When to Use Each Event Type

Choosing the correct event type is the first and most important decision when creating an event. Once set, the event type cannot be changed, so it is important to choose correctly from the start.

Decision Guide

Use Ticketed When

• You are charging an admission fee or registration fee
• You need to process payments through Stripe
• You want to offer multiple ticket tiers (e.g., General Admission, VIP)
• You need to issue QR codes for venue check-in
• You want to offer member-only pricing or complimentary passes

Examples: Concerts, workshops with a fee, fundraiser galas, paid training sessions, sporting events with admission.

Use RSVP When

• The event is free but you need to know who is coming
• You want a simple headcount without detailed registration
• You want to optionally collect basic attendee information
• You need to set a capacity limit on attendance

Examples: Community meetups, free webinars, potluck dinners, informational sessions, open houses.

Use Sign-up When

• The event is free but requires detailed registration information
• You need attendees to fill out custom forms (e.g., skill level, dietary needs, T-shirt size)
• You are collecting documents or files from registrants
• You need different forms for different participant roles

Examples: Volunteer drives, class registrations, tryouts, workshop sign-ups requiring prerequisites.

Use Open When

• Anyone can attend without registration
• You do not need to track attendance
• The event is purely informational or drop-in
• You just want to publicize the event

Examples: Public festivals, open gym hours, community announcements, recurring drop-in sessions.

Quick Reference Table

Need	Ticketed	RSVP	Sign-up	Open
Collect payment	Yes	No	No	No
Track attendance	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Custom forms	Yes	Optional	Yes	No
Capacity limits	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
QR code check-in	Yes	No	No	No
Member-only access	Yes	No	No	No
Multiple ticket tiers	Yes	No	No	No

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid These Pitfalls

1. Using RSVP for paid events. If you need to collect money, always use Ticketed. RSVP events have no payment processing.

2. Using Ticketed when you only need registration. If the event is free and you just need forms, use Sign-up. This avoids unnecessary payment setup.

3. Using Open when you need headcount. Open events do not track who is coming. Use RSVP if you need to plan for a specific number of attendees.

4. Forgetting that event type cannot be changed. Once an event is created with a specific type, you cannot switch it. If you chose wrong, duplicate the event with the correct type and archive the original.

What If You Chose Wrong?

If you created an event with the wrong type:

1. Go to the event detail page
2. Click Duplicate Event to create a copy
3. Choose the correct event type for the new copy
4. Update the details as needed
5. Publish the new event
6. Archive the original event