Richard Harris is known as one of the top sales trainers in the country and has come on the podcast to take on the tactics and acumen applied to sports ticket sales. Harris goes through scenarios of how to engage with a prospect, as well as to transition the conversation into a buying experience. Harris refers to his thoughts on management and improving the sales pipeline for a sales team. Twitter: @rharris415
Tibor Shanto has honed his B2B sales training in Toronto over the last 25 years. Shanto discusses how he works with business development teams to get them focused on improving their pipelines from prospecting to actual closing. Shanto presents the argument that sometimes, the best sales people aren't your future managers. Twitter: @TiborShanto
Charlie Kaufman launched Ticket Talk on WLINY Radio in Brooklyn in 2017, and asked me to come on the show Nov. 9. We chatted about the secondary market, the issue of whether a closed market is about protecting the consumer or locking the consumer into a limited option system. You can listen to the other Ticket Talk episodes here, which are also video livestreamed.
The Golden State Warriors have become the darlings of the NBA on and off of the course, with record-breaking team wins and attendance records. GSW Vice President John Beaven discusses the success of the team, especially when it comes to ticket sales, pricing and the secondary market. Beaven talks about the Chase Arena membership plan, and its uniqueness in the marketplace. Twitter: @JohnBeaven
It's the 5th Anniversary of the original recording the Tao of Sports Podcast, with Ep. 1 guest Matt Harper, who returns for the third time to the show. Harper discusses his transition from college ticket sales to minor league baseball, as well as the founding of the college ticket association (NAATSO) and the first Sports Sales Boot Camp. Harper provides his thoughts on why he had originally agreed to be on the podcast in the first place, and some of the opportunities for connections that it gave him since that time. Twitter: @mattharper_tix
Over two years ago, Michael Abramson came on the podcast (Ep. 520) to discuss how The Hartford Yard Goats would open up the 2016 season in their new ballpark. Almost 300 episodes and two years later, Abramson returns to the podcast to discuss why 2017, not 2016, was the opening year at home for The Hartford Yard Goats. In a story that covered the gamit from construction delays, FBI investigations and continual check-ins with sponsors, Abramson chats about how The Yard Goats kept everything focused and showed MiLB as well as the City of Hartford how well the franchise could succeed under pressure. Twitter: @YardGoatsAGM
Isabella Tamplin opens up the ticket world of Brazil for podcast listeners, sharing insight into her company, Grupo BWA, which oversees ticketing for over 30 professional soccer clubs. Tamplin discusses some of the issues facing the Brazillan soccer fan, especially in attendance and ticket buying consumption. Tamplin discusses how the area has handled venue operations since the Rio 2016 Games & FIFA World Cup of 2014.
John Katz returns for a third time to the podcast (Ep. 601 & Ep. 183), this time to discuss how Tim Tebow and a lunar eclipse, two marketing boons that helped the Columbia Fireflies achieve attendance metrics in 2017. Katz discusses Tebowmania, and how to handle the international press attention that came along with it. Katz shares how the team prepared for the lunar eclipse game in August 2017. Twitter: @JEKatz33
Even with the legacy of UCLA, the Bruins face constant changes in how they operate. Assistant Athletic Director of Ticket Sales Evan Flagg explains that UCLA has had to make tough decisions when it comes to dynamic pricing, as well as avoiding dropping the ticket price if they feel it price was originally in error. Flagg shares his insight into dealing with group sales and ticket initiatives for promotions at UCLA, as well as how to enhance longer term commitments from fans. Flagg compares the difference between working in the pros and college. Twitter: @BlueGoldFlagg
Ashwin Puri joins the podcast to chat about the end of his experience as the Chief Revenue Officer of Cal-Berkeley Athletics and the transition to VP of Strategy and Business Operations at the Oakland Athletics. Puri discusses his time moving from NBA TMBO to Cal in order to start the in-house model for the Pac-12 school in 2012, as well as some of the ways he met the challenge of bureaucracy while building an efficient inside sales model. Puri talks about how the school found creative ways to pay commissions through bonuses and contracts, as well as the opportunity with the Athletics that he couldn't say no to. Twitter: @Ash_Puri