Sold out? That's not the end
An event selling out is good news, but it also means there are people who were just too late. A shame, because in the run-up to your event tickets almost always become available: someone cancels, or a visitor resells their ticket. With a waitlist you catch those interested people instead of letting them go.
That way your event stays fully booked and you give people who really want to be there a fair chance after all.
Switch it on per ticket type
You turn the waitlist on per ticket type. That's handy, because often it isn't your whole event that's sold out, but one specific ticket type. Think of the early-bird tickets or a VIP category that fills up first.
By managing the waitlist per ticket type, you keep things clear:
- Only switch it on for the ticket types where demand remains.
- Other ticket types that are still for sale stay available as normal.
- You keep an eye on interest per category.
How visitors sign up
Is a ticket type sold out and the waitlist switched on? Then an interested visitor sees the option to sign up. Signing up is low-threshold: they only provide their name and email address. No account required, no payment up front — just sign up and stay informed.
That way you gather a shortlist of people who really want to be there as soon as space opens up.
Automatic notification when something becomes available
This is where the waitlist does the real work. When a ticket becomes available, for example because someone cancels or resells their ticket, the people on the waitlist automatically receive a notification email. In that email they read that something is available again, so they can still buy.
As an organiser you don't have to do anything manually for this. The notification goes out by itself as soon as space opens up, so interested people can act quickly before it fills up again.
Rather not offer a waitlist? Switch it off
The waitlist is on by default, but not every event wants one. For a private evening, an event with a strict guest list, or a sold-out performance where you know nothing more will come free, a sign-up form is a promise you cannot keep.
The event form (and the quick edit panel on the event page) therefore carries the tick box "Offer a waitlist when tickets are sold out". Switch it off and a sold-out ticket type on the event page simply reads "Sold out", with no form.
Two things worth knowing:
- If people are already on the waitlist, the form tells you how many, and that they will not be notified while the waitlist is off.
- Their sign-ups are kept. Switch the waitlist back on and they are included again with the next ticket that becomes available.
Why this is worth it
A waitlist costs you nothing extra and pays off in several ways:
- More filled seats — tickets that become available aren't lost but go to those waiting.
- Happy visitors — those who were just too late get a chance after all.
- Insight into demand — you can see how many people are waiting for a sold-out ticket type.
In short
- You switch the waitlist on per ticket type.
- When sold out, a visitor signs up with their name and email address.
- When a ticket becomes available through cancellation or resale, those signed up automatically receive a notification email.
- That way you keep your event full and give interested people a chance after all.
- Does a waitlist not suit this event? Switch it off per event with a single tick box.
With a waitlist you turn "sold out" into a new opportunity — for your visitors and for your event.
