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SeatGeek Is In The Front Row Of The Ticket-Selling Business

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The SeatGeek employee roster includes a classically-trained opera singer, a retired contender on the competitive eating circuit, and an all-American fencer, to name a few. Having such a unique and diverse workforce under one roof is something that SeatGeek takes pride in. Not only does it create a fun company culture, but it lends itself to endless ideas and perspectives.

“It’s great that people have different interests and backgrounds and can come together and work on awesome projects,” says Jamie Sterrett, director of talent at SeatGeek.

SeatGeek Aims To Make A Big Company Feel Small

SeatGeek employees take a break from work to chat and enjoy some food in the company kitchen.

The mobile-focused ticket platform has seen its fair share of growth over the last three years. SeatGeek employs just under 500 employees globally, which includes the company’s headquarters in New York City and offices in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, and Israel.

In order to encourage collaboration and networking, and foster an environment of diversity and inclusion, the company has both employee resource groups (ERGs) and affinity groups. Sterrett says the ERGs are focused on empowering diverse groups across SeatGeek, while the affinity groups are focused on hobbies and shared interests such as fitness, food, and board games.

“It’s really important as we grow that people are able to find community within the workplace,” Sterrett says. “The more you have that community, the more people will collaborate.”

The company uses a number of long-standing traditions to bring the workforce together on a regular basis.

One example is the weekly company lunch. Each week a team presents during the lunch to update the company on projects they’re working on. Sterrett says it’s a great way to keep employees updated about what’s going on at the company and to help them get to know co-workers they’re not as familiar with.

“We’re a people-focused organization…transparency and collaboration are important to us,” Sterrett says.

The company also holds “ask anything” forums where employees are urged to ask company leadership questions about anything.

One newer SeatGeek tradition, breakfast-lunch-dinner, is a livestream conference between the offices in New York, Europe, and Israel.

Staying Ahead Of The Competition

SeatGeek's offices feature televisions and stadium-like seating, which allows employees to enjoy occasional sporting events at the office.

The online ticket selling industry has become a competitive one over the years and SeatGeek is always striving to be the industry leader. Sterrett says that competition, plus the ever-changing culture of the technology industry, makes working at SeatGeek appealing to a lot of people. “We’re trying to introduce a lot of that change and that’s really exciting to people.”

SeatGeek’s platform puts the focus on the fan experience. Customers looking to purchase tickets to sporting events or concerts will not only see the ticket price, but they will get a “Deal Score” that indicates what type of value they are getting for the prices of tickets. Essentially, this tells customers whether or not they’re overpaying for the tickets.

In recent years, SeatGeek has expanded its international offerings and has become the primary ticket provider for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.

SeatGeek employees enjoy being a part of the ticket-selling industry.

“From a product and business standpoint the past couple years have been incredibly exciting. We are now official ticketing partners with some of the largest names in sports. It’s not only helping us grow our business, but more importantly it’s helping us provide a better experience to fans,” one employee says in a Glassdoor review.

“SeatGeek is starting to disrupt the ticketing industry. It is exciting to be a part of a company that is truly focused on the customer. It is clear from top to bottom that we want to make it easier for the average person to see more events live,” another employee writes.

The Perks Of Working At SeatGeek

A fun feature at SeatGeek are fan bedrooms from the 1990s aimed at reminding employees of what it's like to be a fan.

One of the most popular benefits at SeatGeek is the $120 monthly ticket stipend that can be used on an endless list of athletic events and concerts. Sterrett says that in addition to being popular, the perk also benefits the company because many employees will use it to go to events together, and it allows employees to suggest possible improvements.

The SeatGeek office is bright and open and features a large projection screen for the viewing of occasional sporting events.

Other benefits include a free Spotify subscription and Citi Bike membership, unlimited vacation time, a fully-stocked kitchen, and regular team events such as happy hours, bowling, and ski trips.

Career Opportunities At SeatGeek

To apply or learn more about working at SeatGeek, check out their careers page today!

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Why Outplacement Services Don’t Work

Here’s my issue with the word “outplacement.” The name itself says, “You’re out. Go get placed someplace else.” What is a more motivating word?

We see this a lot in business. We hang on to words that maybe made sense at one point in time, but we’ve evolved. I think this word needs to be retired. But the other issue I have is that the companies that are doing outplacement right now, again, are old school.

Outplacement Services Are Outdated

@j.t.odonnell Let”s retire the word OUTPLACEMENT @j.t.odonnell #outplacement #layoff #edutok #jobsearch #WomenOwnedBusiness #hr #recruitment #careeradvice ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The companies that still do outplacement have been around for a really long time. And when a big company does a layoff and is very visible in the public, they will go and purchase outplacement services from these older companies which honestly are teaching outdated resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter techniques, and aren’t really helping laid-off employees figure out what they want to do in their careers.

