Heineken International since 1873. It is available in a 4.6% alcohol variety in countries such as Ireland. It is the flagship product of the Heineken company and is made of purified water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. In 1886 H...
and Dos Equis.
Recognition
In April 2010, ShowClix CEO and co-founder Joshua Dziabiak was named by Inc. Magazine as one of America's "coolest young entrepreneurs" in their annual Top 30 Under 30 list. In November 2010, ShowClix was the presenting sponsor of the 7th Annual Billboard Touring Conference and Awards where President Lynsie Camuso participated in a panel discussion on the evolution of event ticketing. ShowClix was also profiled by CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
in February 2011. In March 2011, Dziabiak was profiled by Forbes Magazine.
ShowClix has been recognized locally in Western Pennsylvania for being one of the region's leading innovation and technology companies. In 2010, they were featured in Pittsburgh Magazine
Pittsburgh Magazine
Pittsburgh Magazine is a prominent lifestyle magazine covering the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It has a monthly readership of 341,274. It produces the annual "40 Under 40" list of prominent young Pittsburghers in addition to the annual list of Pittsburgh's 25 Best Restaurants, Best of the...
as one of Pittsburgh's Great Places to Work, profiled in the Pittsburgh Business Times and honored as a finalist in the "Rising Stars" category of the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Tech 50 Awards. In January 2011, they were named as one of Pittsburgh's Coolest Tech Companies.
Corporate culture
ShowClix promotes a fun, comfortable and creative work environment. Offices are coated with whiteboardWhiteboard
A whiteboard is a name for any glossy, usually white surface for nonpermanent markings. Whiteboards are analogous to chalkboards, allowing rapid marking and erasing of markings on their surface...
paint so employees can write or draw on almost any wall and the lobby is equipped with a PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, a Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
set, a popcorn machine and a wall of 66 snack dispensers that contain various types of cereal and candy. Nerf
Nerf
Nerf is a toy brand created by Parker Brothers and currently owned by Hasbro. The acronym NERF stands for "Non-Expanding Recreational Foam". Most of the toys are a variety of foam-based weaponry, but there are also several different types of Nerf toys, such as balls for sports like football,...
gun battles often take place during working hours and after-hour activities like karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
, bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
and game nights are held regularly by the company.