Seven Cities, Countless Laughs: How the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Scaled with Tixr

From exceptional fan experience to record-breaking growth, discover how Tixr powered Canada’s multi-city comedy festival to new heights for its 2024 season.

The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival (GOCF) is more than just a comedy event — it’s a feel-good celebration of community and connection. With a mission to strengthen the places it touches, the festival blends belly laughs, big hearts, and a sense of purpose, making sure its impact goes far beyond the stage.

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Since its 2021 debut, the open-air festival has brought its signature cabaret-style charm to audiences across Canada, creating a comedy club atmosphere under the stars. The festival set an ambitious goal for its 2024 season: to expand from 10 shows across four cities to 22 shows in seven cities — Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa, London, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. With Tixr’s innovative tech, this vision seamlessly became a reality.

Revolutionary Tech for Unprecedented Success

Scaling to seven cities required a ticketing solution as versatile and dynamic as the festival itself. With Tixr’s suite of advanced tools, GOCF was able to expand its footprint while maintaining top-notch fan experiences and improving operational efficiency.

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"Tixr has been instrumental in the growth of the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. Their adaptability, innovation, and commitment to listening and implementing new features have made them more than just a ticketing partner,” said Taylor McConnell, Ticketing & Guest Experience Manager at Trixstar Entertainment. “Together, we've created seamless, exciting experiences and look forward to continued success.”

Seat Maps and Automatic Upgrades

Tixr’s seat map management seamlessly enabled General Admission attendees with picnic-style seating to upgrade to assigned VIP seats, enhancing their experience while driving additional revenue. This automated upgrade system not only made the process simple for fans but also streamlined operations, significantly reducing box office strain.

Mobile-First, User-Friendly Interface

Tixr’s mobile-friendly platform further propelled the festival’s expansion by delivering a sleek, intuitive purchase journey tailored to the demands of today’s consumers. With 57% of fans buying tickets on mobile devices, Tixr ensured that every step — from browsing events to completing checkout — was frictionless and visually engaging. Plus, post-purchase tools like Tixr Rewards empowered word-of-mouth marketing among fans.

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"Tixr has transformed our ticketing experience with cutting-edge marketing tools that significantly amplify our reach and drive ticket sales. Their platform not only simplifies the purchase process, but also features powerful peer-to-peer marketing, automated fulfillment, and sophisticated tracking capabilities,” said Mike Anderson, President at Trixstar Entertainment..

Payment Plans and Add-Ons

Tixr’s flexible payment plans made premium experiences more accessible, allowing fans to spread out payments for passes and other offerings. Customizable add-ons, such as GOCF Bucks (redeemable for food and merchandise) and chair rentals, enhanced the festival experience by giving attendees the freedom to personalize their day. These features elevated fan satisfaction while generating new revenue streams, further supporting the festival’s growth.

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With Tixr’s advanced solutions, GOCF kept operations running smoothly while keeping fans giggling, paving the way for its most successful and unforgettable season yet.

Results: Laughter and Growth Across the Board

 With 22 shows across seven cities, GOCF didn’t just expand — it thrived. Overall sales soared by 125%, demonstrating that even with an 80% increase in events, the festival’s popularity and efficiency continued to outpace expectations.

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“With Tixr’s unique lead-capturing tools, waitlist functionalities, and affiliate tracking, we gain valuable insights into our audience and maximize conversion rates. Their marketing suite allows us to connect seamlessly with fans and leverage real-time analytics to optimize every campaign, making Tixr an essential partner in our success." — Anderson

Fans flocked to GOCF’s event pages on Tixr, with total users reaching 1.3 million (+333%) and generating 4.5 million page views (+309%). This surge was fueled by strong organic traffic and referrals, underscoring the festival’s growing connection with audiences across Canada. While cities like Edmonton and Calgary built on past successes with significant growth, new markets such as Winnipeg and Ottawa rolled out their welcome mats to new fans.

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With an incredible 2024 season in the books, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is already gearing up for an even more exciting 2025. Tickets are now on sale for another season of unforgettable comedy in breathtaking outdoor settings like Edmonton’s Kinsmen Park and Vancouver’s Stanley Park. 

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Thanks to Tixr’s game-changing tools, GOCF has redefined what a comedy festival can achieve, expanding its reach while staying true to its mission of celebrating laughter, community, and connection.

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‍Looking for a creative partner to grow your reserved events? Schedule a demo with Tixr today.