Skip to main content
  • Call Now
  • Request Info
  • Menu

Search form

  • JWU Main Site
  • jwuLink
  • Apply Now
  • Hide nav
  • Request Info
  • 1.855.236.8492

JWU

  • Academics
    Academics
    Academics Home Academic Calendar Online Catalog and Student Handbook On-Campus Programs
    • Business
      • BS – Accounting
      • BS – Advertising & Marketing Communications
      • Doctor of Business Administration
      • BS – Business Studies
      • BS – Digital Marketing & Social Media
      • BS – Fashion Merchandising & Retailing
      • BS – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
      • BS - Marketing
      • BSBA – Business Administration
      • BSBA – Entrepreneurship
      • BSBA – Human Resource Management
      • BSBA – International Business
      • BSBA – Management
      • BSBA – Operations & Supply Chain Management
      • BSBA – Organizational Risk & Cyber Security Management
      • MS – Global Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development
      • MS - Finance
    • MBA
      • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
      • MBA – Finance
      • MBA – Hospitality
      • MBA – Human Resource Management
      • MBA – Information Security/Assurance
      • MBA – Organizational Psychology
      • MBA – Operations & Supply Chain Management
      • MBA – Organizational Leadership
      • MBA – Nonprofit Management
      • MBA – Sport Leadership
    • Criminal Justice
      • MS – Criminal Justice
      • MPA – Criminal Justice
    • Culinary
      • BS – Baking & Pastry Arts & Food Service Management
      • BS – Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
      • BS – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
      • BS – Food Industry Compliance Management
      • BS – Restaurant, Food & Beverage Management
    • Health Science
      • BS – Public Health
    • Education
      • Doctor of Education - ED.D.
    • Hospitality
      • BS – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
      • BS – Food Industry Compliance Management
      • BS – Hospitality Management
      • BS – Hotel & Lodging Management
      • BS – Residential Hospitality Management
      • BS – Restaurant, Food & Beverage Management
      • BS – Sports, Entertainment, Event – Management
      • BS – Tourism & Hospitality Management
      • MBA – Hospitality
      • MS - Hospitality Management
      • MS – Global Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development
      • MS – Sport Leadership
    • HR Management
      • BSBA - Human Resource Management
      • MBA - Human Resource Management
      • MS – Human Resource Management
    • Liberal Studies
      • BS – Liberal Studies
    • Nonprofit Management
      • MS – Nonprofit Management
      • MPA – Nonprofit Management
      • MBA - Nonprofit Managment
    • Psychology
      • BS – Psychology
      • MBA – Organizational Psychology
      • MS – Organizational Psychology
    • Public Administration
      • MPA – General
      • MPA – Criminal Justice
      • MPA – Nonprofit Management
    • Political Science
      • BS - Political Science
    • Sport Administration
      • BS – Sports, Entertainment, Event — Management
      • MBA – Sport Leadership
      • MS – Sport Leadership
    • Technology
      • BS – Computer Science
      • BS – Digital Marketing & Social Media
      • MBA – Information Security/Assurance
      • MS – Data Analytics
    • Sociology
      • BA - Sociology
  • Admissions
    Admissions
    JWU Admissions
    • Admissions Home
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Apply Online
    • Graduate Admissions
    • After You Apply
    • Transfer Students
    • On-Campus Admissions
    • International Admissions
    • Career Coach
    • Returning Students
    • Tuition and Fees
    • JWU Military
  • Financial Aid
    Financial Aid
    JWU Financial Aid
    • Financial Aid Home
    • Tuition and Fees
    • Scholarships and Grants
    • Military Benefits
  • Student Services
    Student Services
    JWU Student Services
    • Student Services Home
    • Academic Calendar
    • Career Resources
    • Academic Resources
    • Commencement
    • Technical Resources
    • New Student Orientation
  • Corporate Partnerships
    Corporate Partnerships
  • Blog
    Blog
  • About
    About
    About JWU
    • About JWU Online Home
    • Read Student Testimonials
    • Tour an Online Classroom
    • Two JWU Grads, One MBA Journey
    • Learn from Experienced Faculty
    • 100-Plus Years of Excellence
    • Meet Our Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Discover the JWU Difference
    • JWU Athletics
    • Attend a Virtual Open House
    • Video Library
    • Priorities Survey for Online Learners
  • Apply Now
    Apply Now
  • jwuLink
    jwuLink
  • JWU Main Site
    JWU Main Site

