Carnival & Fair News

Shara Pathak of Tap N' Go is excited about the progress her company has made in only a short three year period.  Initially, the concept started by finding a software partner for their RFID wristbands for their Price Chopper ticketing company.  After several years of testing the software in Europe at large venues, Price Chopper seized on an opportunity to purchase the software company outright, integrating the software and wristband/credential business under one roof, and Tap N' Go was born.

“I will always remember that day because I knew this was our chance to revolutionize the market”, said Pathak of the integration.  They were now the only company in the industry both operating a cashless ticketing program AND being able to provide the wristbands, cards and credentials to successfully supply the program.

Now fully in control of both aspects of the ticketing business, Pathak turned to Reithoffer Shows, who had been working with the previous company owners on the cashless solution, and asked them to give TapNGo the opportunity to build a system exactly as they wanted, with zero obligation.

“The vision of Rick Reithoffer Sr and his family was as precise as it was transformational, and I knew from the first call that we would be the ones to deliver it.” she recalls.

TapNGo enlisted kiosk manufacturer LiveWire, to help them deliver a state of the art Self-Service kiosk to accompany the system. One year later, TapNGo unveiled LiveWire's kiosk, fully integrated with their system. It was the beginning of a partnership destined for success. The dream of Rick Sr. and Reithoffer Shows was finally realized!

Today Reithoffer Shows has 23 kiosks and growing.



With a system battle tested at some of the nation's best events through Reithoffer Shows, Pathak turned her eye to partnerships with ticketing companies to “white label” their technology for use at fairs and festivals.  She developed a relationship with Saffire, who was looking for a partner for the Wisconsin State Fair.  Saffire would integrate with Tap N' Go to provide not just a gate admission system, but a cashless system for the fair's independent midway. 

The event worked successfully and the company dedicated its software engineers to providing useful improvements to the system in terms of reporting and ease of use.  Wireless scanners were found that could operate for a full day and be returned to the office for charging with battery life still left.  Reports were refined for applying wristband credits in an equitable manner, and data reports were refined so the fair and its stakeholders were getting exactly the information they needed.

With the RFID system , the data is stored on the card so the operation is 100% safe and secure even if the internet connection were to fail. 

From the success of the Wisconsin State Fair came opportunities, along with Saffire, for the Florida State Fair and now, the Minnesota State Fair, securing a presence for the fledgling company at three of the largest events in the nation.

In just a few short years, after taking a risk integrating an industry leading ticketing company with a cutting edge software company, Tap N Go has been able to attain consistent growth, helping several of the largest fairs in the country, and one of the largest midway providers, achieve a cashless experience for their customers, with the data and reports to help run their business in the most efficient manner.