In this new category, "What a great idea" I will document interesting ideas I have seen in my travels. Things that make you go "why didn't I think of that?" Some may be new, others just new to me.

At a recent symphony concert, I came out at intermission to see a table laid out with drinks and snacks, each with a little numbered placard. People had placed and prepaid orders before the show, and thus could get their drink without any line.

This made tremendous sense. We have this drink station that gets used for just 15 minutes a night which is terribly inefficient, and they found a way to spread out the work. This fits into one of my major themes these days, "Why should we ever have to wait in line?"

Of course, such an idea may only work with affluent symphony-goers, who are far less likely to try and steal somebody else's drink order. You could have claim checks and that would still be faster than ordering, pouring and paying, if you didn't trust the patrons. And, if they didn't want you to turn off your cell phone during the show, you could even have people TXT in their orders (with keypress beep turned off of course.)

Texting in orders might make more sense in places like ballparks and amusement parks, with a message back when it's ready. Why miss the game to stand in line for a hot dog?