You are here

JWU Online > Blog > The Hidden Magic of Ticket Sales
Career Catalyst

Welcome to Career Catalyst, our blog featuring helpful continuing education and career-related articles written by our faculty and staff. From study and motivation tips to career planning and interview techniques, we cover it all. Make sure to check back regularly, because we’re always posting new articles designed to help you get more out of your education and career.

Follow Us
  • RSS
  • Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • PinInterest

The Hidden Magic of Ticket Sales

search_icon

Search

mail_icon

Subscribe

 

The Hidden Magic of Ticket Sales

April 6th, 2018
by Annie Shalvey
When it comes to ticket sales, there's more than meets the eye. Read here how the President and CEO of the International Ticketing Association found her career to be magically rewarding.
Image Attribution: 
akajeff
When it comes to ticket sales, there's more than meets the eye. Read here how the President and CEO of the International Ticketing Association found her career to be magically rewarding.

When it comes to the ticketing industry and box office careers, there is more than meets the eye.

According to Maureen Andersen, president and CEO of the International Ticketing Association (INTIX), many people think of a position in the box office as a lackluster job. But she said she would never call ticket work a boring career—instead, she would probably rattle off a dozen adjectives that perfectly describe the often misunderstood industry: chaotic, surprising, rewarding, fast-paced, challenging, enchanting.

She’d tell you that her business— “show business,” as she calls it—is the product of pure magic and that she’s the illusionist who is pulling the strings behind the curtain.

This week, Andersen was recognized as the College of Hospitality Management’s 61st Distinguished Visiting Professor during an event on the Johnson & Wales University campus in Providence. Andersen, a 35-plus-year veteran of the entertainment industry and a self-proclaimed “ticket gypsy,” spoke to students about the behind-the-scenes pieces of the ticket office that people often fail to see.

A Spell is Cast

According to Andersen, she started her journey in the complicated and thriving world of ticket sales as a performing arts student in college. She always wanted to be on the stage, but it was during an internship—when she was tasked with choosing an additional job—that she discovered that she didn’t have any other talents that could support the production of a show. She didn’t know much about sewing, so costume design was out. She didn’t have much experience with electrical applications or technology, so sound, lighting, and display were definitely out. Finally, they asked her if she could type.

“Yes!” she exclaimed. “I can type!”

And so she landed herself a role in the ticket office. Quickly, she learned that the office was the nucleus of the entire theatre operation, giving life to each show and audience through the open ticket window. Without the box office, there would be no audience, no records, no control, and no show.

“The ticket office is the barometer, heartbeat, and pulse of the whole production,” she said.  “We reinvent ourselves in seconds—we’re controlling and we like it.”

While she loved being on the stage and performing for a crowd, Andersen discovered that she was far better at the business side of theatre because she was passionate and willing to do anything to help the show go on.

For 23 years, she served as the Director of Ticketing Services for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. After that, she worked as the Vice President of Arts & Entertainment at Audience View, before ending up at the forefront of INTIX.

“The love of show business is in my blood,” she said. “I could never do a ‘normal’ job.”

INTIX President and CEO Maureen Andersen discusses her magical journey in ticket sales at Johnson & Wales University's annual SEEM Conference.

