![\"\"](\"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/MaeDeLaRue_Dark_circle.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTraditionally, the competition is in-person only. People from all over buy tickets to view the performances but also to vote on the best performer. Voting results are split between judges and the audience – with the audience given a heftier weighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2020, the Grand Finale moved to a hybrid format allowing viewers to stream the in-person show online. This came about as Burlesque Muse\u2019s newest sponsor, The Great Debacle, built an online platform for burlesque performers to stage their shows. Included with this build was an online voting service for potential competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to De La Rue, moving the show online meant that it would be more accessible to viewers across Australia and the globe who could not attend (or vote) in person. It also meant that regional restrictions, such as sudden border closures or lockdowns, would not affect or disadvantage out-of-state performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Besides the challenge of running and producing online shows, a few different issues rose during the 2020\u2019s online finale. In the past, it was easy to check voter counts for in-person shows as everyone was assigned a ticket and only one vote. However, The Great Debacle\u2019s new online voting system provided all ticket buyers with the same QR code that takes them to a landing page to vote for their favourite performer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the lack of unique links made the system vulnerable to voter fraud. The Great Debacle team noticed almost immediately that there was suspicious activity and were forced to exclude a significant portion of votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ensure similar activity would not happen again, several precautions were implemented, such as validating usernames with an email and social media upon signup. However, with only a 15-minute real-time window to count and cross-check votes for several hundred people, this would not be easy nor possible. They needed a platform or tool that could distribute unique links and deliver and be acted upon quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having used text messaging during her day job as a social media manager, De La Rue considered SMS as a solution that could be easily implemented and proven cost-effective. However, her platform of choice would need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After-hours support was crucial for De La Rue because any technical difficulties would need to be solved quickly during or before the live show. When struggling to resolve issues with the unique links, De La Rue was able to access live phone support half an hour before the show with the MessageMedia team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After trialling a few competitor platforms, only MessageMedia reached out with a personal call and care to inquire about her challenges. It was this, plus our extensive features, that prompted her to choose MessageMedia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another company emailed me with an automatic spam email. That doesn\u2019t really help. The fact that Scott and Dan both rang me and said, is there anything I can help you with? I got to ask them some questions, and they explained how things would work. That\u2019s what got me to buy.<\/p>\nMae De La Rue, National Director, Burlesque Muse<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Mae De La Rue was fantastic to work with! She was very open and engaged in understanding SMS and how it could help her. She knew what she was striving for. This made it all the easier to figure out what features would empower her to achieve the best results.<\/p>\nScott Thomas, Customer Relationship Manager, MessageMedia<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n MessageMedia\u2019s SMS service automatically creates as many unique, shortened links you\u2019ll need with specific plans. For De La Rue, this made it \u201csuper easy\u201d to carry out precisely what she wanted without distracting her from live hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, MessageMedia\u2019s system also recognised multiple phone formats, including international numbers. With international messaging possible, audience members from NZ, family members in Italy and friends in the Netherlands could also vote – something that had never been achievable before.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n Try SMS for Competitions now.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/MaeDeLaRue-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\r\n Increase voting while eliminating voter fraud. <\/h2>\r\n\r\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Signup.webp\")
\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n