And how do I know that? Well, I built a platform—a career coaching platform—and all of these people who are getting this “outplacement” are now coming to us after it’s been unsuccessful.

The Solution? Career Coaching…

Happy woman receives career coaching

Inside my career coaching community, we’re finding out how unsuccessful outplacement services really are. We’re seeing what laid-off employees were told and we see how wrong it is. They come to us, and we help them fix it.

What’s different about us? We’re disrupting the industry. For starters, anyone can join my platform for free. We believe career coaching is a sign of greatness, not a sign of weakness. Outplacement is seen as something shameful. You did something wrong, you got laid off. But with career coaching, it’s different.

Think of your employees as becoming alumni of your organization, as the alumni having a place to collectively go. That’s what we’re doing for companies. Smart companies are doing away with outplacement and coming to us and saying, “Create an alumni center for my folks and give them the support that they need so that they can figure out what they want to do next,” and we support them. That’s what we do. That is the future of support for the people that you have to let go in your organization.

If you would like to learn more about how that works, you can direct message me and I can share more with you. But even if you don’t work with us, please think twice about overpaying for these outplacement services that are really not doing your people any good. There is a better way (and a more motivating word) than outplacement services, and that’s career coaching.

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The Benefits Of Slowing Down

I was recently on a group call and one of the designers chirped that she churns out a new website for her clients every other day. I was blown away. Just floored. That is a LOT of work to get done in two workdays. And that included a logo! I have been doing this for quite a while and I started to wonder am I a dinosaur unable to keep up with kids fresh out of school? Is this where it is all headed? I had a lot of questions. What was she using to get all of this done so quickly? Are there new tools I just don’t know about yet? So. Many. Questions.

Upon further investigation and a round of 21 questions, I discovered that pretty much every aspect of our businesses is totally different. Neither one was better or worse, just very different. For starters, our clientele is 100% completely different, as is our process, pricing, even our client experiences. My clients have established businesses that have been around for a few years. They are looking to invest in and level up their branding to something bespoke and completely custom. Meanwhile, her clients were mostly in their mid-20s and just getting started with a small business. Their primary need was the basic nuts and bolts to get up and running; they didn’t care about custom icons or a style guide or even if there was a strategy behind it all. And THAT is one of the things I both love and hate about the design business.

You can’t always compare apples to apples, so it is important to find the branding (and hopefully strategy) person that will suit your needs and not just go on price. If you requested a quote from both of us you might be very surprised at the price difference. My branding and strategy packages start at 10K and take 2-3 months vs. her packages start at $800 include website and logo, done in 2 days. All that said to illustrate that there are lots of ways to get to the destination… but like I said, I am taking the scenic route because I know the benefits of slowing down.

You Get To Sit With It For A While

My process for branding and strategy starts with research and discovery. At this point, I am learning everything I can about my client’s goals, vision for their brand, and what their ideal customer looks like. I am looking for interesting details of the founder’s journey that can help tell a meaningful story to their customers. Having a longer process allows me to dig a bit deeper in the research phase, and marinate a bit longer with that information. The end result of all that cook time is that when I distill that information down into their brand strategy, it is filled with meaningful information and useful details. This strategy is the foundation for the design work. So clients know that every design decision we make together is rooted in strategy.

A Client-Friendly Timeline

Brand strategy (and most client projects) rely heavily on client feedback and information. If you work with smaller businesses like I tend to do, the person guiding those decisions, and providing feedback, is often also very busy running the business. A longer timeline allows them the time they need to really reflect on their answers and make sure they have time to digest our work together—we don’t want to rush something as important as branding. The longer timeline allows for an immersive process that feels more luxe and client focused. Additionally, I think involving the client more allows them to appreciate and really see the value in the process.

Getting Detailed

I look at branding as a significant investment, much more than just a logo. I take a holistic approach to the process. My clients understand that I am not working on multiple client branding simultaneously. I work on one branding project at a time, and my price reflects that one-on-one service. The end result is grounded in strategy and built to be flexible enough to use for years to come. It is a comprehensive brand guide, and the specific pieces of collateral that will make the most impact for their business. And then, I even show clients how to use all of the elements at their disposal. Including how to relaunch the brand with their new look. A few months sounds long, but clients seem to truly appreciate not rushing through the process.

While my “slow” process may not be for everyone, I think it highlights the importance of right-fitting when choosing a branding professional to work with. When in doubt ask about their process. Working with the right designer for you can be the difference between a frustrating situation or an amazing brand identity to grow your business with.

