---
title: "Run ticketing for a comedy or performing arts show | Ticket Fairy Guides"
description: "Build the show from the theater template, price the house by area and release, sell the program and interval drinks, duplicate the show for every performance, put the run on one page, issue comps for press and cast, and follow arrivals at the door."
canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-comedy-or-performing-arts-show"
---

1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/)
2. [Guides](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides)
3. Run ticketing for a comedy or performing arts show

Playbooks by event type

# Run ticketing for a comedy or performing arts show

Comedy clubs, theater companies and arts venues sell a run of performances, and each performance has its own house, comps and latecomer rule. Price the house once, copy it to every date, and keep the whole run on one page buyers can book from. Your box office, cast and reviewers then have their tickets before the first performance.

Takes:  20 minutes

- [Build the show from the theater template](#step-1)
- [Group the house into ticket categories](#step-2)
- [Create the price releases and concessions](#step-3)
- [Reserved seating on your event](#step-4)
- [Sell the program and interval drinks with the ticket](#step-5)
- [Duplicate the show for every performance](#step-6)
- [Put the whole run on one page](#step-7)
- [Set doors and the latecomer rule per ticket](#step-8)
- [Issue comps for press, reviewers and guests](#step-9)
- [Give cast and crew a multi-entry pass](#step-10)
- [Measure every listing and let the acts sell](#step-11)
- [Follow arrivals while the house fills](#step-12)

## Before you start

- You're a brand owner or admin. You can create events, change tickets, add-ons and passes, and publish.
- You have agreed the dates and times of every performance, the areas of the house and their prices, the concessions you offer and how late a latecomer may be seated.
- You know who on the cast, crew and press list needs a pass or a comp, and which listings and partners you want to measure.

1. ## Build the show from the theater template

   Create a new event and start from the Theater show template, which lays out Stalls, Circle and Balcony tiers, a program add-on, door and last-entry times and asks whether you offer concessions and an opening-night reception. For a stand-up night with tables, the Club show template is a better start, and for a one-room comedy club, the Concert template with seated chosen.

   **Note:** You can rename and reprice the tiers, add-on and settings the template builds. A show you ran last season is quicker to duplicate than to rebuild.

   ![The Theater show template questions before the event is built](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-templates--theatre.png)    
   *Events, Create Event, Theater show.*
2. ## Group the house into ticket categories

   Create a ticket category for each area of the house, such as Stalls, Circle and Balcony, by entering its **Category Name**, and put every price release for that area inside it. Buyers choose where they sit first and the price second, and a returned ticket is offered to the waiting list for the same area.

   **Note:** A comedy club with one room needs one category, or none. Keep standing room as its own category so it is never resold as a seat.

   [Group your tickets into categories](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/group-your-tickets-into-categories)

   ![The Create Category dialog with the Category Name and Resale Type fields](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-ticket-categories--create-category.png)    
   *Tickets, Ticket Categories, Create Category.*
3. ## Create the price releases and concessions

   For each area, create a ticket type per price, such as Stalls, Stalls concession and Stalls preview, with its own allocation and sale window, and select **Create Ticket Type**. A concession is a ticket type at its own price, with the proof you ask for named in its description.

   **Note:** Opening night, previews and a matinee are separate performances, so you set their prices on their own copies of the show. The ticket types guide covers every field.

   [Schedule ticket releases](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/schedule-ticket-sale-windows-and-release-tiers)

   ![The Create Ticket Type form with the name, price and Maximum Number of Sales](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-ticket-page-form--create.png)    
   *Tickets, Create Ticket Type.*

## Reserved seating on your event

A seat map with numbered seats, price zones and accessible seats is available for your event, and your Ticket Fairy contact turns it on and sets it up with you. Categories, comps and check-in all work the same with or without assigned seats.

**Note:** A comedy club with unreserved seating sells by area or by table and needs no map.

4. ## Sell the program and interval drinks with the ticket

   Open Add-Ons, create a Program add-on and an interval drink or drink-token add-on with their prices and stock, and select **Create Add-On**. Buyers add them in the same basket, and the bar and front of house see the counts in the add-on report.

   **Note:** Sell a two-drink minimum as a drink-token add-on limited to the ticket types it applies to. The add-ons guide covers stock, ticket restrictions and taking an add-on off sale.

   [Sell parking, camping and merchandise with your tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-add-ons-with-your-tickets)

   ![The Create Add-On form with the name, price and stock fields](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-add-ons--new-add-on.png)    
   *Event, Add-Ons, Create Add-On.*
5. ## Duplicate the show for every performance

   With the first performance complete, open it and select **Duplicate Event** for each further date and time, keeping the tickets, categories, add-ons and settings. Change the date, then the price of any performance that differs, such as a matinee or a preview.

   **Note:** Each performance is its own event, so a sold-out Saturday never blocks a Tuesday and each night has its own comps, arrivals and report.

