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10 Questions with Founder Travis Janovich

Travis Blog Photo

Travis founded Etix in 2000 based on the belief that venues could and should control their own destiny. As Founder, Chairman of the Board and developer of technology and telecommunications service enterprises, Travis uses his experience to advise Etix’ leadership and guide the company’s direction.

1. What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry since founding Etix in 2000?

The technological sophistication and needs of the client base. 14 years ago a client was happy just to sell a ticket online, as it was a completely new distribution channel with many benefits.  Now even the smallest clients want world class mobile solutions, email marketing, and analytics. These evolving needs make building Etix as exciting today as it was in the beginning.

2. Give us your favorite Etix client story.

Etix Office Visit Blast
Group photo during the Etix office visit at Etix Blast 2013.

We had our first client summit, Etix Blast, this year. It involved a visit to the Etix office, and I have to admit I was thinking, “Who the heck will come see our office?”. I was wrong. We had multiple full-van-loads of clients come. It was one of my proudest Etix moments to watch clients hug our support and operations staff like they were seeing long lost friends. From the beginning I have preached that what differentiates Etix is our people and our commitment to service. To see that validated by many clients was amazing.

3. What does the future of ticketing look like to you?

Five years ago we began the transition from not just a world class ticketing system but to a world class event marketing platform. This has been a big catalyst for our growth, and this is just the beginning. Maximizing ticket sales is at the heart of all our clients’ businesses but the platform will grow horizontally to serve all of a venue’s needs. Show booking and promotion, concessions, parking and donor management, are all areas where you will see ticketing companies build their platforms to serve.

4. Why ticketing?

I loved the challenge of building a highly scalable web-based ticketing platform. Fourteen years ago people would laugh at me when I would tell them Etix was completely web based – back then it was the ASP model. Admittedly “cloud computing” sounds a lot cooler, but it is still the same idea. I also love live events. To this day I get goosebumps when the lights go down at the start of a show.

5. What’s the first concert you ever attended?

Chubby Checker doing the Twist.
Chubby Checker doing the Twist.

Chubby Checker – realized I was not a dancer since I could not even do the Twist.

6. Favorite athlete/sports team?

Roger Federer.

7. What’s the best part of living in the Triangle?

The main stage at Hopscotch Music Festival in Downtown Raleigh.
The main stage at Hopscotch Music Festival in Downtown Raleigh.

I love the energy from all the students in the area. Having three great universities (N.C. State, UNC, and Duke) within a 30-mile radius gives the place a great vibe. The talent pool is exceptional – lots of passionate college graduates and people here that make it easy to build companies. On a personal note, being a two-hour-drive to the beach or mountains is a big plus.

8. Who is someone that you admire?

Elon Musk, who founded SpaceX, Tesla Motors and PayPal.

9. What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Learn to laugh at yourself and don’t harp on your mistakes.

10. What would you be doing if you weren’t in ticketing?

Ha – I have no idea. But I can tell you my retirement gig will be a very low stress business – owning a bait shop on some remote island sounds about right.

Travis and Ben posing with Shepler's Ferry.
Travis and Ben posing with Shepler’s Ferry.

>> Learn more about Travis on LinkedIn

 

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