Etix Blast! 2023 Full Schedule
September 7 - 9 | Raleigh, NC
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT BLAST!
Etix Blast! is our annual Client Summit held each September in downtown Raleigh, NC alongside the Hopscotch Music Festival. It is the perfect mix of networking, industry education, and fun for our clients and partners, packed with Etix University training workshops, partner sessions, and social events.
WHERE?
Sheraton Hotel,
Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
WHEN?
September 7 - 9, 2023
Discounted rates available now! Click here to register.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Wednesday, September 6
Welcome to Blast! Join us for heavy hors d’oeuvres and tasty drinks as we kick off the 2023 conference.
Sponsored by NIVA
Thursday, September 7
Welcome to Blast 2023! Check in at the registration table in the Sheraton Hotel and network before our keynote begins.
Kicking it off as usual, Etix CEO Travis Janovich and Chief Product Officer Chris Battaglino join Product Owner Kevin Brousseau for a conversation about Etix product advancements and innovations over the past calendar year.
Let’s talk about making money! Part one of our two-part revenue discussion examines avenues to increase your earned income and ancillary revenue sources. See detailed information below.
Lunch is on us! Dine and relax before sessions begin.
Attend box office and marketing sessions, industry panels, browse Exhibit City and meet our sponsors, and get your questions asked in Learning Labs.
Keep an eye on your phones! On Thursday and Friday afternoons, we’ll message info for two unique Pop-Up Happy Hour locations out in the wild. Explore beyond the parameter of the conference and enjoy a pre-dinner drink on us at some of Raleigh’s finest watering holes.
Sponsored by Allianz Partners
Network with your peers, enjoy drinks and snacks, and enjoy the best view of Hopscotch Music Festival from the VIP Lounge in the Capital Room at the Sheraton.
Join us for the after-after party where we keep the drinks and food flowing. Pace yourself and stay hydrated!
Sponsored by Allianz Partners
Friday, September 8
We kept you up late the previous night, so let’s start day two with an easy, mid-morning brunch. While you’re refueling, get to know some of our conference partners and sponsors in a speed-round-style showcase.
Early birds, rejoice! We’re opening up a special morning session of Learning Labs. Sign up in advance or see the check-in desk for appointment info.
You’ve sold your tickets, moved through your merch, and crushed concessions, but could you still be leaving money on the table? We’re talking sponsorships, partnerships, and contributed revenue in the second installment of our two-day income conversation. Find out more in the details below.
Get your questions asked in Learning Labs.
Attend box office, marketing, and industry sessions; browse Exhibit City and meet our sponsors.
Share your knowledge and experience! Join round table discussions on a variety of the most-used Etix products and features.
Mix and mingle as you enjoy tasty beverages and talk shop with your peers.
Pop-Up Happy Hours are back with two fresh destinations downtown. Explore beyond the parameter of the conference and enjoy a pre-dinner drink on us at some of Raleigh’s finest watering holes. Keep a lookout for a message containing day-two location info on Friday afternoon. Sponsored by Allianz Partners
Network, enjoy drinks and snacks, and enjoy the best view of Hopscotch Music Festival from the VIP Lounge in the Capital Room at the Sheraton.
Saturday, September 9
Rejuvenate, refuel, and relax with brunch in our Saturday Recovery Lounge while bidding fond farewells to friends new and old. Grab a bite before you hit the drive out of town, or take a moment to decompress before catching your flight. We’ll see you next year!
DETAILED SESSION SCHEDULE
Etix Past, Present, & Future
(10:00 am – 10:45 am)
Room: Oak Forest A & B
Moderator: Kevin Brosseau, Etix Product Owner
Presenters: Travis Janovich, Etix CEO; Chris Battaglino, Etix Chief Product Officer
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: Etix CEO Travis Janovich and Chief Product Officer Chris Battaglino join Product Owner Kevin Brosseau for a conversation about Etix product advancements and innovations over the past calendar year. We’ll learn how these additions and improvements help to build a 360-degree view of your customer relationship, and we’ll look forward to what’s ahead on the product roadmap for 2024 and beyond!
Boost Your Bottom Line, Part 1: Earned Revenue
(11:00 am – 12:00 pm)
Rooms: Oak Forest A & B
Moderator: Marshall Pred, Etix Director of Business Development
Panelists: Jerry Hammer, Minnesota State Fair; Nick Heineman, Chicago Independent Venue League; Liz Whalen Tallent, Rabbit Rabbit
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: Each of us work year-in and year-out for a healthier bottom line, but how can we change our perspectives to increase income and build our business? In part one of this revenue discussion, we will examine avenues to increase your earned income through creative programming strategies, operational practices, and leveraging ancillary revenue sources.
Exhibit City
(1:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Rooms: Oak Forest A & B
Description: Visit our sponsors and experience all the equipment Etix has to offer with hands-on demos.
Sponsored by Boca Systems, Alvarado, Data Capture Solutions, i6, Custom America, The Kiosk Group, Bluefin, and more.
