Sustainability in Event Planning: Nine Ways to Go Green

A growing global awareness of environmental concerns has encouraged many industries to realign business practices according to greener values. This holds true for event planning, which when done with sustainability in mind can help the environment, as well as improve an organization’s reputation, cost efficiency and long-term success.

According to a study published in Nature Communications, the global events industry accounts for more than 10% of global CO2 emissions annually. And, another study found that events contribute 2.5 pounds of landfill waste per person per day. These findings demonstrate why 80 percent of meeting professionals consider green initiatives when planning events. 

Sustainability is Good for Business

One in three U.S. adults say they spend more time thinking about the climate than they did before the pandemic; and 68% of highly empowered consumers report choosing brands that reduce their environmental impact, according to Forrester research.

Choosing greener practices not only engages these audiences, it can also reduce the costs of energy, water and waste management. And the good news is event planners can start small. It’s not necessary to reimagine and reorganize an entire event to have a positive impact. 

Below, we offer nine ways event organizers can incorporate more sustainable practices into event planning, while motivating partners and attendees to pass it on. 

Lollapaloza in Chicago, Illinois incorporates several sustainability initiatives into event planning
Festival planners of Lollapaloza in Chicago, Illinois strive to reduce environmental impacts of the event year after year.

1. Host Virtual, Hybrid or a Series of Satellite Events

Research by MeetGreen shows that air travel by attendees, speakers or sponsors accounts for 70% of an event’s carbon footprint. Meaning, reducing travel is one of the easiest and most significant ways to make a large environmental impact. 

If the content allows, make the event virtual, or create hybrid options to limit the need for people to travel. Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that hybrid conferences combined with the promotion of land-bound travel “could be a feasible compromise to reduce emissions by almost 90%.”

If in-person is necessary and resources allow, organizers might also consider hosting several satellite events in convenient locations across states or countries to meet audiences where they are at. 

2. Go Paperless

Embracing sustainability requires adopting innovative event technologies and practices, replacing physical needs with digital solutions. This reduces the need for paper products and can increase efficiency and effectiveness of event planning and execution.

Start with registration. Ditch paper invitations and registration forms. Instead, create a free event website and online registration form with Ticketbud’s event registration platform. Ticketbud also issues electronic tickets which can be scanned at event check-in to reduce printing needs. 

During the event, trade out traditional posters or brochures for digital visuals. Use AV to broadcast important marketing or event content, and host important speaker, sponsor or event information on an app or website. 

To help people access the materials, simply post a QR code at check-in or email instructions ahead of the event. Driving web traffic or content downloads can also capture important information about audiences and their engagement.

Click here to read Nine Cool Technologies to Help Plan Your Next Event. 

3. Offer Alternative Transportation

Above, we mentioned how air travel can inflict a large environmental toll. When working toward a more sustainable event, it’s important to educate attendees on the impact and provide recommendations on how to work around it. 

Whenever possible, promote eco-friendly transportation. For example, festival planners at Lollapalooza encourage event-goers to take “low-emission” routes to the festival, such as buses, bikes, or carpools. It may be economically and environmentally beneficial to partner with an e-bike or rideshare program to offer free rides or discounts to guests commuting to the event. 

Also, don’t neglect any freight and shipping involved with gathering supplies or swag for the event. When possible, opt for local vendors and scheduled pick-ups. 

encouraging the use of city bikes shows commitment to sustainability at your event

4. Find an Eco-Friendly Venue

Venues make up a large part of the event budget. To make sure it’s money sustainably spent, look for venues that have third-party sustainability certifications, such as LEED, APEX/ASTM, Green Key, or IACC Green Star. Or, ask about the location’s energy use or water or waste management practices, such as low-flow toilets or recycling.

For local events, select a centrally located venue that is accessible by public transport. If expecting out-of-town guests, choose somewhere close to an airport or train station to reduce travel. If possible, identify outdoor venue options. 

For help identifying environmentally-conscious venues, check out online directories like Book Different, Green Globe, and TripZero; or read “5 Convention Centers that are Mastering Sustainability.”

5. Choose Event Partners and Vendors who Align with Sustainability Goals

Denver’s Great American Beer Festival has a strong environmental backbone. Its sustainability program includes waste reduction, resource recovery, energy use and education. These efforts are supported by like-minded organizations featured on its website: ZeroHero, Freeman Exhibit Services, Colorado Convention Center, Centerplate Catering, and the Colorado Carbon Fund. 

Through these partnerships, the festival is able to turn a profit during its annual event while realizing large-scale environmental goals. So when looking for vendors or sponsors, lead with sustainability targets and ambitions.

Forge relationships with vendors with well-documented ESG initiatives, such as printers that utilize recycled paper products or caterers that source locally. Find vendors who are members of the Green Business Bureau, an association committed to clean transportation, waste management and other green practices. 

