The short answer
For most small events, open sales four to eight weeks before the date. That gives people time to plan, lets word of mouth work, and still feels close enough that they book rather than “think about it”. Bigger events, festivals and anything people travel for need longer: three to six months.
Whatever you choose, announce the on-sale date before it happens, so your keenest people are ready.
Rough guide by event type
| Event | Open sales |
|---|---|
| Weekly class or social | 1 to 2 weeks ahead, or a series that is always open |
| Workshop, trivia or dinner | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Gala, ball or fundraiser | 2 to 3 months |
| Festival or multi-day event | 3 to 6 months |
| Anything people fly to | 6 months or more |
These are starting points. If your regulars always book in the last week, that is your real pattern.
Announce first, sell second
A short gap between announcing and opening sales builds interest:
- Announce the event and the on-sale date.
- Remind people the day before sales open.
- Open sales at the stated time and post the link.
It also helps fairness. Everyone knows when to be there, rather than a few people stumbling on a link.
Use an early bird to start strong
The first week of sales sets the tone. An early-bird price for a limited time gives people a reason to book now rather than later. It also gives you an early read on demand while there is still time to change your plans.
Avoid the worst times
- late at night, when your audience is asleep
- the middle of a public holiday weekend
- the same day as a bigger event your audience cares about
Weekday mornings and lunchtimes work well for many audiences. Test and see what works for yours.
On One Ticket
You can publish the event page before tickets go on sale. Each ticket type has an optional sales start and end, in the event’s time zone. A ticket type is hidden until its sales start by default, or you can show it marked as not on sale yet, so people can see what is coming.
At the start time the ticket appears and sales open on their own, with nothing for you to do. Price changes on a ticket type let an early-bird price end on a date, a number of days before the event, or once a number have sold.
Related: How do I set up early-bird tickets?, How do I close ticket sales before the event? and How do I stop one person buying all the tickets?
Answers to your questions
Is One Ticket free to use?
Yes. The Free plan has everything you need to sell tickets, with no monthly cost, no setup fee, no payout fee and no card needed. Pro and Team are open now: upgrade any time in Settings › Plan. Limited-time offer: A$1 for your first year (first 100 organisers), then A$29/month for Pro or A$79/month for Team. Cancel anytime.
Who pays the booking fee?
The buyer, on a paid ticket, on top of the price you set, so you receive 100% of your ticket price. Free tickets carry no fee.
When do I get paid?
Ticket money goes to your own Stripe account, with no payout fee from One Ticket. Until your first paid event has gone cleanly, it is paid out two days after each event; after that, it is paid out as it sells.
Can I run a free event?
Yes. A free ticket costs nobody anything, and you don’t need Stripe connected to run a free event.
Do people need an account to book?
No. They book on their phone or computer without an account, and their tickets arrive by email with a QR code to show at the door.