Learning Labs
(1:30 pm – 4:30 pm)
Rooms: Governors I & II
Description: Connect one-on-one with Etix Staff, ask us questions, and learn more about using the Etix system.
Box Office Highlights & Hidden Features
(1:30pm – 2:15pm)
Room: Hannover I
Presenters: Alyssa Newell, Etix Director of Training; Leah Finch, Etix Senior Training Specialist
Who Should Attend: Ticketing Professionals
Description: It’s true; Etix has a lot of system capabilities. With features being created and updated daily, you could easily miss a system tool that would be advantageous to your ticketing practice. During this session, we’ll highlight box office standouts and a few hidden features!
First-Party Data and Marketing the Full Funnel
(1:30pm – 2:15pm)
Room: Hannover II
Presenters: Courtney Barwick, Rockhouse Partners Director of Digital Marketing; Morgan Pestyk, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist
Who Should Attend: Marketing Professionals
Description: Have reliable conversion metrics taken their place alongside Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster as the next great myth? Since the Apple iOS14.5 privacy shake-up that rocked the marketing world in 2021, marketers have been dealing with the repercussions of less accurately modeled metrics that, oftentimes, do not make sense. This session faces this reality head on and will offer up new insights and solutions for Meta (Facebook and Instagram) ad targeting and optimization strategies.
Welcome to the Etix Family
(1:30pm – 2:15pm)
Room: Hannover III
Presenters: Kevin Brosseau, Etix Product Owner; Molly McGlothlin, Etix Director of Client Success; Maddie Snider, Rockhouse Partners Director of Marketing Services
Who Should Attend: New & Future Clients
Description: New to the Etix system, or planning to make the switch? This panel discussion will give a brief overview of the Etix conversion process and the resources available to you in the system to make a smooth transition.
Show Me the Money: Settlements Explained
(2:30 pm – 3:15 pm)
Room: Hannover I
Presenters: Brian Crossland, Etix VP of Finance; Alyssa Newell, Etix Director of Training; Shon Stump, Etix Settlements Manager
Who Should Attend: Venue and Organization Management, Finance
Description: In this session, our accounting experts will show you how to run, understand, and analyze the three main reports that are included in all of your weekly settlements.
Creative Strategies to Elevate Your Email Marketing
(2:30pm – 3:15 pm)
Room: Hannover II
Presenters: Maddie Snider, Rockhouse Partners Director of Marketing Services; Ann Carmen Thomas, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist
Who Should Attend: Marketing Professionals
Description: Great email marketing is about more than just sending great emails. (Wait, what?) Join us to learn how the pros craft strategies to leverage content, timing, SMS, and your overall communication model to boost results, collect more data, and ultimately sell more tickets.
Amplify Awareness and Find New Fans with the Etix Event Discovery Network
(2:30pm – 3:15 pm)
Room: Hannover III
Presenters: Aaron Bare, Etix CMO; Courtney Barwick, Rockhouse Partners Director of Digital Marketing; Fabrice Sergent, Bandsintown; Bruce Houghton, Bandsintown
Who Should Attend: Marketing Professionals
Description: Long gone are the days of dubbing cassettes and letting your friends borrow CDs; music has never been more accessible than it is today. Etix has launched a new “Event Discovery Network” that aims to tap into the work of music discovery and connect the dots from online exploring to ticket purchase.
Marketing the Long Game: Tips and Tricks To Build Your Brand
(3:30 pm – 4:15 pm)
Room: Hannover I
Presenters: Carrie Goss, Rockhouse Partners Director of Festival and Concert Marketing, Jenni Mayer, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist
Who Should Attend: Marketing Professionals
Description: We’ve all been there: The often overwhelming and immediate needs of the day can drown out your better angels insisting you take the time to “plan for the future.” This session explores the strategies needed to zoom out and take in the whole picture; to help your short-term marketing goals align with your annual or seasonal goals; to do the small things, over time, that will actually make marketing your event easier year over year.
Make the Most of Your Advertising Dollars: System Marketing Tools
(3:30pm – 4:15pm)
Room: Hannover II
Presenters: Jenny Johnsen, Etix Training Specialist; Ann Carmen Thomas, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist
Who Should Attend: Box Office and Marketing Professionals
Description: Discover new ways to make your events even more profitable with our data-focused features to increase sales, boost brand awareness and grow your customer database. Learn how to implement system social media features, execute ways to track sales and more.
Enhance Your Guest Experience
(3:30 pm – 4:15 pm)
Room: Hannover III
Moderator: Dennis Scanlon, Etix Vice President, Sales
Panelists: Gary Hadden, Morgan County Fair; Robb McAdams, The Orange Peel; Zeke Perez, Cache Creek Casino Resort
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: From the moment your guests step onto your property, you have the power to shape their entire event experience for the better. Our panel of venue veterans will share their expertise to insure your patrons leave with a smile, and come back time and time again!
Learning Labs
(10 am – 11:30 am)
Rooms: Governors I & II
Description: Connect one-on-one with Etix Staff, ask us questions, and learn more about using the Etix system.
