Unlocking Revenue and Building a Membership Community: The Lincoln’s Digital Transformation
The Lincoln in Cheyenne, Wyoming, is more than just a music venue—it’s a thriving cultural hub dedicated to bringing world-class performances to its community while fostering local talent. Since opening in 2020, founders Renee, Jon and Riley Jelinek and their crew have worked tirelessly to create an experience that keeps audiences engaged, builds loyalty, and generates sustainable revenue.
With InstantEncore’s custom mobile app, the Lincoln has unlocked new revenue streams with a custom membership program, connected with their audience through real -time push messaging and enhanced the overall audience experience.
The InstantEncore Impact: Seamless Engagement & Sustainable Growth
For independent venues like The Lincoln, community engagement and operational efficiency are critical. With InstantEncore, The Lincoln has transformed how they interact with their community, from improving communication to launching a wildly successful membership program.
The results? Higher audience retention, streamlined event promotions, and a new revenue stream that supports the venue’s long-term success.
Renee Jelinek shared just how impactful InstantEncore has been: “We’ve been talking about a membership program for years, but we couldn’t figure out how to implement it in a way that was seamless for both our patrons and our staff. InstantEncore made it incredibly easy, and now we’ve generated $21,000 in annual revenue in just five weeks.”
Elevating the Audience Experience
From seamless communication to exclusive membership perks, The Lincoln uses their InstantEncore app to create an effortless, engaging experience for concertgoers.
Real-time Audience Engagement
The Lincoln leverages InstantEncore’s digital rewards feature to drive attendance when needed. Instead of relying on printed materials, they can instantly send free ticket rewards to select app users.
“Instead of printing and distributing hundreds of paper tickets, we sent free tickets through the app, and seven people redeemed them immediately—some bringing paying guests with them.”
Beyond filling seats, this approach is strengthening audience relationships. By receiving last-minute ticket rewards, community members feel personally recognized and appreciated, increasing their likelihood of attending future events and deepening their connection with the venue.
Exclusive Member Perks
The Lincoln transformed an underutilized space into a members-only speakeasy, The Ghostbar, adding a unique incentive for membership sign-ups. Members get access to this exclusive lounge, creating a VIP experience that enhances their connection to the venue.
“We had an Airbnb space that wasn’t bringing in the revenue we hoped for, so we turned it into a speakeasy only accessible to members. It became our biggest membership driver overnight.”
This innovative use of space showcases how digital tools and strategic venue design can work together to drive engagement and revenue growth.
Frictionless Communication
InstantEncore’s push notifications keep patrons informed in real-time, ensuring they never miss an event or important update.
“We try to think through every detail, from social posts to in-venue signage. But the app allows us to directly reach our audience with important information—whether it’s a last-minute schedule change or an exclusive offer.”
This proactive communication strategy reduces confusion and enhances the overall patron experience, making it easier for audiences to stay engaged with The Lincoln’s events.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Digital Engagement
With such strong early success, The Lincoln is eager to explore even more ways to engage its audience through InstantEncore. Their crew is looking at additional ways to personalize content, enhance community-building efforts, and use data insights to refine their marketing strategies.
“Having InstantEncore’s tools means we can constantly evolve and improve our guest experience,” Renee explained. “It’s not just about selling tickets—it’s about building trust and excitement with our audience.”
Ready to Unlock the Full Potential of Your Venue?
The Lincoln’s success story proves that membership is more than a convenience—it’s a game-changer for independent venues. What does your audience want from you? Let us help you craft a membership program specific to your crowd. You have the vision, InstantEncore provides the technology to make it happen—seamlessly.
Schedule a demo today!
