Ticket prices for live concerts have quadrupled over the past 20 years. But independent artists are making less and less every year.
Why? Big box ticketing giants took over the venues. It started with the largest of stadiums and arenas, but in recent years has expanded to even mid-sized concert halls and clubs in markets large and small. Venues have contracts with the big box ticketing providers, who charge your fans huge fees for access to your shows. They require exclusivity: all ticket sales must use their outdated, clunky systems. And they have even locked venues into multi-year agreements.
What’s left for artists who want to share their music and art with their fanbase? There's one venue where you can still connect directly with fans and give them the live music experience they're craving. And by live we don't mean in-person...
Why Virtual Events?
Virtual events rocketed because of the pandemic, but they’re definitely here to stay. They have become the next big thing in entertainment, giving independent artists, musicians, and performers a unique opportunity to take back control and connect with fans directly.
1. Unlimited Admission = Unlimited Revenue
With any in-person event, your total potential revenue is limited based on the maximum capacity of your venue. But with a virtual event, there is essentially no ceiling. You can admit as many virtual fans as you want. Virtual platforms allow you to triple the number of seats compared to the counted chairs available in a theater.
At the same time, the cost of giving virtual access to each additional fan is much, much lower than the cost of greeting guests in person. You might charge a lower ticket price for virtual guests but your per-ticket profit will be higher. Plus, there are no disappointed fans who couldn’t get tickets to your sold-out show.
2. Reach Fans Far & Wide
You might have fans all over the country, but you can’t be with all of them at the same time. A virtual access ticket gives fans the ability to feel like they’re part of your event even if they can’t travel to your in-person gathering. And it allows you to earn revenue from those fans who want to support you regardless of where they’re located.
Maybe you have a few fans here and there around the country, or even regionally. You might not have the fanbase to fill nightclubs or theaters on a nationwide tour, but you have fans who want to support you. Hosting a concert live stream will allow those fans to connect with your events from their homes while helping new fans discover your work. Your existing supporters can help spread the word by sharing your event on social media; one of their friends might become your next superfan.
We truly believe in the benefits that live streaming can bring to artists. Yet, to host successful online events without intermediaries, it takes more than just “going live” on Facebook or YouTube. The key is to choose a solution that lets YOU define how things are going to be done.
Why Passage?
There are plenty of live-streaming platforms and ticketing software out there, so why should you choose Passage as your virtual events partner?
1. ZERO Cost to Artists
We understand how hard it can be for musicians to earn the revenue they deserve. With Passage, you always have the option to pass on our service fee (which is way less than those big box providers, btw) to the ticket purchaser. There are no contracts, no setup costs, and no hidden fees.
Use us for one show or 1,000. Whatever works for you.
2. Instant Donations
During your show, fans can send tips or donations. An Instant Donate button will be available during the live stream, making it super simple for fans to show their support. They can donate with one click using their payment information saved on file when they purchased their tickets. All donations will be transferred to your bank account within two business days, just like normal ticket sales.
You can also choose to display a running total on the screen during your show.
3. Live chat
To really connect with your fans, you’ll need a streaming service that supports live chat.
Passage gives you the power to chat with your fans and allows them to chat with one another in a live feed during your show. You could host Q&A sessions at the end of the show, learn what your fans liked about your concert, and even give shoutouts during the live stream to keep the audience engaged.
4. Streaming Service
Juggling one platform for live streaming, another for encoding your stream, and yet another to accept payments and secure your event can be overwhelming. Passage has its own built-in live stream platform designed to make artists’ lives easier. With a 1080p full HD streaming capability and a one-click option to record your live stream, there are fewer technology components to manage. If you want to learn more about how to live stream your event with us, check out our blog here.
In case you prefer to choose a different streaming service for your show, that’s ok too! With Passage, you can use any encoder or live streaming platform you choose and still secure access to your stream.
5. Marketing & Social Benefits
As the artist and event producer, you’ll get the contact information of every fan who attends your virtual event, so you can keep in touch with them long after your show ends. You can add them to your email list so they’ll be the first to know about future shows, new music, merch, or special offers and promotions.
You can help incentivize your fans to share your events by using Passage’s social discounts feature. Ticket purchasers get an immediate discount for sharing your event with their friends and followers on Facebook or Twitter. You choose the amount to discount (% or $ off the total ticket price) and can reach hundreds of potential new supporters every time someone shares your message. Learn more about it here.
6. Video on Demand
Within our platform, you can record your live stream and continue selling access to the video on demand after your event ends. This means even more revenue for you, and more entertainment for your fans: they’ll be able to replay the virtual experience whenever they want!
7. Event Ticketing
The best thing about our ticketing software is that it has many features for you to customize your event and follow the ticketing strategy of YOUR choice. Here are just a few examples:
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Bundles & combos: Create ticket + product packages for your fans to choose which option suits them best. Instead of just selling virtual access to your event, add on products to engage or motivate fans to show their support by wearing your merch. During the checkout process, your guests will be able to select and pay for products at the same time as their tickets.
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Subscriptions: If you are planning to host multiple live streams throughout the year, you can give your fans the option to subscribe for access to all of them. This is super convenient for guests; they won’t need to pay an individual ticket every time they want to attend one of your events. Learn more about event subscriptions here.
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Pay-what-you-can tickets: Establishing how much you should charge your fans can be tricky. If you want to be inclusive and make sure that everyone has the chance to attend, you can let your guests decide how much they want to pay for your show. Concerned about covering your own costs? You can set a minimum amount if you wish.
Now that you know how to manage your events without middlemen getting in the way, you can go ahead and create your virtual event. If you need help setting up, schedule an onboarding call with a member of our team.
You can check our Event Organization Checklist to learn key tricks and steps you need to follow to plan your next show. Give your fans an unforgettable virtual experience.