To get started, check out this open-sourced and vetted database of sustainable event vendors, created by Happily. 

6. Eat Green

Though it may come at a higher cost, a locally sourced farm-to-table menu will result in higher quality food with less impact on the environment. To further reduce the event’s impact, consider offering a plant-based meal or courses. 

The World Wildlife Fund estimates that up to 18% of global methane emissions come from livestock. So, swapping out meat for more veggie options can be a strong demonstration of dedication to hosting a sustainable event. 

And, remember that quantity is just as important as quality. According to MeetGreen, more than 20% of waste created by an event is organic material, including food and compostable serving ware. To avoid food going to waste, have guests preorder food or close registration before catering numbers are due. 

This is easy with Ticketbud’s ticket editor, which allows planners to modify and automate registration timelines and create custom questions for guests to answer when registering for the event, such as “Will you be staying for dinner?” or “Select chicken, beef or veggie.” Get started here. 

7. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Of course, food waste still happens. So, come up with a plan to avoid putting it in the trash, such as partnering with a local shelter for food donations. If choosing this route, inform the event and catering staff in advance so they know to box and properly store any leftover food. 

If donation is not an option, look to the example set by the U.S. Open. Since taking on green initiatives in 2008, “Nearly 900 tons of food waste has been converted into nutrient-rich compost for gardens and farms,” including the flower beds at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

But remember, food and compost waste is just one fifth of waste at events. To avoid sending the other 80% to the landfill, devise a plan to manage waste and educate attendees on the process and importance. If the venue does not offer recycling or composting, contract out the services. A vendor can provide bins, signage and removal services. Extra staff or volunteers may be required to help collect, sort and encourage attendees to dispose of waste in the proper manner.

how to sustainably get rid of waste at your event

8. Get Event Attendees Involved with Sustainability Initiatives

Hosting a sustainable event goes beyond event day and considers its lasting impact. So, how can an organization motivate attendees to carry the mission forward? 

Start with education. Make clear in event marketing and messaging why the organization is taking action and the impact it hopes to make. The more people understand the why, the more likely they are to act. This will encourage them to be more compliant during the event and may inspire them to be more sustainability conscious after the event. 

Some organizations may choose to incorporate volunteer projects within the event itself, giving attendees an opportunity to get hands-on with the mission and efforts. Or, they may direct attendees to their social media pages or newsletters, where they post local initiatives or projects with volunteer opportunities. 

If welcoming travelers to the event, create a welcome packet and email a recommendation list of businesses or restaurants that support sustainable initiatives. Or, encourage attendees to help the organization offset event emissions by participating in a donation program which contributes to achieving carbon zero or other green initiatives.

Using Ticketbud’s ticket editor, event organizers can create a separate fundraising line to accept online donations directly from the registration page. Learn more about how to add various ticketing options such as donations on Ticketbud.

9. Start Early and Hold Yourself Accountable

From the early stages of the event planning process, design with green in mind. Include sustainability goals alongside all event KPIs and lay out a timeline of objectives and tasks that will help achieve it. 

Utilize online tools, such as SAM or Sustain.Life, to determine the carbon footprint of the event and identify areas that can be improved: energy efficiency, waste reduction, transportation, etc. Then, share these projections and goals with potential attendees and partners to encourage participation and support. 

After the event, put together an impact report to compare goals and results. Distribute the findings to partners and attendees to communicate the impact and show gratitude for their participation and contributions. This demonstrates that the organization is dedicated to the cause and fostering supportive relationships around it. It could also be the reason a person purchases a ticket or a sponsor contributes more funding to a future event. 

In sum, incorporating sustainability initiatives into event planning demonstrates social responsibility and may attract new attendees, clients, and partners whose values align. It shows that the organization is concerned not only with profits but with the well-being of the community and the planet. It’s good for the brand, and it feels good to know an event can create both lasting memories and a meaningful impact.

Ideas for Planning a Fall Festival or Event

Fall is one of the busiest times of year. With school events, holidays and travel, it can be easy to lose touch with communities and audiences. But the season also provides many opportunities to connect through specially timed and themed festival or event. 

According to Bizzabo, most marketing professionals (95%) recognize the value events hold for creating in-person connections. And, an Eventtrack industry study found that 74% of attendees had a more positive opinion about a company, brand, or product after a great event. 

“Event marketing facilitates customer engagement with brands in a meaningful and multi-sensory way, building a strong, memorable emotional connection between brands and audiences,” says Gabrielle Mratinez, Managing Partner of the agencyEA. “Additionally, live experiences are invaluable opportunities for content generation and data collection to inform future campaigns.”