   [Duplicate an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/duplicate-an-event)

   ![The Duplicate Event dialog with the source performance and the new date](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-nightclub-operations--duplicate-night.png)    
   *Event, Duplicate Event.*
6. ## Put the whole run on one page

   Open your brand, then **Event Series**, select **New event series**, name it after the show and turn on its public page. Every performance whose name matches joins the series, and buyers pick their date from one address you can print on the poster.

   **Note:** Future performances you duplicate later join the series on their own while their names match the rule. The series guide covers the rule, the address and editions that do not match.

   [Run a recurring event series](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-recurring-event-series)

   ![The Create Event Series dialog with the public page switch, the web address and the rule for future editions](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-nightclub-operations--public-event-series.png)    
   *Brand, Event Series, Create Event Series.*
7. ## Set doors and the latecomer rule per ticket

   On each ticket type, turn on **This ticket type has different door times**, then enter the **Doors Open Time** and **Last Entry Time**. A stricter last entry on stalls tickets than on the balcony keeps latecomers out of the sightlines.

   **Note:** The scanner refuses a ticket after its last-entry time, so front of house can seat a latecomer at the interval by hand rather than by scan.

   [Set ticket entry and repeat-scan rules](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/set-ticket-entry-and-repeat-scan-rules)

   ![Ticket type options with different door times turned on and a last entry time](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-ticket-page-form--door-times.png)    
   *Tickets, Edit Ticket Type, ticket type options.*
8. ## Issue comps for press, reviewers and guests

   Open **Guest Tickets**, enter each person's name and email against the ticket type and performance they are coming to, and select **Send Guest Tickets**. Each guest receives a ticket with a barcode, and the guest list shows who has used theirs.

   **Note:** Guest tickets draw from the ticket type's stock, so add the house seats you hold back for press to the allocation. The guest tickets guide covers spreadsheets and canceling a comp.

   [Send free tickets to your guest list](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/issue-guest-tickets)

   ![The Send Guest Tickets form with a recipient, ticket type and quantity](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-guest-tickets--send-guest-tickets.png)    
   *Event, Guest Tickets.*
9. ## Give cast and crew a multi-entry pass

   Open **Multi-Entry Passes** on your brand rather than on one performance, create a pass type for cast, crew and reviewers, then **Enter Recipient** details for each person and send. A pass made on the brand works at every event that brand runs, so one covers the whole run without a ticket per night.

   **Note:** A pass made on a single performance works at that performance alone, and uses are counted per event, so set the maximum high enough for a holder who leaves and comes back during a show. The passes guide covers editing and removing a pass.

   [Issue reusable event passes to crew and artists](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/issue-entry-passes-to-your-crew)

   ![The Create New Pass form with the pass type and the holder's details](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-passes--issue-a-pass.png)    
   *Multi-Entry Passes, Create New Pass.*
10. ## Measure every listing and let the acts sell

    Create a tracking link for each listing, newsletter and partner site, and send each comedian or company member a promoter link with **Send Promoter Links** when you publish. The tracking links report shows which placement sold, and the promoter report shows which act brought their own crowd.

    **Note:** A tracking link measures a placement and does not include a reward. A promoter link belongs to a team member and counts their sales.

    ![Publish dialog with the Send Promoter Links option](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-publish--promoter-links.png)    
    *Event, Publish, Promoters.*
11. ## Follow arrivals while the house fills

    Open the check-in page for the performance and select **Hourly** to watch arrivals against the seats sold as the doors open. Door staff scan with the Entry Fairy app, and when the scanner refuses a ticket after its last-entry time it shows the holder's area, so front of house can seat them at the interval.

    [Track your event check-ins by hour](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/watch-check-ins-live)

    ![Hourly check-in report showing arrivals against tickets sold](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-check-in--hourly-report.png)    
    *Event, Check-In, Hourly.*

## Or have it done for you

Fai, your AI teammate, can check sales, update your event or change a ticket when you ask.

Fai can build the show from the theater template, create the house categories and price releases, add the program and drinks, duplicate the show to every performance, issue guest tickets and passes, publish on a schedule and report arrivals. She shows you the setup before she creates anything and asks you to approve each change.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

```
Help me set up ticketing for our run of <SHOW NAME>; ask about our performance dates and times, the areas of the house and their prices, concessions, program and drinks, comps and press, cast and crew passes and our on-sale date, then show me the proposed setup before changing anything
```

## From your terminal

Install the CLI from [our CLI page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/cli), sign in with `ticketfairy auth login`, and choose the brand you are working on with `ticketfairy brand use <BRAND_ID>`. `ticketfairy brand list` and `ticketfairy event list` show the IDs the other commands use.

Use the CLI to create each price release and add-on, publish a performance and read arrivals. You copy a show to another date and set up categories, the series page, passes and guest tickets in the dashboard.

