The managing director of Spektrix, which provides box office software for the arts, has called for promoters of live events to scrap hidden booking charges.
Michael Nabarro, who is also one of the company’s co-founders, issued a statement in response to a recent survey which found that half of those questioned had been put off booking tickets as a result of additional fees.
He said that venues and companies are ‘shooting themselves in the foot’ by charging additional fees, many of which are hidden until the point of purchase.
A survey carried out by Which? found that charges can reach up to 38 per cent of the ticket’s face value.
‘Smart promoters are already making online ticket purchases fee-free,’ said Nabarro, ‘whilst many not-for-profit theatres, hard hit by funding cuts, have grasped a fundraising opportunity: rather than impose an online booking fee, they close each ticket transaction with an option to make a donation.’
He continued: ‘People don’t buy tickets, they buy experiences. Breaking the price they pay into base cost and fees just undermines the emotional impact of the purchase and dulls the enjoyment of a good night out.’
‘Purging online booking fees entirely will help improve customer relationships and encourage return attendance. Our sector needs to make hidden, last-minute top-up fees a thing of the past.’