To help stay engaged with your audiences this autumn, consider the hosting a fall-inspired event like those outlined below:

Community Events

Tis the season for gathering. So consider hosting family-friendly events that bring together the community, such as a pumpkin carving contest or a movie night. 

A pumpkin carving contest could offer a range of prizes – think, “most creative,” “funniest,” “scariest” or “best overall.” Just be sure to come prepared with carving tools or paint, stencils, and trash cans for all the pumpkin guts. 

Similarly, a movie night offers a fun and relaxing way for families to get out of the house. To get into the fall spirit, consider hosting the event in a park with a projector screen. You can even sell popcorn or hot chocolate if it’s a little chilly outside. But have a back-up plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate with your event. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

Create a free event website with Ticketbud and upload your entire community contact list. Then, send invitations to your contacts directly from the site. 

School Events

With school back in session, fall is buzzing with dozens of exciting social and sporting events. So consider ways you can enhance regularly scheduled events with fall touches. 

For example, turn your homecoming game day into a fall festival, with a parade, games, booths, and more. Make it an event alumni and families will want to flock to by getting the entire school involved. Student organizations can fundraise by creating their own parade floats or game-day activities.

Start Planning Your Fall Event

With a day or a weekend full of events, it’s expected that some people may not be able to attend every activity. So use the breakdown of events as an opportunity to raise more money. With Ticketbud’s ticket editor, organizers can create multiple ticket types so people can purchase tickets to the activities that interest them most.

Fundraiser Events

The holidays always bring about a giving spirit. So, consider hosting a fundraising event to round out the year. How about a Thanksgiving Turkey trot? Or a pumpkin-spiced bake sale? 

When hosting a fundraising event, make sure your audience knows who the benefactors will be. Include any sponsoring or partnering organizations within the branding and descriptions of the event. Provide a brief background on any organizations receiving funds from the ticket sales. These details help influence people to buy. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

Create a free event registration page using Ticketbud. In addition to allowing users to set up multiple ticket types, event organizer’s can create a donation button for the registration page. This lets those who want to give a little extra or donate in lieu of their participation a chance to do so. Ticketbud can also help organizers manage any race day needs with easy mobile check-in and race bib assignments. 

Pop-up Events

Pop-up events are an exciting way to draw in new audience members and bring attention to a brand. If you’re thinking about hosting a fall pop-up, why not stick to the fall theme?

For example, host a haunted house. These events are temporary in nature and always hosted in a unique location. To make it a success, recruit some helping hands. Hire theater actors from a local school or university to play the scary parts and get ideas from your contacts on their best haunted house experiences. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

Set-up an account page for your organization using Ticketbud to keep track and showcase multiple events to the public. Customize each individual event page’s set-up so that other events in the series are promoted on each event’s page. 

Conferences and Trade Shows

Spruce up your conference or expo with fall-centric foods, activities, swag and recommendations. 

If people are traveling from out of town, provide a list of area recommendations of where they could find fun fall activities or good eats outside of conference times within your printed or online program. Hosting a day-long or multi-day event? Pick a fall harvest inspired menu to make your attendees feel at home during their visit. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

Since conferences and trade shows draw in attendees from around the world, get ahead of event marketing. Create a cohesive brand for your event that is recognizable across all the platforms – website, social media, email. Use the design to develop your own custom banner for your event ticketing page. Here’s a template to help get started. 

Chamber of Commerce

As businesses wrap up and evaluate the activities of the entire year, their leaders must use that data to prospect for the year ahead. Give local businesses the resources they need to be successful in the year ahead by introducing them to others leaders in the area through a fall mixer. 

Networking events provide ample opportunities for people to make meaningful connections with others who can support their business pursuits. Plus, the event itself makes for a great opportunity for a chamber of commerce to get the word out about the organization and recruit new members. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

Utilize the power and influence of your current audience to create buzz, excitement and ticket sales for your event. Set up special promotions for event registration. Offer discounts to members of your organizations or special discount codes they can pass on to their contacts who they’d like to join the networking event.

Virtual Events

Stay engaged with audiences throughout the busiest travel season by hosting virtual events, such as a series of mixology, baking or cooking events. 

Mix up the next online event with some audience participation and invite guests to recreate a drink or food recipe together from the comfort of their own home or travel destination. The recipes could be suited for fall, such as mulled wine or pumpkin pie. Just make sure the guests are prepared with the appropriate ingredients ahead of time. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

Build the cost of the ingredients and shipping into your budget, and plan out how to get the recipe packages to the audience ahead of time. If using Ticketbud, utilize the custom questions tool to ask audiences for their shipping address. That way, everyone is ready to make the recipe as soon as they click “join meeting.”

Private Events

Get into the Halloween spirit at your next private event. 

Hosting a costume party? Special themes have a way of getting people excited and talking about an event as they plan out how they’re going to dress the part. Give guests ideas for how to dress the part or offer prizes for those who go above and beyond. 