### Create the stalls release.

```
ticketfairy ticket create <EVENT_ID> --name "Stalls" --price 32 --max-inventory 180
```

### Create the program add-on.

```
ticketfairy addon create <EVENT_ID> --name "Program" --price 5 --quantity 500
```

### Publish a performance.

```
ticketfairy event publish <EVENT_ID>
```

### Read arrivals during the show.

```
ticketfairy checkin status <EVENT_ID> --output json
```

## Sell a season pass across the run

Open your brand's Event Passes and create a pass with a price, a number of credits and the series that holds the run, so a buyer pays once and books a performance of their choice from their own account later. Cap the quantity when you want to limit how many season passes you sell.

**Note:** A performance you add to the series later becomes bookable with the pass on its own. Refunding a pass returns the whole price and voids the credits left on it, while any performance already booked with it stands, so refund a part-used pass only when you mean to give those performances away.

![The Event Passes list showing each pass with the events it covers, its expiry, its price and whether it is active or archived](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-event-passes--pass-types.png)

*The passes a brand sells, including a rolling one and an archived one.*

You set up event passes on the brand's Event Passes page. Fai and the CLI do not create them yet.

## Tell ticket holders about a cast change or a moved performance

Email the holders of the affected performance from Messaging, and use Postpone when a performance moves to another date so refunds and the new date are handled for you. The email and postponement guides cover both.

![Email composer with the audience selector](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-messaging--email-composer.png)

*Event, Messaging, Send Email.*

Fai can email the holders of one performance after showing you the message, and takes you to the postponement controls. The CLI sends an email from a file and postpones by id.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

```
Email everyone attending <PERFORMANCE NAME> that <THE CHANGE>, and show me the message before sending
```

## Fill a sold-out performance from the waiting list

Turn on the waiting list so a returned ticket goes to the next person in line for the same area, and message the list when you add a performance. The waiting list guide covers the offer window and the report.

![Ticket settings with the waiting list switches for tickets and add-ons turned on](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-waiting-list--settings.png)

*Tickets, Settings.*

Fai can turn the waiting list on for a performance and tell you who is waiting. The CLI sets the same switch through the event's attributes.

### In your dashboard, with Fai

```
Turn on the waiting list for <PERFORMANCE NAME> and show me who is waiting
```

## Questions you might have

**Should a comedy club use the theater, club or concert template?**

 Use Theater show for a seated house with areas and a program, Club show for a night with tables and a guest list, and Concert with seated chosen for one room at one price. Every template can be renamed and repriced after it is built.

**How do I price a matinee or a preview differently?**

 Each performance is its own event, so change the ticket prices on the matinee or preview copy after duplicating. The series page still shows the run together.

**How do I offer a group discount for parties of ten?**

 Create a promotion with an automatic threshold of ten tickets, or a code you give to schools and groups. Every ticket in the basket counts towards the threshold, so it suits a party booking together.

**Can a comedian see how many tickets their link sold?**

 Yes. Invite them to the performance as a promoter and send them their link; the Sales by Promoter report shows their sales and revenue, and a promoter sees only their own.

**How do I run a two-drink minimum?**

 Sell the drinks as a drink-token add-on limited to the ticket types it applies to, and let the bar redeem the tokens. Buyers pay for them in the same basket as the ticket.

**Does the platform support numbered seats and accessible seating?**

 Yes. Your Ticket Fairy contact turns on reserved seating with price zones and accessible seats for your event and sets the map up with you. The rest of this playbook works the same with or without it.

**Can I sell a season ticket for the whole run?**

 Yes, as a multi-event pass on your brand: a buyer pays once for a number of credits and books a performance from the series whenever they choose, including performances you add later.

## Still have a question?

Book a demo and we will answer it on a call, on your kind of event. Or create your account and see it for yourself.

   [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome)

No setup fees. No monthly fee. No credit card required.

## Related guides

- [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/solutions/theatre-and-comedy)
- [Sell reserved seats for your event from a seat map](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-reserved-seats-from-a-seat-map)
- [Run ticketing for a club night](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-club-night)
- [Run a recurring event series](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-recurring-event-series)
- [Duplicate an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/duplicate-an-event)
- [Group your tickets into categories](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/group-your-tickets-into-categories)
- [Issue reusable event passes to crew and artists](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/issue-entry-passes-to-your-crew)
- [Run a waiting list for a sold-out event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-waiting-list)
- [Every Ticket Fairy guide](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides)

## Do this on your own event

Create your account, build your event and follow the steps in your own dashboard. You do not need to book a sales call.

  [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo)

## Sell tickets with Ticket Fairy

Start free with unlimited events and no monthly fee, and choose a paid plan when you need more.

- Set up your event in minutes
- Free events are free
- Fai, your AI teammate, is built in

 [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome)

No setup fees. No monthly fee. No credit card required.

## See it on a call

Book a demo and we will show you how Ticket Fairy handles your kind of event.

 [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/solutions/theatre-and-comedy)

### Tips for selling more tickets

Practical advice from working event organizers, and every new guide as it is published.

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---

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