Detailed Feature Comparison
Let's look at the key features of Shotgun, DICE, and Ticket Fairy in greater detail to understand how they serve the needs of different event organizers.
Marketing Capabilities
Ticket Fairy offers a comprehensive marketing toolkit with a built-in referral system that incentivizes ticket buyers to promote your events, typically increasing sales by 15-25%. The platform also includes pre-registration campaigns, email marketing integration, and detailed tracking of marketing performance.
Shotgun provides strong community-focused marketing tools including unlimited email campaigns, ambassador programs with promotional codes, and tracking links to analyze sales generation across different channels. They claim their community platform can generate 30-40% of event sales through their 5.5 million registered users.
DICE has expanded its marketing capabilities with the DICE Extras marketplace, allowing promoters to sell add-ons like queue jump passes, after-parties, and merchandise directly through their platform. Their beta testers have seen revenue increases of up to 30% with features like these. DICE also leverages its app-based discovery system to promote events to targeted audiences.
Customer Data & Ownership
Ticket Fairy gives event organizers full ownership and access to customer data, including comprehensive contact information, purchase history, and demographic details. This data can be exported and used for direct communication and future marketing campaigns.
Shotgun provides an integrated CRM with demographic and behavioral information about your audience, including interactive audience maps for geographic insights. Their platform helps organizers build and understand their community through data-driven approaches.
DICE provides analytics and forecasting tools for venues, producers, and promoters, though with more limited data access compared to the other platforms. Their focus on being a "user platform for ticket buyers" means they maintain significant control over the customer relationship while providing valuable audience insights to promoters.
Financial Management
Ticket Fairy offers daily payouts via Stripe with transparent fee structures starting at just $2 per ticket. Organizers can choose whether to absorb fees or pass them to attendees, and the platform provides detailed financial reporting.
Shotgun provides instant access to event income from the first ticket sale, with money secured in a dedicated account. Their premium version allows unlimited money transfers, enabling organizers to pay suppliers in advance and potentially secure discounts. Their one-click refund process also simplifies customer service.
DICE follows standard payment schedules with less flexibility in accessing funds before events. Their platform focuses more on the ticket buying experience than on providing advanced financial tools for promoters, which can create cash flow challenges for event production and marketing needs.
Ticket Transfer Policies
Ticket Fairy balances security with flexibility by offering secure ticket transfers with anti-scalping protections. Fans can legitimately transfer tickets when plans change, while organizers maintain control over resale parameters.
Shotgun has developed their own integrated ticket exchange system specifically designed to combat the black market. This feature receives high praise from their users as it creates a safe environment for legitimate transfers while maintaining ticket pricing integrity.
DICE uses a waiting list system that allows fans to return tickets they can't use, which are then offered to people on the waiting list. Their tickets are locked to individual phones as an anti-scalping measure, which provides strong protection against reselling but can create challenges for legitimate ticket transfers to friends.
Platform Accessibility
Ticket Fairy offers both mobile and web-based ticketing with dynamic QR codes for security while also providing email delivery and print options for maximum accessibility across all customer preferences.
Shotgun provides both mobile and web access with particularly robust offline capabilities. Their Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology allows ticket synchronization and scanning even without network connectivity, making them ideal for events in remote locations with poor signal.
DICE is limited to mobile app access only, creating potential barriers for customers who prefer web-based purchasing or those without compatible smartphones. While this creates a streamlined experience for mobile users, it potentially reduces your audience reach by excluding non-smartphone users or those reluctant to install another app.
