Advanced event ticket sales aren’t just about meeting goals; they’re also about giving you peace of mind.

 

It’s possible to look toward selling merchandise and refreshments during your event for a return on your investment, but those sales are hard to estimate and impossible to accurately predict beforehand. Event tickets sold at the door are easier to predict, but can still vary, and can be influenced by something as arbitrary as the weather.

 

Advanced event ticket sales can mean the difference between being able to enjoy the event you put on and spending the entire time worrying if you’ll even break even.

 

The Tried and True

 

Money is a great motivator. One of the standard techniques for convincing your audience to purchase event tickets in advanced as opposed to waiting to by them at the door is to set them at different prices. Most events list two prices: “advanced” and “at the door,” with the latter always being more expensive.

 

Another standard practice is to create a sense of urgency through promotion. Phrases like “Event will sell out” are fairly commonplace, to the point that it’s becoming something of a “boy who cried wolf” scenario. If money is the great motivator, hyperbole is a poor one.

 

Drawing a Line

 

A bold move to decrease day-of-event ticket sales, and in theory increase advanced ticket sales, is to disable online purchasing the day of the event. This method is a gamble, as more and more people look to the Internet to buy their event tickets. You are basically removing the most convenient way for them to buy tickets.

 

But, if you give enough advance warning, it can also push them to place their orders sooner. If they know their only other option is to risk buying event tickets at the door, they might choose to order them sooner.

 

Creating Incentives

 

One great way of encouraging your audience to buy their event tickets in advance is by giving them some kind of added bonus. For example, tickets purchased by a certain date can be entered into a raffle for prizes related to the event. If it’s a regularly scheduled event, the prize could be free tickets to the next one.

 

Depending upon how far out you’re going to sell event tickets, consider staggering the incentives by time and degree. Those who buy first would be eligible for greater prizes.  This way you’re not just encouraging your audience to purchase their event tickets in advance, but giving them a reason to buy them right away.

 

Tickets bought in advance also have one, clear cut difference between tickets bought the day of the show: they can be mailed out. Day-of tickets are either printed at home or purchased at the door. Consider including something in envelope with those tickets that were bought in advance, such as a sticker featuring a fun design and your website’s URL. You might even want to keep that extra gift a surprise as a way of rewarding that ticket buyer; it might stay with them the next time they purchase event tickets.

 

VIP Section

 

Make sure to consider what part your venue might play when promoting advanced event ticket sales. Some places have drastically more desirable seats that are usually the first to go and should be promoted as such. 

 

Will there be a line to get into the event? Theme parks have “front of the line” options for their rides, so why can’t an event? With a little advanced planning, you can change that ticket from “advanced” to “VIP.”

 

A few, simple steps can help you sell more advanced tickets and allow you to relax and enjoy all your hard work!

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Even huge events focusing on large issue such as hunger relief or cancer research can benefit from an active grassroots movement to aid a larger, national cause. It’s time to gather your local grassroots community! If you are starting such a community from scratch, call a town meeting that will give you an opportunity to gauge the importance of your movement within your community, as well as find volunteers who can help you get the ball rolling.

 

*  You Got Your Goodwill Army, So Now What? Now that you have the support and muscle of people in your community, your grassroots effort may begin. With these people, begin to plan and create a fundraiser. Let them tell you what the community wants. Sell tickets to the event to raise money. Sell raffle tickets to generate even more money for your cause.

*  Get Local Exposure: Utilize local media such as newspapers and radio stations to raise awareness of your cause and your event. Be sure to tell people in the community how they can attain a ticket to your fundraising event. Take notes to ensure that you say all that needs to be said via the media to get the word out about your cause and your fundraiser. Use statistics, even local statistics if you can get them, to further the cause. For example, if you are raising awareness about Diabetes and aim to have a fundraiser about it, be sure to cite stats such as how many people in the country have the disease, as well as a stat of how many people in your community are afflicted. The reality of statistics will give your grassroots movement a solid foundation and awake the cause within your community. 

*  You Got the Exposure, Begin Planning the Event: Much of the preliminary details such as where and when must be decided before you speak to the media. But there’s more to planning and implementing the details: food, entertainment, or speakers. Continuing to use the example of a grassroots movement for Diabetes, an appropriate speaker could be a local doctor or an artist or musician in the community. Often local authorities and celebrities will donate their time for a fundraiser. Put out calls in the community for appropriate speakers to perform or speak at your event.

*  Event Tickets for Your Fundraiser: Research event ticket designs: choose the perfect ticket template and create your own tickets online for speed and convenience. After your tickets have been designed and printed, begin selling within your community. In addition to selling your event tickets to your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, pound the pavement and do some selling door to door. Continue to promote the event, reminding potential guests about to get tickets. Use poster, flyers, Internet forums, microblogging, social networks, and your website. It is easy to create a simple website that can be exclusive to your cause with news and a schedule of events at this fundraiser and others to come. The website can also function as a way to educate the community about your cause as well as keep a running tally on the money that has been raised.

*  Don’t Stop When the Party’s Over: Your successful grassroots campaign has created a mobile army for your cause. Keep them mobilized. Encourage them to bring new and creative ideas to the table and run with them.

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