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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 3, 2019 18:01:00 GMT
Given that an e-ticket operation requires each usher to be provided with an electronic device with which to check the e-tickets, then this should clearly be factored into the environmental impact assessment of such a move. These devices will require regular charging. These devices will also inevitably require replacements - thus generating unrecyclable devices.
Yes, it looks green to do away with paper/card tickets. But those tickets are very easily recycled and the technology to produce them will still have to be in operation as not everyone has access to the technology to deal with e-tickets. Indeed having seen an e-ticket trial at a local venue, more than half the people turning up had printed out - on a sheet of A4 paper - a copy of each ticket for their party.
E-tickets feel like an easy bit of virtue signalling rather than a real solution to a huge issue. Fine to offer then as an option, if you must - but they do not come free of an environmental impact.
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Post by Jon on Nov 3, 2019 18:07:47 GMT
Given that an e-ticket operation requires each usher to be provided with an electronic device with which to check the e-tickets, then this should clearly be factored into the environmental impact assessment of such a move. These devices will require regular charging. These devices will also inevitably require replacements - thus generating unrecyclable devices. Yes, it looks green to do away with paper/card tickets. But those tickets are very easily recycled and the technology to produce them will still have to be in operation as not everyone has access to the technology to deal with e-tickets. Indeed having seen an e-ticket trial at a local venue, more than half the people turning up had printed out - on a sheet of A4 paper - a copy of each ticket for their party. E-tickets feel like an easy bit of virtue signalling rather than a real solution to a huge issue. Fine to offer then as an option, if you must - but they do not come free of an environmental impact. It's interesting that theatre has been slow to adopt e-tickets whereas other industries has embraced it. On a recent holiday, my train ticket, my plane boarding pass and my theatre ticket was all stored on my Wallet app on my phone and honestly it's great not to worry about printing your ticket at home or having to queue at the box office. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 3, 2019 18:12:30 GMT
Given that an e-ticket operation requires each usher to be provided with an electronic device with which to check the e-tickets, then this should clearly be factored into the environmental impact assessment of such a move. These devices will require regular charging. These devices will also inevitably require replacements - thus generating unrecyclable devices. Yes, it looks green to do away with paper/card tickets. But those tickets are very easily recycled and the technology to produce them will still have to be in operation as not everyone has access to the technology to deal with e-tickets. Indeed having seen an e-ticket trial at a local venue, more than half the people turning up had printed out - on a sheet of A4 paper - a copy of each ticket for their party. E-tickets feel like an easy bit of virtue signalling rather than a real solution to a huge issue. Fine to offer then as an option, if you must - but they do not come free of an environmental impact. It's interesting that theatre has been slow to adopt e-tickets whereas other industries has embraced it. On a recent holiday, my train ticket, my plane boarding pass and my theatre ticket was all stored on my Wallet app on my phone and honestly it's great not to worry about printing your ticket at home or having to queue at the box office. There is no doubt that they work well in certain circumstances and for a good number of people. But physical theatre tickets are by far the simplest way for theatregoers to gain access to the show for which they have booked. Sometimes the technological solution isn't the best option. And I am not convinced that in the case of theatre tickets, that e-tickets are that much of an environmental improvement. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2019 19:29:59 GMT
It's interesting that theatre has been slow to adopt e-tickets whereas other industries has embraced it. On a recent holiday, my train ticket, my plane boarding pass and my theatre ticket was all stored on my Wallet app on my phone and honestly it's great not to worry about printing your ticket at home or having to queue at the box office. There is no doubt that they work well in certain circumstances and for a good number of people. But physical theatre tickets are by far the simplest way for theatregoers to gain access to the show for which they have booked. Sometimes the technological solution isn't the best option. And I am not convinced that in the case of theatre tickets, that e-tickets are that much of an environmental improvement. And ALOT of the theatregoing audience are older who (I am not intending to sound ageist) don't like or don't bother with technology. You risk alienating a massive percentage of audience members. I think getting rid of paper tickets is unnecessary and overkill. What about focusing on renewable energy for their buildings? So many other areas they focus on rather than the humble ticket. I agree that all tickets could be at the box office, no matter what. That would save on postage and any other things that occur as a result. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 3, 2019 19:43:47 GMT
And ALOT of the theatregoing audience are older who (I am not intending to sound ageist) don't like or don't bother with technology. You risk alienating a massive percentage of audience members. I think getting rid of paper tickets is unnecessary and overkill. What about focusing on renewable energy for their buildings? So many other areas they focus on rather than the humble ticket. I agree that all tickets could be at the box office, no matter what. That would save on postage and any other things that occur as a result. Saying e-tickets are unnecessary is like suggesting the abacus is better than the calculator or a horse and carriage is better than a car. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 3, 2019 20:07:54 GMT
Not all change is necessarily for the better. Quite often you make losses as well as gains.
