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Sorry, I sent to the list rather than just Brian. Sigh. You'd think I'd 
learn. :-)

Carey

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carey Tisdal" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Informal Science Education Network" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 5:16 PM
Subject: Re: Ticketing and Membership


> Brian,
>
> Hi from St. Louis. I worked with the IT Director at the St. Louis Science 
> Center several years ago (when I worked there) in implementing the new 
> ticketing system. I am writing with things I wish someone had told me 
> before we started. :-)
>
> We implemented the VISTA system, but at that time the two brothers who 
> developed  it were still doing the training. They were great, but it has 
> since been sold. Making sure you get a company that has worked with other 
> museums is critical--you have specific needs some companies don't 
> understand. Training is key to making it work well for your museum. One 
> thing to look for, particularly in a smaller museum is one system that can 
> handle both member and ticketing--trying to write over information 
> betweeen two systems is tricky--if you get two systems ask for a site 
> where someone has it working and make sure possible is practical and 
> reliable. The biggest hurdle is defining what options and definitions go 
> into the system as you implement. I really would recommend narrowing your 
> choice down to two of three systems and then getting on the phone and 
> talking to other museums about the quality of the support in set-up, 
> training, and ongoing maintenance that they have experienced with the 
> company. Also, we had tension with the front line staff about how much 
> information to collect with the ticket sale (I was audience research and 
> evaluation director--that's why I was involved--I DID overdo it at first. 
> Keep it simple). Just consistently getting a zip code with a ticket sale 
> gives you an enormous amount of information about who you are serving and 
> what markets your are reaching. If you make distinctions between school 
> groups and casual visitors in ticketing that can also provide good info on 
> who is visiting and what times of year and day. If you know what type of 
> information want out of the system, then the company can make sure you 
> have an ongoing report that suits your needs. The report facility is a 
> very important part of the system--both for accounting and producing 
> useful information for managers.
>
> You will probably get more up-to-date info on specific systems from other 
> people, but I learned so much in that process, I wanted to pass some of it 
> along.. We listed criteria of things we needed a system to do before we 
> had people come into do demos. That allowed us to ask very specific 
> questions, and make certain the functions were really there, not just on 
> paper. That was a great help in making a good decision. It also allow 
> people responsible for different areas to present a criteria and explain 
> why it was needed. That prevented tensions later in the process in chosing 
> between systems--everybody was on the same page. Terri Edney, the IT 
> Director at the St. Louis Science Center would be a great person to call.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Carey
>
> Carey E. Tisdal
> Tisdal Consulting
> 4475 West Pine Blvd., #1705
> St. Louis, MO 63108
> Phone: 314-531-9766
> Cell: 314-496-9097
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Brian Hostetler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 2:20 PM
> Subject: Ticketing and Membership
>
>
> I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for good sof
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related 
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Howdy list-
>
> I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for good software systems 
> for Ticketing and Membership Data bases.  The YouZeum is a small (Approx 
> 15000 Sq feet of exhibit space) museum set to open in 2007.  We are 
> investigating programs for printing and scheduling tickets as well as 
> keeping track of membership, mailings, benefits, etc...
> Any responses on or off list would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Brian Hostetler
> Exhibits and Programs Coordinator
> The YouZeum
> Columbia, MO
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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