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SMART Goals For Job Seekers

There are two perspectives on SMART goals for job seekers, one from the viewpoint of the activities you perform as part of your job search, the other focused on understanding the expectations of a position you’re considering.

SMART goals, originally attributed to Peter Drucker, has been interpreted with various modifications and additions, but generally refers to goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable (Achievable, Actionable), Realistic (Relevant), and Time-Bound (Time-Based, Timely). There’s strong agreement on the “Specific” and “Measurable,” with several variations of the “__ART” elements. Specific, Measurable, and Time-Bound are generally agreed upon as core elements.

For The Job Search

Man writes down his goals while looking for a job

For job seekers, SMART goals can be a powerful tool to guide the process. While many individuals are familiar with the idea from its common work application, it’s a new—and much-needed—process for many job seekers. And for those unfamiliar with the idea, it can be further complicated by the claim of goals being set for them in their work experience—goals that are absolutely not SMART. So, a job seeker might just set an extremely broad goal, like “finding a new job,” or might set some seemingly more specific goals like:

  • Revise my resume
  • Contact my references
  • Search online for job opportunities
  • Send thank you emails

While setting some goals, any goals, particularly if they’re written down, is better than not having any goals, these are definitely not SMART goals. More importantly, goals like these deprive a job seeker of the power of having SMART goals.

Research on goal setting clearly demonstrates the power—and the dangers—of goal setting. Goals that are not SMART fail to motivate top performance and/or lead to inaction. Goals that are set too high (not Realistic) frequently prompt a person’s decision to “give up.” Understanding the dynamics of goal setting can be a powerful tool for a job seeker’s success.

Let’s turn the examples above into SMART goals:

  • Revise my resume – Create a customized resume for each job opening I want to apply for by next Sunday.
  • Contact my references – Identify at least one reference from my previous employers and contact them within the next month with my resume and information on the jobs I’m seeking.
  • Search online for job opportunities – Check online for job opportunities at least twice a week.
  • Send thank you emails – Send thank you emails within 24 hours of an interview to each person involved.

For The Interview

Woman asks a question about goals during an interview

Understanding SMART goals can also be a powerful tool for a candidate to use during an interview. Job postings, ads, and even job descriptions can be filled with generalities and duties that, at best, describe average performance.

A job seeker is frequently asked, “Do you have any questions?” Seize this opportunity whenever given. Unless the following has been made clear to you, ask: “If I were offered and accepted this position, and you considered me extremely successful in my first year, what did I accomplish?” Then probe! And probe whenever you can during an interview when you don’t have clear, specific (SMART) expectations from the interviewer:

  • Specifically, what do you expect the person in this job to accomplish in the first 90 days?
    • In the first six months?
    • In the first year?
  • The job description says the job includes “making sales calls.” How many are considered acceptable in a day? In a month?
    • How many of the company’s sales staff regularly achieve acceptable performance?
    • How many sales calls are considered “outstanding performance”?
  • The job description says that the job includes “leading the team.” How many people are on the team?
    • How many members are new? Long-time members?
    • Is the team facing specific challenges? Problems?
    • What resources are available for developing the team? Training? Assessments?
    • What’s the time frame for improving the team’s performance?
  • You mentioned “the usual customer service” responsibilities, could you tell me…
    • What does “outstanding” customer service mean for this business?
    • What kind of training is provided for customer service?
    • What are the customer service expectations in terms of working with colleagues?
    • (Somewhat advanced but a good question) Is compensation tied to the quality of service provided by a person in this job?

These probing questions need to be customized for each individual position. But just like the importance of thoroughly preparing your responses to questions about your experience, this is where you thoroughly prepare by 1) researching the company and 2) preparing questions that probe for:

  • Specific: Are you given answers with clear “action” verbs?
  • Measurable: Is there a clear measurement (a number) that indicates a performance level?
  • Attainable: Are the expectations achievable, too low (usually not specific), or unrealistically high?
  • Realistic: Are the results of the actions specified indicated?
  • Time-Bound: Are the expectations framed in terms of “when”?

SMART goals can be a very powerful part of a successful job search—and a powerful tool for a job seeker to use during the interview process—if a job seeker learns and practices the process.

The job search process can be incredibly frustrating and stressful, especially if you’re feeling lost, trapped, or burned out in your career. If you’re struggling to find a job that’s right for you, we can help.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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Can You Afford To Not Have A Major Brand Presence At Coachella?

