Why on earth are they printing tickets on a JIT system. There is not much wastage to save and it limits the rate that orders can be processed.

They should have started printing tickets for each and every show, and filed them away. When an order comes in someone goes to the file with that shows tickets, puts it in the envelope and sends it away, when that file has been emptied print another batch.

They KNOW the show schedule. They KNOW the Venues capacity. They know the average seat fills and the likely to sell-out shows. With all of this information they could have put it to some good use.

I am not suggesting they print ALL the tickets for ALL the shows. but maybe 10% batch of each show, and 50% batches for the most likely to be popular.

Anyway, I buy on the night anyway at the ticket office so I am not fussed. Just awed by their stupidity

So it does seem to be up and running now.

I still blame the contractors myself....

The software was installed on Vista and no one had bothered to check to see if there was a Printer Driver for the old Ticket machines....

:-)

I worked there as a summer job as a student in 1991 and 1992.

1991 had a purely manual system that worked exactly as you specify. The fringe office was given a quota of actual paper tickets by venues and we went around picking them out of little boxes on the wall. The only snag was we could not be 100% sure that tickets were available when we took telephone orders (although we did have sold out sheets and pretty good local knowledge).

1992 it was computerised with an in-house system (don't know what it was based on but all the windows were text based and looked like those old NetWare management screens)

Again worked very well with very high uptime. No online booking in those days obviously. Database also produced the programme and the "Daily Diary" which was printed JIT.

Fantastically fun job though - long days and brilliant nights.

Is a nightmare if you have to get to work.

It get pretty tiring having to tell oxbridge types that, no, you aren't interested in their show, that you are late for work, and could you please GET OUT OF MY FUCKING WAY!!

ah, that's better.

anyway, I've had enough this year, I'm renting the house out for a small fortune, packing my bags and heading off to Iceland for a week. The prices will probably be the same, less wankers, and they all look like Paris! :P

The system these chaps use had the major promise, I saw this tech when in VC mode, i.e. seeking grants, funding etc. I believe the guys that run it got too far away from the coal face and didn't deliver, or delivered against the contract obligations which probably wasn't designed for this. Shame, could have been a good win for these guys. Sounds like someone has a new coat. Perhaps the technicolour one didn't suit.