Or, lean into the spooky season by planning a murder mystery party designed around the interests of your entire group, such as the Roaring 20s, the Wild West, or Harry Potter. Take extra time to plan out the details so the decor, food and even your guest’s characters are all on theme. 

Start Planning Your Fall Event

The devil is in the details when hosting themed events. To ensure your guests are in the know about what to expect and how to prepare, create an event website with a detailed description of contests or game play. Ticketbud makes creating and editing an event website easy with its intuitive page editor, which allows you to customize your event details and see how they appear to your guests in real time. 

Nine Cool Event Technologies

Event organizers depend on reliable event technologies to make the job easier. So, we’ve compiled our favorite apps, tools, and event technologies that will save the overworked event organizers time and effort.

Event coordinator is consistently listed in the top 10 most stressful jobs, along with military personnel, airline pilots and newspaper and broadcast journalists. And why wouldn’t it be? Event Coordinators have to plan and execute the experience, juggle vendor, sponsor and attendee management, all while sticking to a tight budget and managing unforeseen circumstances.

Below, we share nine cool event technologies, designed to keep event organizers stay on track, motivate collaboration, boost promotional efforts, and enhance the overall event experience.

1. ScanGuru

    ScanGuru turns your phone into a portable scanner. With it, you can scan any typed or handwritten document, converting it to an editable file with no internet needed. Easily turn your meeting notes or run-of-show drafts into typed, editable documents you can share with your team via email or as PDF or JPEG files. The technology also allows you to add your signature to scanned documents, so vendor contracts have never been easier to share, sign and send. 

    https://my.scanguru.universeapps.limited/

    2. Tweek Calendar 

      Managing weekly to-do lists for your event becomes a breeze with Tweek. The easy-to-use interface allows you to add and rearrange tasks and provides a snapshot to help you prioritize throughout the week. Tweek is free for up to three users. The app allows you to share calendars, to-do lists and tasks and collaborate with teammates. Plus, you can download a printable calendar to take with you to meetings or onsite at your event. 

      https://tweek.so/

      3. OpenConf

        Hosting an educational or research event? OpenConf is a trusted technology widely used by scholarly events and journals across industries in more than 100 countries. It can help manage abstract submissions and reviews. Easily assign reviewers, monitor scoring and progress, and provide emailed updates to applicants. 

        https://www.openconf.com/

        4. Eventpedia

          No designer or budget to print a program? No problem. Eventpedia is an interactive event app organizers and attendees can use to manage event schedules and information. Use it to develop and share profiles on speakers, sponsors or exhibitors, and create opportunities to monetize through sponsored advertisements. Through real-time push notifications and social media integration, the app can also enhance the attendee experience and provides a platform for group chats, polls, surveys and networking.

          https://eventpedia.com/

          5. Notion

            Never lose a planning document or waste time digging through emails or notes again. Notion compiles your entire workflow into one workspace. Event organizers can use it to manage projects, create tasks lists, set due dates and store information for one person or the entire team. The display of the data is completely customizable, with everything accessible in just a few clicks. Need help organizing? Notion has a range of customizable pages and templates designed to help event organizers plan and market their event. 

            https://www.notion.so/product

            6. Slack

              Slack is a popular resource for team communication that can also be used for attendee engagement during events. The live chat technology allows administrators to create topical channels for organized communication. With more than 2,600 app integrations, the instant messenger technology has the power to bring together all the people, tools and partners of your event and transform your planning workflow. 

              https://slack.com/

              7. Canva

                Canva is a free and widely used online graphic design platform. Event organizers love Canva because it’s so easy to use, with no design skills required. You can use its tool suite to create engaging graphics and video for social media, email, posters, and more. The site hosts thousands of free-use and premium-rate templates, filters, images, video and fonts to help you design any creative you need for your event. Canva has become so popular it now generates more than 3,000 designs a minute. Learn how to get started creating your event marketing with Canva. 

                https://www.canva.com/

                8. Hootsuite

                  Once you have designed marketing assets to promote your event, you can use Hootsuite to manage your social media calendars across Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Instagram, WordPress and LinkedIn. The software allows you to easily schedule and monitor your social media accounts. View trending conversations and topics making it easier to create relevant content and drive interest to your event.

                  https://www.hootsuite.com/

                  9. Monday.com

                    Event organizers need a project management tool they can rely on. Monday.com is just that. Designed with marketers and creatives in mind, it provides a single space to plan, track and organize entire teams and projects, keeping your event organized from start to finish. The site hosts special tools and templates for organizers hosting one or more events. You can capture and track tasks and projects for an entire event calendar, or dive into the finer details of single events. The site allows you to create and share forms, compile contact lists, communicate with team members, and share updates with event partners and vendors.

                    https://monday.com/

                    And, one more event technology for luck – Ticketbud

                    Create an event website and start selling tickets in less than 5 minutes with Ticketbud. Ticketbud is a user-friendly ticketing platform with all-inclusive pricing and customer support. Organizers are in control with flexible payout options providing early access to funds. We provide great tools and integrations for managing, promoting and selling tickets for your event, with comprehensive event data and reporting. 

