The Challenge:
Growing a local ticketing brand during a pandemic in a market which was stalled and not supportive of in-person events.
The Solution:
Become a resource for local event creators and venues that were trying to stay in business during the pandemic through marketing support, creative ticket sales, and key Evvnt features.
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While starting a ticketing brand in the midst of a pandemic sounds impossible, sometimes adversity creates new opportunities and ways of thinking. That is exactly what the very small team, led by Matt Kanner, at PortsmouthNH.com did.
Kanner launched the Portsmouth NH Tickets brand, powered by Evvnt, in November of 2019. A few short months later, in-person events (and ticket sales) shut down. Rather than quit, Kanner got creative and positioned his new ticketing brand to be a local resource for struggling venues and local event creators.
“We have some innovative partners who came up with creative ways to host safe events during the pandemic, including online events and in-person shows in repurposed outdoor spaces. After months of quarantine, there was a big hunger for live entertainment, so all we had to do was market our events to that eager audience”
Local event creators and venues were hit hard in the pandemic and financial recovery was one of the biggest hurdles they were facing. In addition to the over $700K in ticket revenue these organizations sold through Portsmouth NH Tickets in 2021, they were able to drive an additional $17K by utilizing Evvnt features such as charitable donations and added organizer fees.
Throughout the first year of the pandemic in 2020, Kanner offered the ability for event creators to produce by-donation events and upped the amount of promotion he provided for each event through the PortsmouthNH.com site.
In December of 2020 Kanner said, “Hopefully, the work we've done during the pandemic — including promotion of free and by-donation events that didn't make us any revenue — has earned us goodwill and loyalty from our partners. And hopefully that will translate to greater success as the economic recovery continues.”
As he closes out 2021, Kanner’s hope has come true. He more than tripled his net ticket fee revenue and brought on 10 additional local event creators and venues including the Firehouse Center for the Arts, the Prescott Park Arts Festival, the New Hampshire Theatre Project, and Portsmouth Music and Arts Center. He has not only supported his local community, he has grown new revenue and created a thriving ticketing brand.
Contact us at Evvnt to schedule your own Evvnt demo and learn how your publication can be a resource for local event creators and venues in your market to earn your place as the go to spot for event ticketing and promotion.