When I need to take an airline flight, or even resolve an issue with an airline ticket I already bought, there are any number of organizations or individuals I can contact for help. I can call the airline, of course, but I can also browse available fares on the web, I can call a travel agent, I can even subscribe to an automated e-mail system to let me know when my desired itinerary drops in price. And any of these individuals or systems can quote me a price, view available seats, and make the sale.<\/p>\n
But when I want an enjoyable night out at some cultural event (one I know about, or a new experience I don’t yet know I want), who do I contact? I read the newspaper for tiny event listings or hyperbolic advertisements. I sift through my various culture junk mail stacks. I ask my friends. I call a few larger venues on the off chance that they’re presenting something I’d like to see. And even once I find an event or activity, I have to figure out who can sell me a ticket and when they’re available to do so.<\/p>\n
In an industry that, like the airlines, is all about perishable capacity (vacant seats or available exhibit times scattered around the city, that will become worthless at the moment the event or the flight takes off), it’s odd that someone hasn’t succeeded at distributed ticketing, or an agent-based approach to cultural experience.<\/p>\n