The idea that a technological solution is by necessity the best possible one is not always true.
There might be an inevitability to e-ticketing in theatres but that does not necessarily make it the best way forward for audience members. Some will love it. Some will resent it. Most will just get on with it.
But we don't all have smart phones or similar devices and until we do, there will have to be some sort of hybrid system.
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 3, 2019 20:08:01 GMT
Most industries whether it be travel or entertainment to have e-tickets. It's not just being eco-friendly, it's saves a lot of money on postage and admin not having physical tickets and for many people, having their tickets on their phone means one less thing to worry about.
Try having OCD. For me e-tickets are one more thing to worry about. The only time I tried using one the usher took hold of my phone. I had disinfect my phone when I got home afterwards. I certainly do not want to do that on a weekly basis! Now if I am only given an e-ticket option I have to go to the box office & ask for my ticket to be printed out, explaining why I do not want to be showing my phone to an usher. If theatres go e-ticket only am I supposed to buy a second phone for "public use"? That's hardly environmentally friendly.
As a side note: what if someone's phone battery dies just before they get to the theatre? No entry? A piece of card isn't going to run out of power!
Also, what about people who don't have smartphones? Theatre audiences, especially regionally, tend to skew older, which coincides with the group of people by age who are least likely to have smartphones. Any regional theatre that tries to go to e-tickets only will really be shooting themselves in the foot with that one.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2019 20:51:50 GMT
I struggle to see how avoiding paper tickets is a significant benefit for the environment. A quick bit of measuring and weighing suggests that one week's circulation of my town's local free newspaper uses up as much paper as 12 to 14 years of tickets in a medium-sized theatre.
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Post by peggs on Nov 3, 2019 21:45:28 GMT
I admit where I've had e-tickets I've printed them out anyway as I don't trust that I won't forget/lose my phone or it'll flatten and die, plus for some months my phone refused to let me onto my email so had no way to get an e-ticket onto my phone. So i'm still printing the tickets but now means I have to find access to a printer. Neither of my parents have phones let alone smart phones. I guess i'll get used to it but currently it makes me panic more and results in endless checking that it's still on my phone.
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Post by showgirl on Nov 4, 2019 4:35:31 GMT
Not all e-tickets require scanning: for instance, at the Park Theatre, you simply show the usher your ticket on your device. However, what I do find inconvenient is having to ensure I've downloaded and opened the attachment and have it ready to present while I'm queueing for the auditorium to open. Wasteful of my phone battery and I'm always afraid the image will disappear just as I need it. With the reserved seating in the larger space a delay wouldn't matter but for the unreserved seating in the smaller one I want to be in asap to get an aisle seat.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2019 17:06:17 GMT
Not all e-tickets require scanning: for instance, at the Park Theatre, you simply show the usher your ticket on your device. However, what I do find inconvenient is having to ensure I've downloaded and opened the attachment and have it ready to present while I'm queueing for the auditorium to open. Wasteful of my phone battery and I'm always afraid the image will disappear just as I need it. With the reserved seating in the larger space a delay wouldn't matter but for the unreserved seating in the smaller one I want to be in asap to get an aisle seat. Going off topic, but I never understand why theatre don't always scan tickets when they have a barcode or sometimes they don't rip them. If they don't scan them, someone could easily duplicate the ticket and just sit in an empty seat. Ushers won't remember what tickets they have seen. When tickets are scanned, they know how many people have turned up, whether they should wait 5 minutes for any latecomers or not. At least with paper tickets that have to be collected from a box office, they can see black and white infront of them how many are left. In my personal opinion, to have mandatory E-Tickets would put me off going to a certain theatre. It's overkill. Sure, have it as a option but don't make people choose e tickets. One of the many bug bears I have with the Old Vic. |
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