Frequently Asked Questions

Your guide for increasing profits for online ticket sales.

ThunderTix is a full featured, robust box office application for online ticket sales with no per ticket fees. Functioning as a customer controlled point of sale or as a box office outlet, our web-based, box office software is the perfect choice for small performance theaters, single event shows, tour companies, customized ticketing venues and more.

What are the primary features of ThunderTix box office ticketing?

• Unique venue branding
• General Admission and/or Reserved Seating
• Multiple floor plan options
• Multiple event setup
• Control shipping and delivery costs
• Increase revenue with optional "convenience" fees charged per ticket or per order
• Event & Daily Sales reports
• Full Customer database
• Optional Printable pdf e-Ticket
• Optional Donations Module
• Optional Coupons & tracking
• Optional Barcode Ticket Scanning

How do I purchase ThunderTix online ticketing software?

ThunderTix is offered as an affordable monthly subscription starting at $99/month for general admission, $129/month for tours, and $149/month for reserved seating.

For those with annual festivals or seasonal ticketing, ThunderTix starts at $999/year for general admission or $1399/year for reserved seating with setup fees described on our software pricing page.

What is the fee structure for offering tickets using ThunderTix software?

First, our monthly service charge is among the lowest in the industry, and you still receive all the bells and whistles you need to manage your online box office. The monthly service gives you access to all the components you need to sell tickets--event management, patron management, and detailed reporting.

Branding Set-up - All venues are branded with a buyer's event listing & checkout page that mimics your current website's design.

Seating Chart Set-up - Each reserved seating venue will display the seating chart by section. Once in a section, the seat location and price distribution are displayed so buyers can easily view their seat in proximity to the stage, or court, along with the associated cost. The seating chart setup fee is based on the size and layout and starts at $275. For venues over 450, the cost for setup is $0.60 per seat. Seating charts that are by individual table have unique pricing and is based on the number of tables.

General Admission venues require no seating chart and therefore, no set-up fees.

No Per-Ticket Fees - Finally, your customers pay no additional fees other than those you set for each ticket purchase, such as shipping options, convenience fees, venue parking fees, etc. ThunderTix does not add any additional fees to the ticket purchase.

What software do I have to install for the box office system?

None. The software resides on our servers, so no additional software is required. Each venue has a unique and secure login to access reporting, event setup, and account management. No software is installed since ThunderTix is a web-based, or online, ticketing system; Consumers on any browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari, etc.) and any computer operating system (PC or Mac) can access your online box office ticketing system.

How are credit card transactions processed for online ticket purchases?

Each venue is set up with a merchant account and Authorize.net account (secure Internet Gateway). These two elements (the merchant account and Internet gateway) allow ticket buyers to securely transmit credit card data online. All ticket proceeds are directly deposited to the venue's business bank account nightly. There is no waiting period for ThunderTix turn over sales dollars back to your venue since ThunderTix does not collect any of your ticket proceeds.

In addition, venues can create multiple box office logins for each staff member and also for off-site sales. Box office staff can sell tickets directly to their customers at any desired location with an Internet connection and the sale will be logged and tied to that person for future reporting.

How do I process cash sales of tickets purchased through my venue's box office?

Box office managers are able to purchase tickets for customers that come directly to the box office to pay by cash or check. The box office sales rep will use the website the same as they would for a credit card, but instead will select the "Cash" option.

My customers dislike paying additional ticket fees. How much is your per ticket fee?

Zero! Not through ThunderTix anyway. Some of our clients add a small convenience fee to help compensate (and even profit) for their use of our monthly ThunderTix box office service.

How long do I have to wait to collect the money earned from our ticket sales?

There is no waiting period! All money is directly deposited to your bank account as tickets are purchased! ThunderTix does not collect ticket proceeds and all credit card processing works directly with your bank. All event earnings are deposited to your business bank account nightly.

Can you customize my ticketing program to work exactly as I need it to for my business?

Yes, we can add or create most additional features needed to make your business ticketing and reservations exactly the way you need it. Custom programming is billed by the hour at $155/hour, based on the time it takes to add features and test. Please see our Customizable Ticketing Applications page for more information.

Will all of our box office ticket agents have access to our sales and complete reporting?

By default, only one primary administrator has access to all of the event reports. The main administrator can choose to grant full access to as many other users as necessary. Additionally, with each new user that you create, you declare the "permissions" over what they are able to see/do from only selling tickets to giving discounts to accessing full reports.

How do I print and deliver the tickets to our customers who buy online?

Customers will immediately receive an email receipt with all event and ticket information as well as the amount paid at the time of purchase. A Will Call report can be used at the door for entry by name, driver's license, and/or the last 4 digits of the credit card used. Many of our clients generate the event Will Call Report which includes all orders and customer information a few hours prior to the show.

Additionally, a electronic PDF ticket with a unique barcode can be included with the email receipt, if desired. The use of the electronic PDF ticket is included with the base system at no charge. Optionally, the printable ticket can include custom graphics modifiable per event. Typically, this space is used in one of three ways: 1. A branded souvenir ticket, 2. Used to promote upcoming events, or 3. For advertising space to sell to local event sponsors. This upgrade starts at $45/month.

We can work with virtually any method of ticket printing, whether through pre-printed and mailed tickets, on demand thermal ticket printing, or "Admit One" ticket rolls. If you are not happy with your current box office printing procedures, we can guide you in selecting a new ticket printing process.

We are a new venue without a current printing method. What methods of ticket printing may we use?

We can assist you in the selection of a ticket printing and delivery method that meets your needs. Consider these questions in order to learn your options:

• What are your budget limitations? Thermal ticket printers average $1500 or more, plus ticket stock. For very small venues or venues with few shows or short seasons, the cost of ticket printing hardware and ticket stock may outweigh the benefits. Please see our information regarding ThunderTix ticket printing options.
• Does your venue offer general admission or assigned seating? If you offer general admission, you may certainly benefit from pre-printed and low-cost tickets from outside sources. Even assigned seating may offer a cost effective solution in pre-printed tickets.
• Has fraudulent ticketing been a concern in the past for similar venues? Bar-coded tickets offer a greater level of security. Bar-code readers or scanners scan tickets as customers enter the venue's gates. If multiple gates are present, real-time scanning must take place to ensure that no bar-code can be entered twice. The cost of scanners vary considerably and are based on the venue's layout and entrances.
• Are souvenir tickets important to your venue? This is the general case for large concerts. But even annual festivals with loyal followings can benefit from souvenir tickets. Using a professional graphic designer can offer that cool, must-have element that helps attendees remember why they attend every year.

Can I offer my customers electronic tickets by email?

Yes, you can offer electronic PDF tickets via email for free which includes event/ticket information and a unique barcode. As a feature upgrade starting at an additional $45/month, the ticket can also include a unique event graphic and/or advertising from event sponsors. If your venue has barcode scanners, the bar code can be scanned at the entrance.

Barcoded security is not without its price; The cost for scanned ticket integration requires the barcode module upgrade that starts at an additional $45/month. Additionally required is either a computer or laptop at the entrance with an attached corded scanner or a stand-alone, wireless and cordless scanner (with Windows CE) that start around $2000 per unit. In addition, multiple gates will require multiple scanners all "communicating" to our system to ensure bar-code authenticity and to prevent fraudulent ticket duplication.