Essential Ticketing Features Every Event Needs
A comprehensive checklist for event organizers evaluating ticketing software
When evaluating ticketing platforms, it's easy to get overwhelmed by feature lists and marketing claims. This guide breaks down the essential ticketing features you need for successful festivals and mid-size events, organized by priority and use case.
Core Ticketing Features (Essential)
Multiple Ticket Types
Support for GA passes, VIP tickets, early bird pricing, student discounts, and payment plans. Essential for festivals that need tiered pricing and flexible options.
Secure Payment Processing
PCI-DSS compliant payment handling with support for credit cards, debit cards, and payment plans (like Afterpay). Transparent fee structure is crucial.
Mobile-Optimized Checkout
Over 60% of ticket purchases happen on mobile devices. The checkout flow must be fast, intuitive, and work seamlessly on all devices.
QR Code Check-In
Digital ticket scanning with QR codes for fast, contactless entry. Should work offline and sync when connection is restored.
Real-Time Sales Analytics
Live dashboard showing ticket sales, revenue, attendance, and conversion rates. Critical for making real-time decisions during sales periods.
Email Management
Automated confirmation emails, ticket delivery, and attendee communications. Customizable templates maintain your brand voice.
Advanced Features (Important for Festivals)
White-Label Branding
Complete control over your event's appearance—custom domains, logos, colors, and checkout pages. Your brand, not the platform's.
Native Mobile Apps
Dedicated iOS and Android apps for attendees with schedules, artist discovery, push notifications, and offline access.
API Access
REST API and webhooks for integrating with your existing systems—CRM, email marketing, analytics, and custom workflows.
Role-Based Access
Multiple admin accounts with different permission levels. Check-in managers, sales staff, and organizers each get appropriate access.
Music Integration
Spotify and Apple Music links for artist discovery, playlist creation, and enhanced attendee engagement before the event.
Schedule Management
Build and manage event schedules with venues, times, and performer assignments. Attendees can create personalized schedules.
Nice-to-Have Features
Social Features
Attendee profiles, favorites, sharing, and community building features that enhance engagement.
Website Embeds
Embeddable widgets for schedules, speakers, and ticket sales that integrate seamlessly into your existing website.
Waitlist Management
Automated waitlists for sold-out events with automatic ticket allocation when spots open up.
Promo Codes & Discounts
Flexible discount codes, early bird pricing, group rates, and referral programs to drive sales.
Feature Comparison Checklist
Use this checklist when evaluating ticketing platforms:
| Feature | Essential | Festival Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple ticket types & pricing tiers | ✓ | GA, VIP, early bird, payment plans |
| Mobile-optimized checkout | ✓ | 60%+ of sales happen on mobile |
| QR code check-in | ✓ | Fast entry, contactless, offline-capable |
| Real-time analytics | ✓ | Monitor sales, attendance, revenue |
| White-label branding | Important | Maintain brand consistency |
| Native mobile apps | Important | Enhanced attendee experience |
| API & webhooks | Important | Integrate with existing systems |
| Music integrations | Nice to have | Artist discovery, playlists |
| Schedule management | Important | Multi-venue, multi-day events |
Questions to Ask Vendors
When evaluating ticketing features, ask these specific questions:
- Can I customize the checkout page with my branding?
- Do you offer native mobile apps, or just responsive web?
- What's your API rate limit and webhook reliability?
- Can check-in work offline if internet is spotty?
- How quickly do analytics update? Real-time or delayed?
- What integrations do you support out of the box?
- Can I export all attendee data in CSV/JSON format?
- What's your uptime SLA and support response time?
See All Features in Action
Dionysus includes all essential ticketing features plus advanced options like white-label mobile apps, music integrations, and real-time analytics.
Schedule a DemoConclusion
The right ticketing features depend on your event's specific needs, but core functionality like multiple ticket types, secure payments, mobile optimization, and real-time analytics are non-negotiable. For festivals and mid-size events, prioritize platforms that offer white-label branding, native mobile apps, and API access to ensure your solution can grow with your event.
Remember: More features aren't always better. Focus on platforms that execute core features exceptionally well and offer the customization options your event requires.