Recommendation for 2027 productions
I recommend that we move from Ludus to Eventyr at the Founders rate.
The move would reduce ticketing costs and allow us to use a portion of the savings for front-of-house equipment.
Review costs01 / Ticketing costs
$3,100–$4,100
Estimated annual savings while continuing to absorb fees.
Based on $150,000–$200,000 in annual ticket sales and our approximately $35 average ticket price.
| Ticketing & payment processing | Eventyr Founders rate | Ludus RCT’s current rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per ticket | 3.5% + $0.60 | 5% + $0.80 |
| Fee on a $35 ticket | $1.83 | $2.55 |
| RCT keeps Before taxes and other costs | $33.17 | $32.45 |
| Fee savings per $35 ticket | $0.72 Approximately 28% lower fees | Baseline |
| Estimated annual fees At $150,000–$200,000 in annual ticket sales | $7,800–$10,500 | $10,900–$14,600 |
Estimated annual savings with Eventyr$3,100–$4,100 | ||
RCT’s Ludus rate includes the regular $0.75 fixed charge plus $0.05 in premium-feature charges. Both platforms’ rates include payment processing. Ludus fee schedule
Ludus charges RCT $1.05; Eventyr charges $0.60. RCT would retain $4.40 instead of $3.95 before taxes and other costs. The $0.45 saving is approximately 43% of the current fee.
Ludus’s $0.50 rate applies to paid tickets of $3 or less. We have never sold paid tickets in that range, but we have sold $5 tickets. Eventyr’s reduced rate covers qualifying paid tickets up to $5.
The Founders rate lasts for two years from the first paid live sale, ending no later than December 31, 2028. The published rate at expiration then applies.
Eventyr’s current standard rate is 4% + $0.70: $2.10 on a $35 ticket, compared with our current $2.55 on Ludus. Cash and free tickets carry no Eventyr platform fee.
At $150,000 in annual sales, estimated savings are $3,100; at $200,000, $4,100. These figures assume electronically paid individual tickets at a $35 average price. Actual savings vary with subscriptions, discounted tickets, cash sales, taxes, and refunds.
The baseline cost comparison assumes RCT absorbs fees so we can compare the platforms on the same basis. This proposal does not recommend either absorbing fees or passing them to patrons.
If RCT chooses to pass Eventyr’s platform fee to patrons, it would retain another $7,800–$10,500 per year under the same sales assumptions. Combined with the savings from switching platforms, that would mean $10,900–$14,600 more retained each year compared with our current Ludus arrangement—nearly the entire budget of one of our smaller shows.
For context, here are published US online-card rates from 12 ticketing platforms. Each estimate assumes one $35 ticket per order, with fees absorbed and no tax.
| Platform / plan | Published pricing | Approx. fee |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre-FocusedThe closest feature matches for RCT, with tools for reserved seating, multiple performances, and season tickets or passes. | ||
| ProposedEventyr Founders | 3.5% + $0.60 per ticket; processing included.Good through 2028 | $1.83 |
| Eventyr Standard | 4% + $0.70 per ticket; processing included. | $2.10 |
| Ludus · standard | 5% + $0.75 per ticket; processing included. | $2.50 |
| CurrentLudus · RCT’s rate | 5% + $0.80 per ticket, including RCT’s $0.05 premium add-on and processing. | $2.55 |
| BookTix | 3.75% + $0.90 per ticket; processing included. | $2.21 |
| ThunderTix · reserved seating | $1.25 per ticket + separate processing*. $25/month includes 20 tickets; seating-chart setup is extra. | $2.57 |
| On The Stage | Variable platform fee includes card processing; a numeric rate is not publicly listed. | Quote required |
| General Ticketing ProvidersIncluded for a broader pricing comparison. Some lack or limit core theatre features, so these are not all like-for-like alternatives. | ||
| TicketSpice | $0.99 per ticket + 2.9% + $0.30 per order through its default processor. | $2.31 |
| TicketLeap | 2% + $1 per ticket + 3% processing per order. | $2.75 |
| Humanitix · charity | 1% + $0.99 per ticket + 2.9% + $0.30 processing per order. Charity eligibility required. | $2.66 |
| Ticket Tailor · charity, reserved seating | $0.85 per ticket after the 50% charity discount on two $0.85 usages + separate processing*. Pay as you go. | $2.17 |
| Purplepass · nonprofit | 2% + $0.99 per ticket + 3% online card processing. Nonprofit approval required. | $2.74 |
| SimpleTix | 2% + $0.79 per ticket + separate processing*. | $2.81 |
| Eventbrite · US | 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket + 2.9% processing on the total order. | $4.10 |
* For Ticket Tailor, SimpleTix, and ThunderTix, separate processing is modeled at Stripe’s standard US domestic-card rate of 2.9% + $0.30 per order. Actual processor agreements may differ.
These are approximate transaction costs, not complete annual budgets. Estimates round the combined calculation to the nearest cent; provider rounding can differ by a cent. Monthly minimums, setup, optional add-ons, and custom or volume agreements are excluded except where noted. Multiple tickets in one order reduce per-ticket costs where a fixed processing charge applies per order.
Ticket Tailor’s charity rate requires approval. Reserved seating uses two credits per paid ticket; charity general admission would be about $1.74 at this ticket price. Prepaid credits can reduce its rates further.
ThunderTix’s $2.57 estimate assumes at least 20 paid tickets that month. The $25 monthly charge includes those 20 tickets rather than being added on top of them. Its FAQ lists nonprofit seating-chart setup at $0.40 per seat, with a $175 minimum.
