Client Description:
Online Ticketers

Objective: 
Traditionally the major players have dominated the ticket fulfillment arena in the United States, however it is widely known that because of their virtual monopoly sometimes their information and service is not as good as it should be. With this in mind Entertainment-Link was conceived as a service that would be completely customer oriented delivering hard to get discount information, quality content and offer a community based environment where the user can purchase tickets to events too.

Solution: 
We needed to create a content engine that would deliver quality information to visitors quickly so that they can find what they are looking for and either choose to become members and purchase tickets through Entertainment-Link’s concierge service or simply sign-up as a member and receive discount information that is not readily available to the general public so you can save on tickets to events you wish to attend.

The site needed an engaging front-end for the user and was broken down as follows:

Front-End Interface for the General Public:

Basic event listings and ticket information will be available to all visitors.  This information includes:

• Event titles and descriptions
• Dates and times
• Venue information
• Ticket and service fee prices
• Where/how to get tickets
• Summary of critics’ reviews
• Links to event-related Web sites
• Links to the Web sites and phone services of the “authorized” ticketing companies. 

Visitors who choose to become Members receive the following additional access, information, and services:

• Comprehensive information on all available discounts and how they can be accessed
• Comprehensive information on other ticket sources (ticket brokers, TKTS, hotel concierges, etc.) and pricing structures
• Access to Members-only chat rooms
• Personalized account management, content, and alerts via email based on the Member’s specific interests, event “wish list,” ticket price parameters, etc.
• Up-to-date information regarding ticket availabilities
• A summary of Members’ reviews of events
• A summary of Members’ ratings of ticket sources
• A summary of Members’ input on “child-appropriateness”
• A summary of Members’ ratings of nearby restaurants and parking options
• Special ticket discounts just for Members
• Hotel, parking, and restaurant information and discounts
• Ticket concierge service  

The Admin Management section:

The Admin Management section needed to simplify the data entry process for Entertainment-Link’s staff as well as act as a complete content management tool. We constructed the database utilizing an SQL platform as well as XML components with the view to extracting data from existing content engines in the future as Entertainment-Link expands.

The Admin Management Section currently contains the following components:

Request Management Section:

• Pending requests
• Open requests
• Closed requests
• Void requests

Content Management:

• TKTS  
• Manage Events  
• Manage Venues  
• Manage Personalities  
• Manage Teams
• Member Reviews  

User Management:

• Export mailing lists
• Manage Members
• Manage Administrators

Site Management

• Discount Manager
• Delivery Method Manager
• Ticket Source Manager
• Critic List Manager
• Role list manager
• Site Settings
• Recache site

Conclusion:
Entertainment Link has achieved it’s goal and is a bustling membership community for event ticket buyers, a virtual “town square” where ticket buyers exchange valuable information. 

The application combines basic event listings with Member-supplied content, including available discounts and value packages, Members’ event reviews, Members’ service ratings for ticket sources, etc.

Entertainment-Link is available as both a Web service and a phone service.  The telephone service will feature an Internet Voice Portal, a voice activated service that allows visitors to browse the Web from any telephone using only voice commands.

Entertainment -Link provides access to events across multiple genres, including Broadway, Other Theater, family events, music, performing arts and sports.  

Thus far Entertainment-Link is welcoming new members daily as visitors are seeing the obvious value that they are bringing to them- clear savings, precise up to date content and a customer service that is truly unparalleled!

We look forward to growing with Entertainment-Link for many years to come!