1.  Daymond John is known as the “Godfather of Urban Fashion.” In the early 1990s, he decided that the trendy wool hats being sold in Queens were way too expensive, so he decided to make his own. He made $800 in a single day. He then created the FUBU image and started sewing his label onto everything. In 1993, he convinced his old neighborhood friend LL Cool J to wear a FUBU t-shirt and the rest is history.

John, Fat Joe and Pitbull at Pitbull’s 30th birthday party.

3. He’s the star of “Shark Tank,” an ABC reality show where entrepreneurs fight for investments from powerhouses like John, Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran. The show was just renewed for a fourth season last week!

4. He had his own category on “Jeopardy.” Need we say more?

“Recently, I’ve been looking for the right tech companies to align with, and I couldn’t be more excited to announce my partnership with TicketLeap to help promote its amazing services and develop its future growth,” John said. “Having seen what the TicketLeap platform can do to drive sales and create a natural online dialogue about an event, it’s clear that TicketLeap is leading the way for innovative ticketing.”

The relationship between TicketLeap and Daymond John will be an ever-evolving one. Stay tuned for updates!

Hosted by Stratta Creative, the all-ages Concert for Change will headline Canadian alternative rock band Hedley with special guests JRDN, Dwayne Gretzky, Hollowick and Michel Chikwanine. Hedley is a multi-platinum, Juno Award winning group that serves as an ambassador to “Free the Children,” a charity that raises funds to fight poverty around the world. Concert for Change will also benefit local youths, as 100% of the proceeds from the concert will be assisting Free the Children and the Me to We “Take Action Leadership Academy” in Bethany, Ontario. The concert will take place on Thursday, May 31.

Get your tickets here.

Hey there and welcome to TicketLeap! We’re so happy to have you, and to prove it – we’ve put together a quick list of how to get the most out of your TicketLeap experience and what you can expect from us. Once you’ve created a TicketLeap account, you’ll want to do the following:

1.  Fill out all of the information that you can.

When you’re filling out your event’s information, make sure that you don’t leave any blank spots. Remember to include contact information, venue size and location, parking details, etc. You can customize your page even more extensively by adding photos to your media gallery, giving yourself a logo and slogan, and uploading a background image to enhance your brand. Also, practice makes perfect for creating an event page – we recommend practicing setting up an event page before your final page goes live. Saves you a lot of time, trust us. We want you and your customers to be as happy as possible.

2. Tap into social media channels.

Did you know that most people spend 22 percent of their time on social media? TicketLeap loves that – and we want you to love it too. Be sure to add pictures, media links, and other cool features to your event page. Get on Twitter and tweet about your awesome event – we’ll even tweet you back and get a convo going! You can also take that time you spend on Facebook and use it to rock your event – create a page and get people excited! Get social on Twitter and Facebook.

3. Go mobile.

Download our free mobile app. We’re constantly working to make buying and selling tickets a fun experience, and our mobile app is one way to do that. Event pages are streamlined and allow mobile users to search for an event and easily purchase the tickets online. e-Tickets come with a confirmation code and Quick Response (QR) code – which makes getting into an event a breeze (see #4).

4. Incorporate a stress-free check-in.

Listen, we know that the hours leading up to the event can be very stressful. We don’t want you to have to worry about checking in guests on top of everything else. You can customize how you want to run your check-in process– you can use your Android or iPhone, a barcode scanner, guest list, or even do a throwback and print out the attendee list. Here at TicketLeap, we believe that having a number of options lets you stay in control of your event.

5. Customize an event.

As we said, we want you to be in total control of your event. We recently launched our self-service, reserved seating feature, and couldn’t be happier to share it with you. This new feature lets you build out your exact venue, offer different prices for tickets, and cater to the needs of your attendees. Plus, event-goers can also view seating options and select their ticketing preferences when purchasing tickets to an event. Long gone are the days of ‘general admission’ tickets – the customization of your event is limitless.

We hope this gives you a good idea of what to expect and how to best use our features.  We’re so stoked to have you with us here at TicketLeap!

Twitter

Why you should follow us on Twitter:  If you want links to pop culture news, funny .gifs and videos, informative retweets about upcoming events in your area,  live tweets from Philadelphia-based events or if you just want to engage in conversation with our community manager, Allison Berger (she’ll respond to your tweets in mere minutes- say hi!).  Twitter is a balance of constant news broadcast and boatloads of entertainment.

Facebook

Facebook is no doubt the mother of all social networks, and for good reason. It’s the biggest, the best, and hey, you’ll be able to buy stock in it real soon. Why you should “like” us on Facebook: If you prefer less frequent updates than Twitter, if you like to discuss your events with other TicketLeap users, if you like your newsfeed to tell you what’s going on in your area. Our promise to you: We will never, ever sync Facebook and Twitter content- so there’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to engage with us on both platforms.