                    It’s free to get started and we make ticketing easy so you can focus on your event. Use our intuitive event page template to plug-in all your event information; create and sell multiple ticket types on your automated schedule with our ticket editor; and connect to a trusted payment processor of your choosing to begin collecting funds. With the flexibility to customize (including white-label solutions), event organizers worldwide trust Ticketbud.

                    https://www.ticketbud.com/

                    Go Digital: Easily Create an Online Event Registration Form

                    Event registration forms help capture important information about the people who attend your event. But collecting and organizing the data can be time-consuming, especially if you’re doing it manually or using multiple platforms. Ticketbud provides a streamlined approach to managing event registration, including tools to help create an online registration form.

                    Ticketbud’s ticketing features allow event organizers to digitize tedious processes, such as evet registration and collecting attendee information. Our tools help collate and preserve valuable insights about your audience that can help you better prepare for your event.

                    How do I create an event page?

                    Whether you’re hosting a free or paid event, you can create a free online registration page with Ticketbud. It costs nothing and can be up and running in minutes. 

                    Sign up now to get started.

                    Ticketbud’s page editor gives you an easy-to-use template to create your own event page with your images, event descriptions, and event partner logos. 

                    Take a load off your event-planning plate by setting up your event registration with Ticketbud’s ticket editor. You can create multiple ticket types varying in cost and quantity, as well as automate sales timelines.

                    How can I create a free online registration form?

                    Limited technical skills? That’s ok, you don’t need to start from scratch or understand coding and web design to create your online event registration form. With Ticketbud, you can create an online event registration form through the custom questions tool. It’s as simple as a click of a button — in this case, one that says “Add Question.”

                    Ticketbud's custom questions tool can be used to create an online registration form.

                    After creating your ticket types for your event (such as Show Only and Dinner + Show), you have the option to create and assign questions to any ticket type. If you’re hosting a business event, you may ask about the attendee’s job title or place of work. If hosting a dinner event, you may ask about meal preferences or dietary restrictions. The questions can be required or optional, and can be applied to specific ticket types or all tickets.

                    Watch this tutorial video to learn how to build your registration form with custom questions:

                    What should be included in a registration form?

                    A well-thought-out registration form can help you to tailor your event for your audience and meet specific business objectives. The custom questions on your registration form will help you gather vital information to improve your attendee event experience, as well as provide valuable insights for your marketing, products and services. 

                    A word to the wise, don’t overdo it. Most people don’t want to fill out an entire survey before purchasing an event ticket. The more complicated the registration process is, the less likely someone is to complete it. So, it’s important to find balance between data collection and a seamless sign-up. 

                    First, consider what details might help you improve the attendee experience:

                    Beyond helping plan your event, your custom questions or registration form can be used to collect valuable marketing data and pinpoint future opportunities. For example, you may consider asking your audience how they heard about your event, or give them the option to receive newsletters or other information from your organization. 

                    Do your best to keep your questions short, clear and concise so you can gain an understanding of your attendees’ preferences and build a future contact base. 

                    Once an attendee has signed up, you can send them a pre or post event survey if you want to learn more. Ticketbud integrates with Survey Monkey, and you can email a follow up at any time to your database with Ticketbud.

                    Create Eye-Catching Event Marketing with Free Design Help from Canva

                    Getting people to attend an event requires eye-catching event marketing, but not all event planners have the time or resources to produce attractive promotional materials across their platforms. 

                    Enter Canva, a free and widely used online graphic design service that provides users with a suite of tools to design engaging graphics and video for social media, email, posters, and more. Trusted by many, the online platform generates more than 3,000 designs a minute. And it’s easy to get started. 

                    You can create free event marketing with Canva.

                    Sign up at canva.com

                    All you need is an email address, or other online account, and a password. 

                    Then, verify your account through email. Once logged in, every tool and resource for both individuals and teams is easily accessible through the homepage, including design templates, educational resources, and saved projects. 

                    Once logged in, use Canva to create a banner for your Ticketbud event page that sets the tone for your entire event marketing strategy. 

                    To start creating eye-catching event marketing, start with your event page banner. Select custom size from Canva's homepage and input the proper dimensions.

                    Click “Custom size” in the top right corner of the page below the “Create a design” button, and input the dimensions for the banner (1024 width x 512 px height). 

