Box Offices like this are becoming a relic of the past. Photo by Paul Sanow, ASTC.

What is a ticket wicket?  Google tells us this about box offices: “A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission … through a hole in a wall or window, or at a wicket.”  But what is a wicket?

Another search says that a wicket in croquet is “any one of the series of curved wires in the ground that the ball must be hit through in the game of croquet.”

Not to be outdone, in cricket, the term “wicket” has several meanings.  In this case it refers to the rectangular area in the center of the cricket field between the stumps.” Perfectly clear, yes?

And what’s a “sticky wicket?” Here are two definitions.  One, a cricket pitch that has been drying after rain and is difficult to bat on, and two, a tricky or awkward situation.  So, what have croquet, cricket, or a tricky situation to do with a ticket wicket? The answer is “not much”, but it is sort of fun the way words work.

Box offices and ticket wickets have changed significantly over the last many years.  Most ticket offices are moving toward a sales arrangement similar to the open reception desk at most hotels.  The “wicket” approach or some sort of protected sales station is still employed in areas where staff security is not optimum, but this is becoming increasingly rare, especially in this era of touchless transactions of charge card purchases, home printers, and smart phones.

A modern Box Office is more welcoming, and can include features like a hotel. Photo by Paul Sanow, ASTC.

So, before you get your knickers in a twist the next time you are designing a modern box office, be sure to take a leap into the modern world and take your cues from the nearby concierge desk.

By Robert Long, FASTC & Robert Shook, FASTC

Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the American Society of Theatre Consultants.  This article is for general information only and should not be substituted for specific advice from a Theatre Consultant, Code Consultant, or Design Professional, and may not be suitable for all situations nor in all locations.