Pinterest

Pinterest is the up-and-comer who found its niche in the world of social media faster than anyone expected. “Re-pin” or share, comment and like images that serve as visual inspiration on a digital “board.” You should “follow” us on Pinterest if you love Philadelphia, want visual updates on how the TicketLeap platform is expanding, or if you have a penchant for Wizard World, Anime or Haunts. The cool thing about Pinterest is that you aren’t obligated to follow all of a user’s content. If you love Haunted Houses but just aren’t into Comic-Con, you can choose to follow just that particular board.  Pinterest is easy, customizable and most of all- addicting.

Tumblr

Tumblr reaches out to the artist in all of us. By following and “reblogging” other Tumblr users’ posts, Tumblr creates a community that depends heavily on sharing and liking niche topics. The platform is incredibly simple: choose text, photo, quote, link, chat, audio or video and start posting.  You should “follow” us on Tumblr if you dig pretty pictures of Philadelphia, want links to our blog posts, love vintage photos, or want to watch YouTube videos of what the office is listening to right now.

That’s a wrap. See you in the social sphere!

Warren Avart, a Temple University grad and avid Philly sports fan, has been with TicketLeap for almost a year. Before joining the TicketLeap team, he spent four years “sharpening his sales skills” with the Philadelphia Flyers and their ticketing department. His first job ever was playing ref for college intramural sports, where he watched it all- baseball, flag football, basketball, soccer and volleyball. At TicketLeap, Warren is a “Jack of All Trades.” He on-boards new clients who sign up for TicketLeap organically, answers the sales phone line, fields demo requests from prospective clients, answers inquiries sent to info@ticketleap.com and helps out whenever and wherever assistance is needed.

What’s the most interesting TicketLeap event you’ve attended and why?

Wizard World Philly. The convention is a combo of TV, movies, video games, comics, celebrities, and of course, TicketLeap. Enough said!

What’s your motto when it comes to account management? 

Make sure that the people you are communicating with receive the highest quality of care. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

How can clients make their life and your life easier when it comes to business relationships?

Don’t be afraid to express to me exactly what you’re looking for in a ticketing platform. For example, what are the most important details about ticketing to you and your event?

What’s your favorite music to work to and why? 

The Sublime Pandora radio station because it plays Sublime, Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty and Jack Johnson – my favorite non-hiphop artists/bands. Shout out to Chrisse and Mike as the current resident TicketLeap DJs and playing the Sublime station often.

What’s your favorite Rittenhouse Square lunch spot?

Misora Express because their lunch box special has everything in it – the entree, miso soup, salad, seaweed, sushi, dumplings, noodles and edamame. Tied for second is any $10 LevelUp special, which guarantees a free lunch.

“Warren’s addition to our team has been incredibly helpful, and he’s fantastic at being one of TicketLeap’s Ambassadors,” says fellow Account Manager Mike Strauss.

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Mike has been with TicketLeap for about two and a half years. After graduating from Muhlenberg College with a degree in Business Management and Marketing, he worked for his family’s business, Royal Paper Products, in customer service. “Mike is very dedicated and extremely passionate about what he does,” says fellow Account Manager Chrisse Kazmierski. “He is always willing to go the extra mile for his clients and co-workers.”

What’s the most interesting TicketLeap event you’ve attended and why?

The most interesting TicketLeap event I’ve attended has to be TEDxPhilly!  It was a daylong event, full of incredible speakers who left me fascinated, inspired, and yearning for more.  The event’s focus was “The City”, which for me, as someone who moved to the city only a couple of years prior and is still learning and adapting to city life, really struck me on a personal level.  Being able to volunteer at the event and help with check-in gave me an even deeper appreciation for the folks who organized and participated in the talks.

What’s your motto when it comes to account management? 

My motto when it comes to Account Management is simple: empathy.  In order to be empathetic, the first step is listening.  It is crucial that I understand the needs of our clients so that I can be prepared for anything they may need, whether they realize it or not.  All events are different, so adaptability, and relating to each client differently is paramount.

How can clients make their life and your life easier when it comes to business relationships?

All I ask from my clients is to keep in touch with me whenever they need help, have a question, have a concern, or want to share something that worked great for them.  When the lines of communication stay open, there are less surprises, and the relationship is strong to support healthy dialog.

What’s your favorite music to work to and why?

My preferred work music can range from the most chill, to the most rocking!  Sometimes I need something super mellow, like Sublime Pandora Radio, or something to help me block out all distractions, like an Umphrey’s McGee podcast.