RELATED CONTENT: Six Things To Know About Working in Ticket Sales [Infographic]


It’s Not Just Smoke and Mirrors

Throughout her career, she’s learned countless things about ticketing, the entertainment industry, and herself. In addition to learning about the specific roles in a ticket office, she learned how to write a press release, tame a media circus, juggle several tasks at once, and even how to spot the qualities that make for a great ticketing employee. (She said the best employee she ever had was a cardiothoracic surgeon, who just really needed a break from the chaos of the ER because he was calm and really great under pressure!)

As far as giving advice to those entering the industry, Andersen says there’s one major thing she wants students to know these days: data is king.

“The event experience starts far before the audience enters. The data is yours—mine it,” she said. “Use it to provide content that will be relevant to your patrons. Communicate with them in ways that they want to communicate.”

Behind The Curtain

If you ask Andersen what a ticket salesperson actually does, you might be surprised at the answer she gives you.

“We’re marketers, accounting professionals, customer service individuals, teachers, and fundraisers,” she said. “We’re a well-oiled machine that is collectively working together. We get to create the magic.”  

And she’d tell you that the misconceptions surrounding ticketing are just a bunch of hocus pocus.

Johnson & Wales University offers several online undergraduate and graduate hospitality management degrees. For more information, complete the "Request Info" form on this page or call 855-JWU-1881.

Blog Categories: 
Career Advice
Hospitality
April 6th, 2018
by Annie Shalvey
Back to Blog
next
Next Post

ICYMI: Google's Latest Core Algorithm Update

Read More >
What does the latest change to Google's algorithm mean for marketers? Read more from this blog article from Johnson & Wales University College of Online Education.
prev
Previous Post

BS Advertising & Marketing Communications Degree: A Closer Look

Read More >
Learn more about an exciting career in Advertising and Marketing Communications here! Start your journey with JWU Online!

 

 

READ MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A HOSPITALITY DEGREE

Featured Blogs

BS Business Studies Degree: A Closer Look

February 14th, 2019 – Complete your bachelor’s degree in business with this online Business Studies degree. Designed for... Read More

Seven Tips for Cleaning Up Your Social Accounts

February 14th, 2019 – These days almost everyone has an online presence. Do you know what your social media accounts say... Read More

Better Business Bureau

February 14th, 2019 – It’s also often said that experience is the best teacher. So what have six Johnson & Wales... Read More

The Unexpected Benefits of Meditation

February 6th, 2019 – As an online student, you are often balancing work, family obligations, health and fitness, and your... Read More

Black-Tie Blunders and How to Avoid Them

January 31st, 2019 – As you may well know, my nonprofiteers, putting on a black-tie fundraiser requires extensive planning... Read More

Older Stories
Annie Shalvey's picture
AuthorAnnie Shalvey
Annie joined the College of Online Education in September 2016 as a communications coordinator. A native Rhode Islander, she received her BA in English from Providence College. Before joining Team JWU, Annie worked as a digital producer and social media gal at a local TV station. She enjoys rainy days, suspense novels, and creating content for Career Catalyst.
  • Now accepting applications
  • Apply now
  • Admissions

Career Coach

Continue to Career Coach

You are now leaving Johnson & Wales’ (JWU) site and going to a site not operated by us. We are not responsible for the content or availability of any site other than our own.The information provided on the site is provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI). EMSI has indicated to us the information provided is fair and reasonable. We do not make any representations or warranties, nor do we accept liability or responsibility, as to the accuracy or use of the information.  Additional links may also be provided, including those relating to employment opportunities. 

You are responsible for performing due diligence, such as ensuring the listings are for actual jobs and that your private and personal information are protected, when using or relying on information from any site.

 

Johnson & Wales University
115 Cedar St.
Providence, RI 02903
855.236.8492

© 2019 Johnson & Wales University
Privacy Policy  Nondiscrimination Policy

 

  • Contact Us
  • Accreditation & Approvals
  • Online Student Consumer Information
  • Catalogs
  • Handbooks
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Google Plus
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Back to top