Passage, a Detroit-based event ticketing company, has announced a new digital platform called Passage Virtual Events that provides organizers a solution to current ticketing challenges by making it simple for event creators, artists, and others to host live online events and sell digital ticket access.
“This is a uniquely difficult time for events,” says Alex Linebrink, CEO of Passage. “Overnight, small businesses and independent creators saw their incomes disappear through the necessary cancellation of in-person programming. While we are immensely supportive of these health and safety measures, we all miss that human connection that in-person events brought us. It was important to us to figure out an inventive way to support the artists and creators we love.”
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidelines around in-person gatherings, the Passage team discussed how it could help support the thousands of event creators. The result was Passage Virtual Events, which leverages Passage’s existing technology and allows event producers and venues to host their events live online.
Passage Virtual Events is free for event creators, who can set any ticket price point and determine the date, time, format, and content of their events. Access to all events is protected by a virtual ticket, required for entry to the live-streamed event. Event creators can use their preferred streaming provider, including YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, or another trusted platform for the live-streaming.
“Our platform was already setup to handle these kinds of transactions, so it merely became a matter of building out the right technology and the right interface,” says Linebrink. “Our team worked relentlessly to build something that was simple so anyone could use it, even if you’re not tech-savvy.”
Passage hopes virtual events will provide relief for the industries hardest hit by the pausing of in-person events during the COVID-19 pandemic. A custom event through Passage Virtual Events can be set up in fewer than five minutes and then integrated into social channels immediately after. The platform can be utilized in multiple industries, including broadcasting an interactive mixology class, fitness bootcamp, cooking classes, music lessons, paint and sip, home improvement projects, learning activities for children, and more.
Organizers also can leverage Passage’s social discount feature, which offers an immediate ticket discount for guests who help share an event on Facebook or Twitter, to help get the word out about their events. Event creators also can sell merchandise and accept donations on the Passage platform to boost their income and give fans a way to show their support.
“One thing that hasn’t changed is our need for entertainment, and our love for our favorite artists and creators is as strong as ever,” says Linebrink. “We hope Passage Virtual Events gives the world a way to stay connected and stay positive.”
Event creators can get started here, which also is where fans can search for virtual events and purchase tickets.
Passage also introduced a program this week called Passage Capital, which offers event producers and venues an up-front cash infusion in exchange for a long-term contract. Visit here for more information.