                    Select “Create new design.”

                    Or, access our free event page banner templates here.

                    Once in your design, you can use the design dashboard to search thousands of free and customizable templates, source free-use graphics and media, upload photos, and add text. When placed in the design, each element can be easily transformed and edited to reflect your event and brand. 

                    Once finished, click “Share” in the top right corner of your screen. You can generate a share link for your team to access and edit, or download the file and upload your design as a photo onto your Ticketbud event page. 

                    As you work, Canva automatically saves your progress. You can access previous and in-progress projects anytime through the “Projects” tab on your Canva homepage. 

                    Modify your banner design for consistent eye-catching event marketing across your channels. 

                    On average, your audience will need to receive your message 5-7 times before making their purchase decision. Therefore, publishing graphics with a similar look and feel across email, social media, and other platforms will help build interest and recognition of your event.

                    Upgrading to Canva Pro, Teams, Education and Non-profit plans enables you to easily “copy & resize” designs. But with Canva’s free account, you can create new sizes for your design by simply starting a new design project from your homescreen..

                    Access saved projects to repurpose and reformat eye-catching marketing designs for other channels.

                    Canva has thousands of pre-formatted designs for Facebook posts and covers; Instagram posts, stories and reels; printed invitations and posters; and more. Simply select your desired template from its menu of options to begin creating your next piece of content.  

                    Once in your design, you can easily transfer all of the elements from your banner design to the new layout by navigating to the “Projects” folder in the design toolbar. Select the design. Then, modify to fit. Or, you can utilize the design tools to create a new design, borrowing similar fronts, colors, and elements from the banner design to create a consistent look.

                    With Canva, you can directly post your event marketing designs to social media and messaging apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. 

                    By upgrading to a premium plan, event organizers can streamline their workflow by scheduling and auto-posting to social media with Canva’s Content Planner. 

                    For more on how to use Canva to create eye-catching event marketing, check out Canva’s 20 tips on spreading the word on social media. 

                    Canva is always free for every individual and team. 

                    To unlock premium features, individuals can upgrade to Canva Pro to easily create professional designs and content for free for 30 days. More info here.

                    Why Live Shows are Choosing Ticketbud

                    1. Data ownership – complete access to event data and attendee contact information 
                    2. Early payouts – access to funds before the event to cover upfront costs
                    3. Transparent all-inclusive low rates – including all features and ongoing customer support
                    4. Mobile optimization – convert more sales on mobile, where people are searching for live shows 

                    Recently on the Joe Rogan Experience, popular comedian Andrew Schulz expressed frustration over ticketing companies with unnecessarily high fees, who are also holding on to valuable event data and attendee contact information. 

                    The value of owning the data and audience contact information from your events cannot be overstated. Your data insights and direct access to your audience is key to being able to grow your following as an artist. You need to know who your audience is to be able to connect with them. Don’t pay extra for your own data.

                    With more comedians and live shows making the move to Ticketbud, we recently invited NYC comedian and producer Joe Hill onto our Ticketbud Tidbits podcast. A key factor in Joe’s switch to Ticketbud was the early access to funds before the event. Early payouts are a game changer, due to the upfront costs of organizing and promoting shows. With Ticketbud you don’t pay more for this. 

                    Ticketbud’s all-inclusive flat rate pricing means that there’s one rate for everyone. As soon as you sign up for Ticketbud you instantly gain access to all features and ongoing customer support, with no additional charges. There are no monthly or yearly subscription fees, if you don’t make money, we don’t make money. It’s in our interest to give you the best platform, with the features, tools and support to sell more tickets. 

                    Ticketbud is also mobile optimized, which is important for converting ticket sales on mobile devices. Most consumers are researching shows and events on mobile, a smooth ticketing experience from event page through to purchase helps maximize sales. 

                    Ticketbud offers price transparency: 

                    2% ticketing fee +0.99c service charge per ticket sold

                    +2.9% payment processor fee

                    With discounts available for non-profits, educational institutions and students.

                    Be aware of ticketing providers who use fee structures that leave you paying much more than expected for the basic services you need. Enticed by entry level packages, you will soon find there are additional fees for customer service, being able to offer more than one ticket type (a must for effective ticket programming), the ability to sell tickets on your own website, customizable forms, access to detailed analytics and early payouts before your event.

                    Why pay more for this when it all comes as standard with Ticketbud?

                    It’s free to sign up and get started on Ticketbud. You don’t pay anything until you start selling tickets, and even then you have the option to build ticketing fees into your ticket prices.

                     

                    Ticketbud Empowers Live Shows to Maximize Revenue through Direct Ticketing

                    The event ticketing landscape is coming under increased scrutiny. Last week there was a call for a federal investigation of the online ticketing industry, citing the Ticketmaster-Live Nation stronghold. “Americans…have grown sick and tired of the sky-high fees.” A Government Accountability Office report found that on average, fees are more than 25 percent of ticket prices and are often not visible until late in the buying process. This is bad for ticket buyers, event producers and artists, everyone except the ticketing company. 

