Ricky Hong is a hugely successful PromoTix user and a street team member for Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain, a music festival in Ozark, AR. Here is what Ricky had to say:
Hey Ricky! How's it going?
Good man! How are you.
I'm doing well. So how did you find out about PromoTix?
I was lucky enough to join the Backwoods street team last year - that was the first time I ever used PromoTix. This year is my second time around.
Tell us about Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain. How were you introduced to the festival?
The first time I went to Backwoods was in 2015, and then again in 2016. Back then Backwoods was still in Oklahoma. When they moved to Arkansas/Mulberry Mountain in 2018, I was already familiar with the venue because I went to Wakarusa in 2014 and again in 2015. I saw Backwoods was looking for street team members, and I jumped on the opportunity. I've always wanted to get involved, be apart of a street team, and help spread the joy.
Are there any other festivals that you like to go to besides Backwoods?
Oh yeah, I've had the chance to go to several. My favorite would probably have to be Electric Forest. I've also been to Hulaween, and EDC Vegas. Nothing compares to Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain though... it's so unique. It's definitely one of my favorite festivals.
Awesome. Well congratulations on all of your success so far! How would you describe your experience up to this point?
It's been a great experience. Right now I'm ranked second on the team, so I'm fighting really hard to get that top spot! I love telling people about Backwoods who have never heard about it before... watching them get excited about it, and then being able to save them money on their tickets. That extra money typically gets spent on food or merch anyways, so it all ends up going back to the festival in the end. Talking and connecting with new people is probably my favorite aspect of being on the street team.
Have you ever met up with anybody at the festival, after you sold them tickets through PromoTix?
Yeah actually, I'm planning on meeting up with a couple people this year who I've sold tickets to and I've never met them before. Being on the street team and using PromoTix has introduced me to a lot of people. I also try to follow up with my customers the best I can, so we still communicate even once the sale is done. For me, the relationship doesn't end once the tickets are sold.
How much revenue have you generated for Backwoods so far this year through PromoTix?
That is a great question. I've sold a little over $17,000 I believe, which means I've personally made about $850 in commission on those sales. Last time I've checked I've sold over 130 tickets. It's pretty awesome.
130 tickets, that's wild.
I know! And I know I'm not in the top spot when it comes to revenue, but I'm curious how I stack up based strictly on number of tickets sold. Maybe you could find that out for me. It seems like a lot of work, but honestly it's been pretty easy for me. PromoTix pays quickly, and if you're selling a ticket for cash, then you get paid right there on the spot. It's definitely made my job easier for sure.
What kind of rewards have you earned so far for Backwoods 2019?
So far, I think I've earned four general admission tickets, and one early arrival pass. It might be five, I'll have to go back and look. I also unlocked the $100 merchandise package. And the $850 in commission!
Are you using PromoTix to promote any other events besides Backwoods right now?
Not right now - I've seen a couple new opportunities on there, but nothing has really caught my attention so far. But it is cool to see that opportunities pop up for you right inside of the app. If I happen to see something I like, I can easily request to join their street team.
How does using PromoTix compare to what you were doing in the past? Were you on any street teams before you started using PromoTix?
I wasn't doing a whole lot before PromoTix, but I was selling physical paper tickets for a short period of time. Back then I had to pay for those tickets upfront using my own money, and then turn around and sell them to get my money back. Thinking about that now, I really appreciate how PromoTix gets rid of that. I don't have to worry about inventory, things getting lost, etc... with PromoTix it's all digital.
I've actually never heard of that practice before. I can see why an event organizer would do that to minimize their risk, but I imagine that also severely limited how many tickets you could sell at one time.
Oh yeah... I only had maybe 5 or so tickets on me at any given time. It was really bad in terms of supply, and that hurt sales for sure.
Would you recommend PromoTix to a friend?
Definitely. I really like the interface, and the ability to share social media templates straight from the app. Being able to edit the templates if I want to is also a nice touch. The support team is readily available for any questions, and the tickets get sent out instantly with a receipt and confirmation so people trust it. Overall I think it's a very seamless.
We love to hear that. How about this though: if you had a magic wand and you could change anything about PromoTix, what would it be?
For me, it would be beneficial if there was a street team member review system. I think that would be helpful when it comes to building trust. Also - if you could accept PayPal or Venmo directly through the app, that would be a great addition.
Those are great points. What tips would you give to new street team members out there who could maybe use some advice?
My recommendation would be if you see someone asking questions online, reach out to them. Send them a direct message and try to make that connection. Be ready to provide some proof, references, or verification if you have to. Once you gain that trust and make that first sale, word of mouth will be your best friend. And like I said before, follow up whenever you can. If the festival announces anything new and interesting, let all of your ticket buyers know. Not only will people come to you for tickets, but they'll come to you for information as well. Long story short, if you're open, transparent, and a good person, good things will happen.
I really like that. I can't think of any better way to end this interview. Thanks for the time Ricky.
The pleasure is mine - thanks!
