Heather Hansen, 35, is the co-founder of Midwestix. The Midwestix holiday party is 5 p.m. Thursday at the Gas Lamp, 1501 Grand Ave.
Q: How did you get into the ticketing business?
We (Hansen and Kathryn Dickel) first started as Swaelu, a Web design and marketing company. At the time we were approached by Hoyt Sherman to help them develop their donation functionality and some website stuff. The executive director at the time said what they really needed was a ticketing system. We sat down with Mark Doolittle, our partner at the time, and saw there was a huge need for ticketing for smaller venues and nonprofits that Ticketmaster was not serving. We leased some ticketing software and founded Iowatix.
Q: On a local level, how has ticketing changed in that time?
It’s been crazy. Ten years ago it was very easy; there was not a lot of competition. Everybody had a bad taste in their mouth with Ticketmaster, so it was easy to come in and focus on being a local company and service oriented. Over the years ticketing has spread through the Internet, and now there are thousands of options. The competition is good. It forces you to determine what your strengths are.
Q: What are your own music tastes like?
I’m really across the board, from Neko Case to Nina Simone. I’m kind of geared more toward female artists.
I was recently out to see Moreland & Arbuckle, Fancy Pants and Gloom Balloon. Anything to give me some insight into molding my own sound. My band, Pony Bucket, is making its big stage debut at the Christmas party.