                    While big named artists often have their ticketing tied up with a venue, coordinated by Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Artists that are free to choose ticketing have the opportunity to maximize their revenue, data and contact lists. 

                    This has lead more performing artists and event producers to ticket their events directly, with Ticketbud emerging as a popular choice for live shows.

                    “With our commitment to transparent pricing, low all-inclusive fees and early access to funds, Ticketbud empowers performing artists to maximize revenue through direct ticketing. Our user-friendly platform makes it easy to sell tickets online”.

                    Ticketbud CEO Kayhan Ahmadi

                    4 Reasons Live Shows are Choosing Ticketbud 

                    1. Data ownership – complete access to event data and attendee contact information 
                    2. Early payouts – access to funds before the event to cover upfront costs
                    3. Transparent all-inclusive low rates – including all features and ongoing customer support
                    4. Mobile optimization – convert more sales on mobile, where people are searching for live shows 

                    Recently on the Joe Rogan Experience, popular comedian Andrew Schulz expressed frustration over ticketing companies with unnecessarily high fees, who are also holding on to valuable event data and attendee contact information. 

                    The value of owning the data and audience contact information from your events cannot be overstated. Your data insights and direct access to your audience is key to being able to grow your following as an artist. You need to know who your audience is to be able to connect with them. Don’t pay extra for your own data.

                    With more comedians and live shows making the move to Ticketbud, we recently invited NYC comedian and producer Joe Hill onto our Ticketbud Tidbits podcast. A key factor in Joe’s switch to Ticketbud was the early access to funds before the event. Early payouts are a game changer, due to the upfront costs of organizing and promoting shows. With Ticketbud you don’t pay more for this. 

                    Ticketbud’s all-inclusive flat rate pricing means that there’s one rate for everyone. As soon as you sign up for Ticketbud you instantly gain access to all features and ongoing customer support, with no additional charges. There are no monthly or yearly subscription fees, if you don’t make money, we don’t make money. It’s in our interest to give you the best platform, with the features, tools and support to sell more tickets. 

                    Ticketbud is also mobile optimized, which is important for converting ticket sales on mobile devices. Most consumers are researching shows and events on mobile, a smooth ticketing experience from event page through to purchase helps maximize sales. 

                    Ticketbud offers price transparency: 

                    2% ticketing fee +0.99c service charge per ticket sold

                    +2.9% payment processor fee

                    With discounts available for non-profits, educational institutions and students.

                    Be aware of ticketing providers who use fee structures that leave you paying much more than expected for the basic services you need. Enticed by entry level packages, you will soon find there are additional fees for customer service, being able to offer more than one ticket type (a must for effective ticket programming), the ability to sell tickets on your own website, customizable forms, access to detailed analytics and early payouts before your event.

                    Why pay more for this when it all comes as standard with Ticketbud?

                    It’s free to sign up and get started on Ticketbud. You don’t pay anything until you start selling tickets, and even then you have the option to build ticketing fees into your ticket prices.

                     

                    Event Ticketing Just Got Easier

                    Ticketbud Launches an Intuitive New Interface for Event Organizers

                    “It’s a great time to use Ticketbud for event ticketing. This thing sings”.

                    Kayhan Ahmadi, CEO of Ticketbud

                    In the first half of 2019 Ticketbud announced a series of platform advancements to improve the ticket buyer experience.  

                    Ticketbud is now excited to announce the launch of our redesigned interface for event organizers. This update takes the user experience to the next level, making the event setup and management process more intuitive and user-friendly with enhanced design and functionality. 

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                    The Redesign Includes:

                    2019 Platform Updates:

                    These advancements are a result of close consultation with customers and Ticketbud’s continued commitment to improving the customer experience.

                    Modern New Event Pages

                    Ticketbud Mobile Images

                    Mobile Optimized Checkout 

                    Reduce friction at checkout and sell more tickets with a purchase process designed for mobile.

                    Organization Pages

                    Showcase all your events in one place. Ideal for organizations with multiple events or multi-day events. 

                    “This newly updated and mobile optimized ticketing platform has been our largest and most important project under my tenure as CEO. We’ve taken the Ticketbud ticketing platform to the next level with an intuitive and enhanced user experience for event organizers. It’s dynamic, flexible, and  will support all the powerful integrations we are going to be launching. Combined with previous updates focused on the ticket purchase experience, such as our mobile optimized event pages and checkout experience, it’s a great time to use Ticketbud for event ticketing. This thing sings”. 

                    Kayhan Ahmadi, CEO of Ticketbud.