What’s your favorite Rittenhouse Square lunch spot?

My favorite Rittenhouse lunch spot has to be Mi Lah Vegetarian.  Whether I want a sandwich or a brown rice stir fry, I know it’s going to be fast, hot, relatively healthy, and delicious!  Special shout out to Le Bus as well, who has great soups, sandwiches, sweet treats, and the best breakfast sandwich in the neighborhood!  Be careful, it’s addicting.

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Like Mike, Chrisse Kazmierski has been a part of the TicketLeap team for the past two and a half years. As an Account Manager, Chrisse always has “one idea in front and always one solution ahead,” says Warren, who she shares a sports background with. Chrisse graduated from the University of Rhode Island where she played Division I field hockey. After school, she sold advertising space in college and professional sports publications to local businesses.  It’s safe to say that everyone on the Account Management team has a penchant for the game.

What’s the most interesting TicketLeap event you’ve attended and why?

One of the most interesting events that I’ve attended was Mayor Nutter’s 2012 inaugural ball. How often do you get to see the mayor rap with The Roots? http://vimeo.com/34517003

What’s your motto when it comes to account management? 

That’s easy. Keep my clients happy!

How can clients make their life and your life easier when it comes to business relationships?

I always insist that my clients reach out to me with any issues, concerns, questions or feedback. The best and only way for me to help my clients is when they bring certain things to my attention. I love helping out in anyway that I can!

What’s your favorite music to work to and why? 

I typically enjoy classic rock but it usually depends on what mood I am in. (Note: Chrisse has been in love with Tom Petty since she was a little girl- she even asked him to play at her wedding!)

What’s your favorite Rittenhouse Square lunch spot?

My favorite Rittenhouse lunch spot would have to be Four Seasons, and no, I don’t mean the hotel. I’m talking about the Four Seasons Food Court across from Liberty Place on Chestnut. They have a variety of lunch choices but I usually find myself going for a salad. You should definitely check it out.

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There you have it, folks. A little background on the crew that keeps everything cool.

A more active social life was also the talk of the ticketing and event industry last month. But while you relied on unseasonably warm weather (at least here on the East Coast) to get out and hobnob, ticketing and event professionals hunkered down and plugged in, getting social across different platforms online.

These reads dive deep into why it’s important for businesses in the event and ticketing space to take advantage of social media and use the power that 140 characters, a ‘pin,’ or a ‘like’ can provide to generate sales and customer satisfaction, and why if you’re looking to expand your consumer base it’s time to get social media savvy.

April saw one ticketing flash-site launch a new app for concert goers who may have been a little late in the game to pick up tickets to the latest must-see show. The new app provides users with a list of upcoming shows across the U.S. as well as exclusive “flash” offers for locals, including VIP and backstage access. Plus, once you buy your tickets you can use social media sites to share the deal with your friends. Social media is taking over professional sports; the Cleveland Indians saw the second-biggest increase in attendance in the MLB – a feat even us Phillies fans can tip our hat to. The Indians credit increased social presence and interaction with fans and game attendees for the surging ticket sales. Secondary ticketing websites are also targeting social media, unveiling mascots that connect with customers through social media, a practice companies are finding is more effective in pushing new products and services traditionally.

What April showed the ticketing and event industry is that it’s all about who you know. Whether it’s your friend or a loveable mascot, customers want to connect with the company they’re doing business with and social media channels give companies the tools to create the personal interaction.

We hope you enjoy these reads and learn some stuff too!

92% of Consumers Prefer Word-of-Mouth Over Any Form of Advertising
Digital Music News
April 28, 2012

Thrillcall.com Launches App for Last Minute Concert Goers
TicketNews
April 19, 2012

Social Media Remains Vital Marketing Tool for Indians
TicketNews
April 6, 2012

Ticket Industry Mascots: Toast and Talking Trees

TicketNews

April 3, 2012

Is Your Retail Space Ready to Go Digital?
Clickz
April 2, 2012

With our brand new reserved seating feature, the customization of your events is limitless. TicketLeap is the first online ticketing company to offer this capability, enabling event organizers to design their venue space, build a seating chart, and set different ticket prices all within its platform. Event-goers can also view seating options and select their ticketing preferences when purchasing tickets to an event.

Create Your Chart:

Under the “Manage” tab, you will find a new option to select. “Seating Charts” will prompt you to fill in the details for your venue.

Set Up:

Start designing your space by clicking on the “New Object” and “New Section” that appear in the left hand corner of your empty chart.  “New Object” will allow you to create a more accurate representation of your venue’s layout. This includes the possibility of adding a multitude of icons, stages, sports fields and more.

By selecting “New Section,” you will be prompted to fill four criteria: name, color, desirability and seat assignment. You can then start adding rows and customizing each seat however you’d like.

Your end result should emulate the layout of your venue.

Buying tickets:

When event-goers choose their tickets, they can look at the seating chart you’ve created to help decide at which price level and in which section they’d like to purchase their tickets. They can also select the exact seat in which they’d like to sit.

We hope you have fun with this innovative new feature!

 John Gibfried thinking hard.

What TicketLeap features are you most proud of? What makes TicketLeap’s site unique to others?

What features am I most proud of?  Hard to say- I’m most proud of how our team releases high quality features so regularly.  I feel like we have created a solid product that is feature-rich and, most importantly, continuously improving.  Our customers can be assured that bigger and better functionality is always on its way. – BF

Have you gained new techie skills since working at TicketLeap? 

 Working on features and functionality of the TicketLeap product has definitely allowed me to gather a much deeper understanding of architecture from a ten thousand foot view. Additionally, knowing the structure of a large system like ours allows me to think about and plan how a new feature would best be integrated into it.  I previously came from an agency, and anyone that comes from that background can tell you that the focus tends to be on time to delivery of features, rather than quality of architecture and development of those features. In agency work, frequently, you barely get to know the system you are working with before it’s out the door and you are on to another project. The deadlines in product work are more flexible and the breakdown of features in a much more agile fashion allows me to concentrate more closely on the quality of my code, and in general churn out a better product.
Not to say it has all been process. There is always some new pattern or technique I am picking up from my team, articles, or just general osmosis that ends up either being a boon or a dead end, but always educational. Working at TicketLeap, I have found myself working on features that, quite simply, no one else has done anything like. This makes it a bit difficult should I need to find reference information on the best way to implement something related to a feature like that, but it is exciting to know that we are working at the edge of the Internet. – JG

How do you prioritize your projects?

The product team uses a fairly typical agile process, adapted for our particular way of working. When we break up features before a sprint, we tend to prioritize the overarching stories (features) together. This allows us to all have a clear understanding about what is being done and who is doing what. Each story has a myriad of tasks which dictate the individual pieces needed to complete the overall story. We, as a team, try to break these parts into vertical slices, so a few of them can be completed and pushed to the testing environment before the feature is complete. This allows bits to be tested as we go, rather than all at once towards the end of a sprint. Each sprint tends to have a driving feature or features that become the sprints focus so, generally, those features have a higher priority than the other, generally smaller, features. – JG

What is your tech background? How long have you been with TicketLeap and what did you do before?

I started working at TicketLeap in January 2010, the same day as Brian! I’ve done a variety of jobs ranging from signing people up for their health benefits to being the Office Manager at TicketLeap. My degree is actually in Music Business so I have small chunk of experience working at music festivals and venues. Other than a handful of web design classes in college and some classes around town, that’s about all of my tech background. – SB

What has been your greatest accomplishment (at TL and outside of TL)?

At TicketLeap: hire people smarter than me. Outside of TicketLeap: being a dad. – KF

Shannon, Tim and Brian in the tech room.

What is the tech team’s favorite brain food?

Here at TicketLeap we subsist on wraps, the food of the future. Around lunchtime you can usually find us down the street at the Wrap Shack. When we feel like spicing it up a bit we’ll head over to the El Ray or El Fuego to grab a spicy wrap. If we’re sick of those or just feeling lazy we’ll go to Under Dogs, which isn’t really a wrap, but similar enough to put me at ease. – JM

What’s it like working with a team all the time, especially in that tiny room? Do you guys have any running jokes?

We have a really tight knit team. We’ve been together for a long time and work very well together. Our personalities mesh perfectly. As for running jokes, they change all the time. Currently, the most common joke happens when someone says something like “We’ll really get moving once we get our hands on the general look and feel.” Someone will break into a British accent and yell “Get your hands off me! Don’t you know who I am? I’m General Lookandfeel!”  – TC

Having a hard time picking just one photo to represent your event? Now you don’t have to. Select “Manage” and then “Media Galleries” from your dashboard to upload as many pictures as you’d like. You can drag and drop images from your desktop onto TicketLeap, or you can search and select images to upload from your hard drive. Images cannot be greater than 5 MB in size and must be JPG, GIF, PNG or TIF format.

With our new event page layout, you can see thumbnails of the first four photos in your media gallery from the main page.

Select one image to enlarge and click through your new gallery.

Adding more photos to your event is an easy and fun way to let your ticket buyers know what they should be looking forward to!