Boost Your Bottom Line, Part 2: Sponsorships, Partnerships, & Contributed Revenue
(11:15 am – 12:15 pm)
Rooms: Oak Forest A & B
Moderator: Michael Reklis, Etix Director of Sales, Music Venues
Panelists: Mikey Lee Ad.Ventures; Tyler Wogenstahl, Further MP; Jennifer Martin, Brewgaloo / Shop Local Raleigh
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: You’ve sold your tickets, moved through your merch, and crushed concessions, but could you still be leaving money on the table? Part two of our discussion will dive into ways you can increase your revenue through sponsorships, memberships, partnerships, and more.
Exhibit City
(12:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
Rooms: Oak Forest A & B
Description: Visit our sponsors and experience all the equipment Etix has to offer with hands-on demos.
Sponsored by Boca Systems, Alvarado, Data Capture Solutions, i6, Custom America, The Kiosk Group, Bluefin, and more.
Learning Labs
(12:30 pm – 2:30 pm)
Rooms: Governors I & II
Description: Connect one-on-one with Etix Staff, ask us questions, and learn more about using the Etix system.
Fraudy Friday, Part 1: State of the Industry
(12:30 pm – 1:15 pm)
Room: Hannover I
Moderator: Mandi Grimm, Etix Director of Anti-Fraud Solutions
Panelists: Trent Gray, ASM Richmond/Altria Theatre; Krister Larsson, Etix Director of International Ticketing; Monica Reeves, Agua Caliente Resort & Casino
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: With more and more customers opting to purchase tickets online instead of at the box office, fraud and the secondary market have become bigger hot-button topics in the entertainment industry. In part one of this discussion, we will examine an overview of what fraud and deceptive practices look like today, how they vary market to market, and the impact of secondary and tertiary ticketing.
Say Hello to GA4! Embracing The New World Of Google Analytics
(12:30 pm – 1:15 pm)
Room: Hannover II
Presenters: Bryant Chappell, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist; Jenni Mayer, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist
Who Should Attend: Marketing Professionals
Description: After months of foreboding emails, bright red banners, and countless warnings, the move to Google Analytics 4 has finally happened. In this session we’ll explore some of the similarities and (mostly) differences of Google’s new analytics platform.
Feature Spotlight: Special Offers
(12:30 pm – 1:15 pm)
Room: Hannover III
Presenter: Alyssa Newell, Director of Training
Who Should Attend: Box Office Professionals
Description: Did you know there are multiple ways to offer promotions to your patrons? In this class, we’ll compare and contrast each method to discover which option works best for your business.
Fraudy Friday, Part 2: Best Practices for Reducing Your Risk
(1:45 pm – 2:30 pm)
Room: Hannover I
Moderator: Mandi Grimm, Etix Director of Anti-Fraud Solutions
Panelists: Trent Gray, ASM Richmond/Altria Theatre; Krister Larsson, Etix Director of International Ticketing; Monica Reeves, Agua Caliente Resort & Casino
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description:Now that we’ve taken a broad look at the current landscape of fraud, our panel will discuss best practices for minimizing risk and recommendations for meeting customer service expectations, so you can make decisions based on what’s best for your venue and your customers.
Feature Spotlight: Memberships + Donations
(1:45 pm – 2:30 pm)
Room: Hannover II
Presenter: Leah Finch, Senior Training Specialist
Who Should Attend: Box Office Professionals, Development Professionals
Description: Memberships and Donations are two revenue-generating features that allow you to collect money now apart from a ticket transaction. During this session, we’ll introduce you to these features that generate revenue, while fostering loyalty.
Websites that Convert, Apps that Engage
(1:45 pm – 2:30 pm)
Room: Hannover III
Presenters: Brett Geoffrey, Rockhouse Partners Director of Client Website Services; Kathleen Marsocci, Rockhouse Partners Client Website Front End Developer; Troy Sturdivant, Rockhouse Partners Client Website Specialist
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: We build websites that are designed to sell more tickets. In this session, you’ll meet the team behind our mobile-first, SEO optimized websites, and identify best practices to provide an ideal user experience for your ticket buyer.
Etix Feature Roundtables
(2:45 pm – 3:30 pm)
Room: Oak Forest A & B
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
Description: Share your knowledge and experience! Join round table discussions on a variety of the most-used Etix products and features, from Seating Chart optimization, Membership management, Reporting best practices , Fraud and Chargeback ideas, and more.
Marketing Nightmares
(2:45 pm – 3:30 pm)
Room: Hannover I
Presenters:Bryant Chappell, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist; Taylor Panaccione, Rockhouse Partners Marketing Specialist
Who Should Attend: Marketing Professionals
Description: Be afraid. Be VERY afraid! Our team has collected the most harrowing, spine-tingling, gruesome tales of marketing mistakes and “you’ve got to be kidding me” situations that are guaranteed to keep you up at night. Don’t miss this lighthearted take on some of our most infamous marketing mishaps and (most importantly) how to keep them from happening to you!
