Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast

Dave Wakeman

When you work in entertainment, you are in the business of fun. This podcast will focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with helping your customers create memories and special moments. We will talk about sports, theatre, performing arts, and other forms of entertainment, highlighting the best ideas in marketing live experiences, creating long-term customers, and growing revenues.

  1. 6D AGO

    Daniel Krizan tells me that biometric ticketing can pay for itself

    My guest today is Daniel Krizan from TruCrowd. We got together to talk about biometrics in tickets.  The important thing I learned was how much the technology has changed over the last few years.  What was a great solution and a great idea but might have been out of reach is now much more accessible to venues of all sizes.  In our conversation, Daniel and I discuss: GDPR compliance.  Using tools like TruCrowd to control the secondary market.  How biometrics can pay for itself.  And, a lot more.  Check out TruCrowd at www.TruCrowd.com Hook up with Daniel on LinkedIn.  You can always find me on my website: www.DaveWakeman.com Get the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter at https://talkingtickets.substack.com Join us in the Slack Channel

    45 min

  2. DEC 15

    Nick Falzon says preparation gives you more flexibility not less...

    My guest today is Nick Falzon.  As I mention in the show's introduction, Nick is "The Dynamo of Dynamic Pricing" in much the same way that I am "The King of Tickets."  You get the title used on you once...you never stop using it.  It was great to hang out with Nick and talk about all kinds of things such as: How do you prepare for AI. What strategy before tactics looks like especially when you are some place like Disney.  Teaching. The evolution of distribution.  And, a lot more.  Find Nick on the LinkedIn machine.  Visit me at www.DaveWakeman.com Get the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter at https://talkingtickets.substack.com Here's the link to the Talking Tickets global survey.

    1h 3m

  3. DEC 8

    Matt Wolff says that "immeasurable" data is dangerous.

    My guest to today is Matt Wolff, from Ticket Time Machine.  We had a good time catching up about the fan experience, "immeasurable data", #PaysToWait and more.  Visit Matt at www.TicketTimeMachine.com Check me out at www.DaveWakeman.com Get Talking Tickets at https://talkingtickets.substack.com  Give me your insights for the 2025 Talking Tickets Global Survey: https://s.surveyplanet.com/hog3tqkv

    47 min

  4. DEC 1

    Eric Fuller talks about "organic" demand and I'm not having it...

    My guest today is Eric Fuller.  Friend of the podcast, newsletter, and Dave. Eric makes his sixth appearance on the show.  We talk about a range of topics: The economic environment and uncertainty in the ticket market. We talk about the signs of economic uncertainty like crypto.  Eric brings up an idea of "organic" demand. I disagrI'ee because I don't believe in the myth of the "free market".  Taylor Swift IMP and the 9:30 Club and more... Check out my website at www.DaveWakeman.com and get the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter at https://talkingtickets.substack.com  I'll still take your input on the Talking Tickets survey: https://s.surveyplanet.com/hog3tqkv

    1h 16m

  5. NOV 21

    Jessica Poole says NIL and revenue sharing can co-exist.

    My guest today is Jessica Poole.  She's a long time friend of the podcast, the newsletter, and me! So I wanted to have her on to talk about the work she is doing with the Jessica Poole Communications Collective.  https://thepoolecollective.com We got into it: We talked about the state of NIL Jessica tells me that NIL and revenue can co-exist.  She says that student athletes have to think about their personal brands even if they don't think they will play after college.  We discussed the idea of "The Pivot" And, much more! Fill out the Talking Tickets 2025 global survey!  Over 10% of folks still price based on putting their finger in the air.  Ha! There's a lot more to learn from the survey. So help me do that by sharing your insights.  Visit my website at www.DaveWakeman.com Get the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter: https://talkingtickets.substack.com

    32 min

  6. NOV 10

    Richard Howle trained an AI to think and talk about tickets just like him!

    Richard Howle returns!  Richard has started a new business called RH Insights.  He has trained an AI to think and speak about tickets just like him.  Amazing!  We had a great conversation about all kinds of things.  A few highlights: Richard tells me about a 15,000 word stream of consciousness chat he had with his GPT.  We talk about being customer focused and how that's been a theme of all of our conversations.  Richard tells me how his early career set the stage for everything he has done.  We discuss surprises when you reflect on your career experiences.  Richard talks about the insight areas, 20, including yield management, pricing pressure, sales velocity, house composition, and more.  Check out Richard's site at www.rhinsights.co.uk  I'm offering up new value in the 'Talking Tickets' Slack Channel including new ideas, updates, and opportunities to connect.  Check us out Don't miss anything I'm working on by visiting my site at www.DaveWakeman.com Start 2026 off on the right foot with The Fans For Life Fan Base Audit with me!  Check out the companion newsletter, Talking Tickets!

    47 min

  7. NOV 3

    Randy Nichols wants band to use the same tools as the secondary market.

    My guest today is Randy Nichols!  I've been working to get Randy on for a few weeks now. Our schedules finally lined up.  We had a great conversation!  Some of the things we hit on: Sports v. Concerts Why he fights the secondary market, or, at least seems to.  Financialization of tickets.  Tools.  And, more. Visit my website: www.DaveWakeman.com You can get my newsletters, but I've also laid out a bit of a customer path for ways for you to work with me.  I have been doing a lot of thinking about how to offer value and make it simpler to engage me.  You should sign up for the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter at https://talkingtickets.substack.com Join our 'Talking Tickets' Slack channel! New ideas and new ways to make the group valuable are on the agenda and I'm going to be announcing some of that in the Slack group this afternoon.  Let me know what is on your mind by sending me an email at Dave@DaveWakeman.com with ideas, guest suggestions, and other thoughts.

    1h 8m

  8. OCT 27

    Jason Lassey talks about how the NRL became the #1 sport in Australia and the Pacific!

    My guest today is Jason Lassey.  Jason is the man behind www.FootyIndustry.com. His site is my go-to resource when I want to dig into the numbers behind the different codes in Australia.  Jason wrote a piece on the battle for fans between the AFL and NRL.  I read it and was surprised by his take on the two leagues. So I wanted to have him on to discuss what he sees happening as the NRL and AFL battle for attention and money.  We discussed:  The growth of the NRL. Why Jason thinks many of the AFL's ideas are "half baked".  The Matildas.  The WNBA And, a lot more.  Lots of fun talking with Jason.  His site is just a wealth of numbers and something I use constantly.  Visit my website at www.DaveWakeman.com Get 'Talking Tickets' at https://talkingtickets.substack.com  Next week, I'm going to begin sharing insights, ideas, and more from the 2025 Talking Tickets Global Survey of the Business of Fun.  You have time to share you thoughts still: https://s.surveyplanet.com/hog3tqkv Share the podcast!  Rate it!  Review it!  BTW, anything you want to hear about? Send me a note at Dave@DaveWakeman.com with your topic ideas, guest suggestions, or other things.

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

When you work in entertainment, you are in the business of fun. This podcast will focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with helping your customers create memories and special moments. We will talk about sports, theatre, performing arts, and other forms of entertainment, highlighting the best ideas in marketing live experiences, creating long-term customers, and growing revenues.

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