                    It’s free to sign up and get started on Ticketbud today. You can also request a personal walkthrough demo with a Ticketbud Team Member.

                    Ticketbud Tidbits Ep 23 – SHOW NOTES…Managing an Outdoor Community Event Space

                    With Mandi Thomas from the Downtown Austin Alliance.

                    Overview

                    In this podcast we talk to Mandi Thomas, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Downtown Austin Alliance.  Mandi manages the events, programming and operations of Republic Square, a community park in downtown Austin frequently used for events.

                    In the episode Mandi talks about what goes into managing a public park and event space. She gives an overview of the key elements of her role which include business development, sales, fundraising, event planning and venue management. Mandi shares specific insights on event programming, key challenges and maximizing year round usage of a space.

                    The Downtown Austin Alliance is a local organization made up of property owners in the downtown community. Their purpose is to protect and promote Austin’s downtown through advocacy, strategic initiatives and planning.

                    Listen now or read the show notes below.

                    About Mandi

                    Mandi’s background includes roles in sales and corporate partnerships for venues operated by AEG Presents one of the world’s largest live music companies. Mandi has been working as Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Downtown Austin Alliance for the past three years managing sponsorships, partnerships and business development. 

                    Mandi’s Advice for Sponsorships

                    Managing a Public Park Venue

                    Republic Square is the first public park in Austin to be managed through a public/private partnership with the city, allowing a revenue model where the Downtown Austin Alliance can rent out the space. This provides more flexibility than other city parks, in both the design and how events are coordinated.

                    The Downtown Austin Alliance met with community stakeholders and outlined guiding principles for the park that would be written into an agreement with the city. The aim was for the park to be family friendly and open to everyone. A collaborative space with a balance of programming, inclusive and welcoming to a diverse audience.

                    Because Republic Square is designated as a public park, there are restrictions on the number of closed/private events that can be held each year. Weddings are not permitted in the park, but other events and organizations can apply to use the space. Part of the venue management role includes working with event producers on event permits, requirements and advising on the best use of the space. 

                    Event and Activity Programming

                    As a venue manager the Downtown Austin Alliance can curate the experiences offered at the park. They’re always looking for authentic and unique ways to use the park, weaving in the local culture. They aim to combine established events with new events that reflect the changing nature of the downtown area.

                    Partnering with downtown businesses to run activities in the park is an important element. The Downtown Austin Alliance partnered with Austin Community College, who run free foreign language classes in the park on Saturday mornings. Another partnership is with Wanderlust who offer yoga in the park.

                    The goal is to offer a balanced program of events throughout the year, with event request applications evaluated on what makes sense for the community. Looking for opportunities to create authentic and unique event programming, working with event producers to bring interesting events into the park. Considering wider community needs is also a good idea, such as becoming a meeting place for bus shuttles to other major events in the city.  

                    Competitive Applications for a Popular Public Event Space

                    Mandi recommends being as comprehensive as you can in the application. Think about the space you’re applying for and consider their objectives. If you were applying to Republic Square for example, you would consider that they are looking for events and activities that benefit the community. You know they are interested in programming that is inclusive, multicultural, family friendly, unique or new. If your event fits this criteria, be sure to mention that in the application.  

                    What to include in your application:

                    Request to book Republic Square for an upcoming event.

                    Maximizing Year Round Use of an Outdoor Event Space

                    Key Challenges

                    Weather is the big one. You have to be flexible in planning, site design, the option to tent and potentially having a rain date on standby. Helping event organizers manage this is part of running an outdoor event space. 

                    As a ticketing provider, Ticketbud offers Event Protect to our customers that protects ticket revenue in the case of qualifying unforeseen cancelations. This can minimize some of the financial risk for event organizers.

                    Another consideration for a public park is that community members want to use the park for civic movements or rallies. Republic Square is located right next to a federal courthouse, which requires staying connected with the community when these types of events come up. Mandi explains that they keep an eye on facebook events that mention Republic Square and reach out to organizers to work with them.  

                    Park Operations 

                    A public park is a living space that requires care and maintenance. This includes maintaining the lawn, irrigation systems and landscaping, as well as learning about rest periods for grass between events so you don’t destroy it. This was all completely new territory for Mandi, who is experienced with events, but not in maintaining a park. Through trial and error she worked out the balance required to keep the park maintained in good condition.

                    Mandi’s Tips for Event Organizers

                    When it comes to events, things are never going to go perfectly. Be flexible enough to ride with that and embrace it. 

                    Don’t be afraid to try new things and step outside of your comfort zone. Don’t shy away from taking on a role that has a new challenge (like managing a public park). Have confidence in your ability to work it out.    

                    Find out more about Republic Square and upcoming events.

                    New Years Eve: Austin-style

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