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\u201cWhat would happen if we created our own queer ticketing platform?\u201d<\/p>\n
This is a question asked by event organiser and entrepreneur Daniel Nardicio to his now business partners Taylor Shubert and Sam Benedict.<\/p>\n
Following a global pandemic, where Nardicio was just one of the many event organisers that suffered greatly at the hands of well-known ticketing companies, the trio formed ticketing platform Red Eye Tickets in New York.<\/p>\n
Benedict told\u00a0TheTicketingBusiness.com<\/a><\/b>: \u201cWe had several sold-out events scheduled at the onset of the pandemic which in turn meant a lot of refunds, or so we thought. We were shocked at how difficult it was, or in some cases impossible, to get the ticket platforms we were using like Ticketmaster and Brown Paper Tickets to refund our patrons<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWhen you consider the size of some of these companies, and their worth, we found it unconscionable that producers and patrons were left holding the bag. In addition, we looked back at the amount of money we generated in fees for these companies over the years and said to ourselves \u2018we can do this, we can do this better, and we can serve our community in the process\u2019.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n And so, Red Eye Tickets was born.<\/p>\n Nardicio said: \u201cFirst off, while we are gay-owned and operated, we do not only host and sell gay events, but moreover, cool events featuring great talents, some famous \u2013 some not yet famous \u2013 and promote our mainstay, parties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cOur ethos is to keep going out affordable, to help performers and promoters get their events out there, and I think in this day and age, to give good customer service. Try calling a larger ticketing company right now, you\u2019ll be on hold longer than [US airline] Delta \u2013 especially if you need a refund. We aim to be better<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Nardicio also said it \u201cwas so professionally embarrassing\u201d as these larger companies wouldn\u2019t refund sold-out shows with performers such as American drag queen BenDeLaCreme, known for being a contestant on television series,\u00a0RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race.<\/p>\n Monday? pic.twitter.com\/zVkat7yG7s<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BenDeLaCreme (@bendelacreme) March 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The company went into beta testing during the summer of last year on Fire Island, which runs parallel to the south shore of Long Island, New York. The site had been built by Shubert, who had previously worked with Nardicio and is now a partner and creator of Red Eye Tickets. The ticketing platform will compliment the soon-to-open coffee bar and nightclub, Red Eye NY.\u00a0<\/p>\n Giving back <\/strong><\/p>\n As part of running a LGBTQIA+ ticketing platform, the founders knew it was important to give back to charities that would support their community.<\/p>\n Nardicio said: \u201cWe\u2019ve been very lucky in our careers in nightlife that people have come to our events and supported us. We decided to use our platform to give back, in a very tangible way, to our LGBTQIA+ brethren who are struggling, homeless youth, people in our community who need a leg up, as it were<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe charities chosen do exactly that. Ali Forney and Callen-Lorde in particular are doing the Lord\u2019s work, in my opinion<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ali Forney Center is a service that provides support to homeless LGBTQ+ young people and is inspired by Ali He\u2019shun Forney, an African-American gay and transgender youth that was a counsellor and advocate for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in New York. He was killed in Harlem at the age of 22.<\/p>\n Callen-Lorde is a charitable organisation that focuses on LGBTQ+ health and has health centres and pharmacies that cater to the community\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n Benedict added: \u201cGays Against Guns is an organisation very near and dear to me. I\u2019m so proud of the money I\u2019ve been able to raise for them in the past and just ecstatic that the work continues with this endeavour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile this is our first foray with Rainbow Railroad [a Canadian charity that helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people escape violence and persecution in their home nations] we\u2019ve long been excited to support their mission in providing refugee services for queer individuals around the globe<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Benedict has already raised over $15,000 (\u00a310,915\/\u20ac13,086) for Gays Against Guns, and a further \u00a225 from each ticket purchase will go towards these organisations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Catering for the community <\/strong><\/p>\n Despite being a young company, Red Eye Tickets has already expanded to include programming around the US.<\/p>\n The hysterical and twisted Dina Martina returns to Sony Hall for her laugh out loud show Chariots of Failure: Presented by @danielnardicio<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/JDxnDkYrMk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Red Eye Tickets (@RedEyeTickets) January 11, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Benedict said: \u201cOur home base is in New York City where we all live, but our business isn\u2019t exclusive to the Big Apple \u2013 we\u2019ve already serviced events in New Orleans, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Fire Island to name a few<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cOur aim is to highlight LGBTQ+ people and events because they often don\u2019t get catered to by ticketing platforms, event listing services or even the press. That\u2019s where we fit in<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Shubert explained that the company has expanded through \u201cclearly stating what we do, and what we stand for\u201d. This then attracts performers and producers around the globe that support Red Eye Ticket\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe\u2019re excited to continue that growth, and to help other people in the nightlight community grow by shining a spotlight on what makes them unique and fun, and helping our audiences attend their events. We\u2019re on this journey together<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Nardicio concluded: \u201cSome of the greatest artists, performers and shows are created and facilitated by gay people. And while those events are often heralded critically, we found in our experience that if the event was gay-centric, or \u2018too gay\u2019, it didn\u2019t get the same attention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we don\u2019t mind, because 2022 \u2013 it\u2019s the year of the gay!<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n Image: Michael Discenza<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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