Who are you and what is your job?
I’m the founder of Twickets, the face value ticket exchange

Can you tell us about your career background?
I was a Biochemist graduate, though when I realised that laboratory life wasn’t quite for me I entered the music industry working for EMI and Universal in product marketing.

In the mid 1990’s I set up one of the first digital media agencies. Our clients included Audi, Premier Inn, The FT and U2.com.

When the business was acquired I combined my background in music and digital to set up Twickets.

What is the story behind Twickets?
Twickets started off life on Twitter (hence the name), as we noticed that a large number of spare tickets were being made available across users’ networks. By aggregating that inventory under one umbrella account we were able to increase the chance of an owner finding a new buyer for their ticket.

An app followed, allowing users to filter the growing stream of spare tickets (currently 10,000+ per month) and more recently a secure transactional process that protects both buyer and seller conducting the exchange.

How does Twickets work?
Sellers can list their tickets through our app, website or social channels. A human moderator then checks each ticket prior to listing.

When a buyer is found they have to agree to a pre-determined delivery mechanism (set by the seller) which includes post, meet up, drop and collect at a retail outlet or downloading from our server in the case of an e-ticket.

The money is directly transferred to the seller upon purchase. However the buyer is protected, and in the unlikely event anything should go wrong the payment is reversed in full.

Who can use Twickets? Are there any exclusions?
Anyone can use the service on the basis that it is for personal use only. However you must have access to a UK registered mobile to sign up.

What is Twickets USP?
Simply that we are fair to fans, with no one paying more than the original face value of the ticket purchased.

Why does Twickets prohibit the re-selling of tickets above face value?
Whilst ticket touting is not illegal (except for designated events and football matches), we believe it is at best immoral, and some of the practices used to obtain tickets can be classified as criminal activity.

Tickets are not an ‘asset’ as such, to be traded at will, but a license to see a show. They are generally priced at a low level to open that event up to everyone, not just to those with the deepest pockets.

And so exploiting those prices just for the opportunity to profiteer is in our view wrong, and means that genuine fans often miss out.

Have you any predictions for the next few years, in terms of the means and mechanisms for buying and selling tickets?
I think it is unlikely we will see much change in terms of legislation, as the Government has shown little interest to date in the ticket re-sale market.

However I do believe change will ultimately come in the form of technology, which will allow greater control over who owns the ticket and restricting how much it can be re-sold for.

Do you think the days of physical box offices are numbered?
I would say the role of the box office will change rather than it becoming extinct. There will be greater emphasis on customer service and support.

What floats your boat in the world of music and arts?
I’m reasonably open minded and see a lot of gigs by a variety of artists, new and old.

Any recent live highlights?
Had to be last year’s Kraftwerk show at Tate Modern.

If you were able to drop everything and see an artist, dead or alive tonight, who would that be?
My biggest regret was being a student in Manchester just a few years after the death of Ian Curtis. So if I were to pick one band to see it would have to be Joy Division.

I’d also love to see Matt Johnson re-form The The.

Website: futureplatforms.com