The short answer
For the example below, charge about $22 a ticket.
That covers $1,400 in costs for 80 people and leaves $300 profit; the break-even price is $17.50. With One Ticket’s booking fee passed on, buyers pay $23.40 and you receive $22 a ticket.
This is an example, not a quote or an average: use your own costs in the calculator below.
The example budget
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Venue hire | $500 |
| DJ | $300 |
| Sound hire | $200 |
| Coffee or juice | $5 a person ($400 for 80) |
| Total costs | $1,400 |
| People expected | 80 |
| Profit wanted | $300 |
Worked example
At $22 a ticket, what you receive and keep if fewer than 80 come:
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (40 people) | $880 | -$320 |
| Three quarters (60 people) | $1,320 | $20 |
| All 80 people | $1,760 | $360 |
And at the prices either side:
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit at 80 people | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $21.37 | $200 | 67 people |
| $21 | $22.39 | $280 | 63 people |
| $22 | $23.40 | $360 | 59 people |
| $23 | $24.42 | $440 | 56 people |
| $24 | $25.44 | $520 | 53 people |
Try your own numbers
The calculator starts with the example’s figures: change any of them.
- Break-even price
- $17.50
- Suggested price
- $22
- Buyer pays
- $23.40
- You receive a ticket
- $22
Charge $22 a ticket. Buyers pay $23.40 with One Ticket’s booking fee, and you receive $22 a ticket. At 80 people you receive $1,760, $360 more than the $1,400 in costs.
If fewer people come
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (40 people) | $880 | -$320 |
| Three quarters (60 people) | $1,320 | $20 |
| All 80 people | $1,760 | $360 |
Prices either side
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit if all come | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $21.37 | $200 | 67 people |
| $21 | $22.39 | $280 | 63 people |
| $22 | $23.40 | $360 | 59 people |
| $23 | $24.42 | $440 | 56 people |
| $24 | $25.44 | $520 | 53 people |
Tips for a sober rave
With no bar sales to lean on, the ticket has to cover the night. Including a coffee or juice in the price gives guests a clear reason to buy.
More in the guide: How do I run the door at a sober rave?.
A refund policy to match: Refund policy template for a sober rave.
The booking fee
One Ticket adds a booking fee at checkout: $1.40 on a $22 ticket, paid by the buyer, so you receive the whole price. It is the same on every plan, free tickets carry none and the Free plan has no monthly cost. See One Ticket pricing.
Common questions
- How much should I charge for a sober rave?
- For the example budget on this page ($1,400 in costs for 80 people, $300 profit), about $22 a ticket. It is an example: use your own costs.
- What should a sober rave ticket cover?
- In this example: venue hire, dj, sound hire, coffee or juice. Count the costs paid for each person apart from the ones paid once, and add any profit you want.
- What if fewer people come?
- At $22 a ticket the example makes a loss of $320 with 40 people and a profit of $20 with 60.
- Who pays the booking fee?
- The buyer, on top of the ticket price: $1.40 on a $22 ticket, so you receive the whole $22.