Your Most Valuable Fans Aren't Who You Think They Are | EF EP 123

Think you know who your most valuable fans are? This conversation with Ritesh Patel, co-founder of Ticket Fairy, will completely flip your understanding of fan value and event data.

While most artists focus on big spenders and VIP customers, Ritesh has discovered through processing over $300 million in ticket sales that your most valuable fans are actually the ones who spend the LEAST money. Why? Because they're the early adopters buying early bird tickets and bringing their friends along.

From throwing underground events at a loss for a decade to building the "Salesforce for live entertainment," Ritesh breaks down how data intelligence can transform any artist's career - whether you're throwing 30-person pop-ups or planning festival expansions.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your early bird buyers are more valuable than big spenders (and how to identify them)
• The 3 essential data points every artist must track from their first 30-person event
• What $300M in global ticket sales reveals about fan behavior and market opportunities
• The difference between vanity metrics and revenue-driving data
• How to turn casual fans into people who travel to your shows using data insights
• Why most artists completely misunderstand what their audience actually wants

Stop guessing and start knowing. Your fans are giving you all the data you need to build a sustainable career - you just need to know how to read it.

Looking for more insights on your artist journey? Join us November 22nd at The Joinery for industry education, networking, and career-defining connections. We're covering the same essential topics as the major conferences - monetization, brand building, industry evolution - plus professional headshots, pitch consultations, and premium food and drinks. We sold out last year, so don't wait. Get tickets at chicagomusicnexus.com

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx