NightGrass schedule coming...

[BluegrassBrian]

We'll be announcing the 2014 NightGrass schedule *tomorrow morning* (Friday, 4/11).  It's going to be a really great year for NightGrass...

One important heads-up... With the crazy demand for all of this year's tickets, and with the Conference Center show selling-out in under an hour last year, we've decided to sell *all* of this year's shows (including the Palm and Conference Center) via the single online lottery.

Since lotteries sometimes evokes strong initial reactions on the forum (and since we put a lot of thought into this decision), I wanted to share the lottery details here before tomorrow's full announcement...

Unlike last year's lottery where you could potentially win tix to multiple shows per day, this year you'll be able to win tix to at most 1 show per day.  On this year's lottery form you'll be able to select a 1st choice (or none) for each day, followed by an optional 2nd/3rd choice for each day.

When we process the lottery, we go through and process each day separately.  For each day, we'll draw the first random name and attempt to fill their 1st choice.  If we can fill their 1st choice we'll move on to the next person.  If their 1st choice is sold-out, we'll attempt to fill their 2nd choice or potentially their 3rd choice.  When all shows are sold-out for that day, we reshuffle all the entries (regardless of who has already won tix) and begin processing the next day. 

This lottery will be open next Monday-Wednesday (April 14-16).  If any tickets are still available we'll put those onsale the following Tuesday (April 22).

As with last year, we're limiting orders to 2 tix per show at the Sheridan and Moon, and 4 tix per show at the Palm and Conference Center.

You'll be able to enter once per CC/checking account and twice per billing address. We'll be watching this closely to keep out scalpers who abuse the system.

I'll post the complete lottery rules on the website late tonight...

[englishmartin]

I was thinking this would be a fairer way to implement nightgrass sales, makes sense! I guess my only two concerns are getting shut out of the conference center yonder show (would be a major bummer) and the difficulties of having a group of three. Is there any way to link requests when you have a group of three? Overall a good decision though, nice work PB!

[Hot Sugar]

Being able to win tickets to only one show per day seems like a huge improvement to me. Well done!

[Hot Sugar]

I guess my only two concerns are getting shut out of the conference center yonder show (would be a major bummer)

I don't think that will be a huge issue. You may not win tickets in the lottery, but in my experience, there are always people with extra tickets at that show looking to get rid of them.

[zack_adcock]

This seems like an excellent solution to spreading the wealth and seems really fair overall. I love it!

I recognize that NG tickets are an opportunity for bartering when all is said and done, but I love the idea of a return to the "I'm going to buy tickets to a show because I want to attend that show" focus.

[KaraJean]

 

[FaceOnMars]

I definitely think it is a step in the right direction to limit the number of winning shows to one per day.  I think this will go a long way to helping spread the wealth as has been alluded to above.

However, at risk of making my loosing streak on lotteries last any longer  , I think ideally it would be most fair to give those who haven't won a show during the lottery process precedence over those who have on subsequent drawings.  I realize this might present itself as a bit more of logistical challenge, but I think it could be accomplished by adjusting how the lottery is drawn from being sequential by day (Wed - Sun) to being based on soley drawing the individual entrant's applications and then awarding them available shows which they've prioritized.   So, you'd simply start drawing winning entries by name instead of show and fill their highest prioritized choice which is still available; however, they'd then be bumped to the end of the line.  Then pick the next random entry and fill that person's highest ranked show selection and bump them to the end of the line ... and so on until all shows are filled or everyone has at least one show filled.  In the latter case, all entries are placed back on equal footing and the process starts over again.

Just throwing my $.02 re: what I think would be most "equitable" barring logistics (which I think could be sorted out by computer software).

Regardless, I do believe the current method is a great step forward!

[englishmartin]

I definitely think it is a step in the right direction to limit the number of winning shows to one per day.  I think this will go a long way to helping spread the wealth as has been alluded to above.

However, at risk of making my loosing streak on lotteries last any longer  , I think ideally it would be most fair to give those who haven't won a show during the lottery process precedence over those who have on subsequent drawings.  I realize this might present itself as a bit more of logistical challenge, but I think it could be accomplished by adjusting how the lottery is drawn from being sequential by day (Wed - Sun) to being based on soley drawing the individual entrant's applications and then awarding them available shows which they've prioritized.   So, you'd simply start drawing winning entries by name instead of show and fill their highest prioritized choice which is still available; however, they'd then be bumped to the end of the line.  Then pick the next random entry and fill that person's highest ranked show selection and bump them to the end of the line ... and so on until all shows are filled or everyone has at least one show filled.  In the latter case, all entries are placed back on equal footing and the process starts over again.

Just throwing my $.02 re: what I think would be most "equitable" barring logistics (which I think could be sorted out by computer software).

Regardless, I do believe the current method is a great step forward!

I would agree with everything said here, I think that would be the most ideal way, but we all understand there are limitations that make this harder to achieve.

[BluegrassBrian]

Thanks for all the comments, everyone.  There are some great ideas and suggestions here - especially FaceOnMars and englishmartin.

As always, all of us here at PB in Lyons are reading these closely (while enjoying the backhoe-less silence of night), so keep 'em comin'.