Meet our Box Office Manager, Stephen Hefler. Our Ticketmaster guru, our go-to Tall Guy for getting things out of our reach, and our recently engaged employee shares what it’s like on the other side of the ticket window at the Toyota Box Office in the Peoria Civic Center.
What is the most unexpected thing you’ve faced being the BOM of a venue like this?
Sometimes there are unexpected things that come up with live events that cause us to add seats, update pricing, or deal with obstructions. Going on sale with events sometimes as far as a year in advance can bring challenges once the show arrives in the building that aren’t easy to predict.
If you had the chance to bring your favorite band ever to the PCC, who would be playing in Peoria?
He might not be my favorite of all time, but I’d love to see Justin Timberlake here. He’d put on a heck of a show!
When you first started at the PCC, did you ever envision becoming the BOM?
Absolutely not. I started at the PCC as a part-time ticket seller just trying to earn a little extra spending money as a second job. In about a year I had advanced to my current position as the BOM. Never would I have ever thought that would take place as quickly as it did, and I am thankful for those that took a chance on me.
What does a typical day look like for someone in a BOM’s shoes?
My days can be completely different depending on whether an event is in the building or not. Some days I may spend time printing promotional tickets for one of our 100+ yearly ticketed events, or I may work with Ticketmaster to set up an event online prior to it being announced. Whereas event days I may be double checking seating to make sure it matches what was sold or meeting with show promoters to finalize the event sales.
Do you have a daily routine that helps you have a successful and productive day?
Coffee. Early and often.
If you had to choose another job, what would it be?
Being Theo Epstein’s right hand man helping to assemble the Cubs roster would be fun. And the celebration from a few months ago would have been a nice bonus!
If you could play one character in any movie, what character would it be?
James Bond
What is the best compliment you or the PCC has ever received?
Compliments to our box office staff are the best. We’re a small little family that I oversee and I do my best to make it known when a positive comment or complement is given to them.
What is the biggest risk you/the PCC has taken that you feel like paid off?
PNC Winterfest. It was something completely new to Peoria in months where there typically aren’t a whole lot of activities due to the holidays and weather.
If you could go back in time and give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?
Learn to throw left handed (I do most things this way). I still had decent college baseball success, but my career beyond may have gone a little differently.
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