Published pricing checked in September 2026. Provider names link to their fee schedules. Rates alone do not establish feature parity; the Eventyr–Ludus feature comparison remains separate.
02 / Everyday operations
Staff can create an unpaid order from a phone or email request. Eventyr emails the patron a payment link, so they can pay on their own device. This would replace our current phone-card workflow and keep card numbers out of staff conversations and notes.
Staff can collect payment against the existing order, which keeps the tickets and customer details together without starting another sale. Ludus also offers ticket-linked invoices, but card payments cost 5% + $1.25 per payment; Eventyr uses its normal ticketing rate. Ludus invoicing
We can move direct customer-service work from Monday into Eventyr’s shared support inbox. Emails to our configured support address are matched to the sender’s customer record, with linked orders alongside the conversation.
Staff can assign conversations, track status, and reply in the same system they use for ticketing. The next person handling an exchange can see the request and order without searching through separate systems.
Eventyr’s CRM supports customer flags and notes that we can choose to display at check-in. Staff can see mobility assistance needs, subscriber status, or major-donor notes when scanning a ticket.
Volunteers would have these notes at check-in without needing to know every patron personally or maintain a separate list.
03 / Front-of-house equipment
I propose using part of the savings to replace our dedicated Zebra scanner with one or two refurbished iPhone SE (2022) devices, at approximately $130 each.
Use them to scan tickets through the web scanner, look up customers and orders, and handle additional ticket sales. With two phones, we can run two scanning stations or split admissions and sales.
Our existing iPad would become the primary ticket sales device, paired with the Stripe Reader M2 for card payments. Staff can also record cash payments against the same orders.
iPhone SE (2022) on Back Market . Reader-free Tap to Pay is also available on compatible iPhones. Device requirements
| Existing iPad | Already owned |
|---|---|
| One refurbished iPhone SE (2022) | ~$130 |
| Optional second iPhone SE (2022) | ~$130 |
| Stripe Reader M2 | $59 |
| Total before tax & accessories | $189–$319 |
$2,800–$3,900Estimated first-year savings after equipment,
before other transition expenses.
Planned mobile update
Web scanning is available now. In-app scanning is planned for the mobile box office, alongside its existing sales and payment tools. Once scanning is added, staff would be able to find an unpaid order, take payment, and check the patron in on the same iPhone. This would reduce referrals between the door and the box office.
04 / Feature comparison
The platforms share most core ticketing functions. The table identifies differences, limitations, and planned features.
| Feature | Eventyr | Ludus |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded ticket sales | Included at no additional charge | $0.05 extra per ticket/item, already included in RCT’s rate |
| Shared patron-support inbox | Customer matching, linked orders, assignment, and status tracking | Not supported |
| Tap to Pay on iPhone | No separate reader on compatible iPhones | Contactless payments require a separate terminal |
| Fixed performance subscriptions | Named series such as Opening Night or Second Thursday | Season passes can be limited to specific performances |
| Flex passes | Supported | Supported |
| Arrange tickets, collect later | Collect Later on the existing order, at the normal ticketing rate | Ticket-linked invoices; card payments cost 5% + $1.25 per payment |
| Dedicated mobile app | Box-office sales, payments, and Tap to Pay. In-app scanning planned | Scanning, reader payments, and reports |
| Web scanning on a phone | Available now | Supported |
| Customer relationship management | Customer records, flags, and notes, including check-in alerts | Patron records, notes, tags, and follow-up tasks |
| Assigned seating & general admission | Supported | Supported |
| Ticket categories & price tiers | Supported | Supported |
| Absorb or pass on platform fees | Supported | Supported |
| Custom fees & taxes | Supported | Supported |
| Exchanges & refunds | Supported | Supported |
| Online & box-office sales | Supported | Supported |
| Free & fixed-price tickets | Supported | Supported |
| Variable-minimum-price tickets | Supported | Supported |
| Bulk discounts & access codes | Supported | Supported |
| Multiple staff users | Supported | Supported |
| Payment processor | Stripe | Stripe |
| Retail & concessions | Coming soon Not currently available | Supported; RCT does not currently use it |
The inbox comparison concerns our patrons’ emails, not access to Ludus’s own support team. Comparison sources ↓
Ludus can also restrict season passes to particular performances. Eventyr presents those choices as named series, such as Opening Night or Second Thursday.
05 / The transition
Our current printing setup uses a custom script I maintain to read Ludus’s data. It is not a native Ludus workflow. I can adapt that script for Eventyr, though printing may be temporarily unavailable while I do the work.
Native support for Boca printers, including ours, is planned for Eventyr. Until that is available, we can use the adapted script.
As Eventyr’s developer and an RCT board member, I can bring our theatre’s needs directly into the product. Staff can give feedback to the person who implements the changes.
We have used Ludus for one season. I recommend making the change for productions in 2027.
I’ve created a demo organization for board members who would like to explore Eventyr. Message me on Slack and I’ll send you an invite.
06 / Proposed board action
Approve moving Renton Civic Theatre’s ticketing to Eventyr at the Founders rate starting for productions in 2027, and authorize up to $400 for one or two compatible refurbished iPhones and a Stripe card reader.
I am the owner of Eventyr Technologies LLC, the company developing Eventyr, and have a financial interest in its adoption. The board should record that interest and handle the decision under RCT’s conflict-of-interest policy.
Pricing and Ludus documentation were reviewed in September 2026. Eventyr capabilities reflect the current product, with planned features identified in the comparison.