After three years of desert quiet, we finally experienced a return to Indigo Empire Polo Club grounds as the famed Coachella Festival arrived. An exciting three-day celebration prevailed. Whether watching it via live stream or in person, you could tell that the music festival did not disappoint. It was definitely a vibe. It’s not hard to see why it was so successful this year for so many brands, artists, and fans that were in attendance. We experienced excitement in particular as some of the largest brands in the world participated in the event with a robust and impressive strategy for brand activations.

Coachella has been on hold through the pandemic since 2019 when it was delayed twice. This made the event this year pretty special with an amazing amount of professional execution and successful installations for an estimated 100,000 people in attendance.

This year Goldenvoice took on full ops of the Empire Polo Club which serves as the festival grounds through 2050. Festival-goers could feel the increase in crowd numbers which is an indicator that our society is hungry for live music, community, and ready to celebrate post-pandemic. The desert festival has been referred to as one of the most successful events produced and this year was no exception.

Brand activations were at an all-time high with many branded events dominating the experience with companies including Revolve, American Express, Soho House, and newer but culturally relevant brands like The GLD Shop.

The combination of brand experiences, great weather, and live music performances reminded all of us how grateful we are to live in a post-pandemic world. Brand marketing was at an all-time high time with some spending north of an estimate of $1 million for activations and events. Here are a few brands that stood out.

Revolve

The fashion brand Revolve hosts The Revolve Festival, which sits outside the festival grounds in Palm Springs and is meant to complement the main Coachella lineup for the fashion fast brand. Known for its elaborate influencer trips, Revolve once again arrived with a larger influencer crowd and more musical performances than ever seen before. What started out as the Revolve House five years ago has morphed into the Revolve Festival including access that includes entertainment such as Jack Harlow, Ty Dolla $ign, and Willow, to name a few. Massive influencers from TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube were present, where they posted to Web the Revolve fashion they were wearing and what the house had to offer. Even with a few mishaps and shuttle issues, the event was epic, with an appearance by the Kardashian girls themselves.

Hosting brand activations are not only epic experiences for influencers but key brand success marketing gold, as organic posting in real-time from events like this pays off well.

In this case Revolve created the must-be-at event, with the largest celebrity artist of influencers, where hangtime is crucial for socializing and proof that you were at the exclusive event. Let’s call it selfie heaven and a big win for Revolve with logo stations abound which flooded the internet all at once.

The GLD Shop

The GLD Shop is a hyper-growth jewelry company that has become a hip-hop icon. GLD is a number one online retailer of hip-hop jewelry worldwide and collaborations with athletes, celebrities, and artists have created a huge brand following. Coachella was no exception with a very cool way of branding for the event including frequent Instagram media posts of influencers fronting the product with Coachella logo branding backgrounds. The GLD Shop also hosted its own GLD Coachella house in a stunning Palm Springs neighborhood. Their Instagram strategy included multiple weekend events, professional sporting events, as well as Coachella. This balanced out the brand’s online presence with a thoughtful perspective, staying true to its brand.

The brand offerings include tennis necklaces, timepieces, and more that were showcased at Coachella with multiple influencers. The GLD Shop provides an alternative option for jewelry at affordable prices. With Snoop Dog receiving a custom piece at Superbowl this year, and the hype around the brand itself, it’s definitely a brand to watch. The GLD Shop embraced a different strategy with a super relevant, low-key approach to online marketing by partnering with LA teams and posting other events along with Coachella. This allowed celebrity fans of the brand to see awareness across the world by mixing posts with other large events.

American Express

American Express never disappoints. We have seen a marked increase in the presence of membership clubs hosting event pop-ups. American Express is leading the way, where they provide a whole new level of service for their members and Coachella was no exception. With the Amex Lounge Coachella 2022, they advertise taking a break from the action in a bar-like setting featuring limited edition artist merchandise, a bar, and much more. The lounge provided much-needed quiet relaxation and libations for elite cardholders. Not bad for all of those frequent flyer points collected!

Soho House

American Express wasn’t the only membership club providing a memorable experience for members. The Soho House was a buzz as well. These membership events are trending and on the rise with Soho House establishing its spot in the marketplace. For members only, a $500 pass gains you access to the Soho Desert House 2022 for the weekend including unlimited drinks, entertainment, and parking, with a paired down fee of $185 for the same day perks for one day. The entertainment was incredible such as artists like Diplo, influencer DJs, and more. A really amazing escape for a hot desert moment.

Coachella 2022 provided a blank canvas for many brands to showcase their products, build relationships with influencers, and create awareness with brand activations. Events where music and fashion are on deck usually create an environment for marketing to the masses. These opportunities provide a setting for massive social media promotion.

Will your brand be part of Coachella 2023?