Pass types
Passes are flexible packages that can be later redeemed for tickets based on rules set by you.
Passes can be one of 4 different types:
1. Flex pass
- Flex passes are a group of tickets, sold at a package price, that later are redeemed for individual tickets to various performances.
- Based on rules they can be good for any performance, for specific days of the week, etc. As an example, one flex pass might be good for 6 shows, sold for $50 (which might be a discount off the regular per-ticket price of $10 each).
- The patron gets a pass code that they can use online or through your office to redeem for 6 tickets to 6 different performances, or maybe all for 1 performance. This pass can be purchased online (via your Public pages buy_pass page) or from your box office.
2. Flex Subscription pass
- Flex subscription passes are a group of tickets sold at a package price, but they are attached to a pre-defined package of shows (package assignment is required for the flex subscription to function properly) - the pass is good for 1 ticket per show in the package.
- As an example, if you have 6 shows in your season, you could build a 6 show package, then a 6 show Flex Subscription Pass and the patron can later redeem their pass by inputting their code, but they can only redeem the pass for 1 ticket for each of the shows.
- The patron can't redeem this pass as 6 tickets to one performance or even all for one show. This pass can be purchased online (via your Public pages buy_pass page) or from your Box Office.
- A Flex subscription can also be setup to sell at $0 as a giveaway pass that restricts redemption to 1 ticket per show.
3. Comp pass
- A Comp pass - or complimentary pass - also known as an honorary pass is only distributed from your Box Office via the Retail page.
- Comp passes can be redeemed for a ticket either through your office or online using the pass code.
- Comp passes are for 1 ticket only, but you can generate them in multiple quantities. So whereas the passes above might be for 6 tickets in one pass, the Comp Pass is for 1 ticket, but can be generated in multiple at the time you generate it on a patron acct.
- Comp Passes can be used for example for your cast members or board members who need to give out free tickets or for a sponsor that gets 25 free tickets as part of their sponsorship benefits.
4. Promotional pass
- A promotional pass is also generated from your office via the Box Office Retail page, not online.
- Once generated it can be redeemed using the pass code online. A promotional pass can be created for multiple tickets on a single pass.
- A promo pass can be used to give out free tickets, similar to a comp pass, or can be used to issue a pass for x number of tickets at a specific discount.
Promotional pass - Marketing list output
A promo pass can be auto-generated to a mailing list using mail merge or email output on the marketing screen.
You can create a mailing list and then mail or email that list a pass and the list generation will create an individual code for each patron on the list.
An example of this would be a list of cast members you have built into a mailing list who all have emails. You can send them an email that includes the link to use their comps. If they all get 4 comp tickets to the run of the show, you can build a Promotional Pass good for 4 tickets to that show only, and then send it out in email so you don't have to generate a pass for each one manually.
Another example would be a list of teachers you want to invite to a preview performance in hopes that they will bring their classes to see the show. You could create a mailing list of all of them and then send them a pass instantly that is good for 1 ticket only for that specific performance.
See How To: Generate Output for instructions on auto-generating promo pass codes via the marketing screen.
(Honorary Pass vs Promo Pass - Honorary Pass is always issued manually in your office and is by default $0 price and redemption amount and is a single ticket, unless issued in multiple quantities. Promo Pass can have a price or discount associated to the redemption (or be $0), so can function like a person-specific coupon in that way. It can also be valid for more than one ticket by default and can be auto-generated in an email to a list of people.)
Pass setup
If you'd like to sell passes - give your rep. the following information about your pass:
- Type of pass: Flex pass, Flex subscription pass, Promotional pass, or Comp pass.
- What is the price of the pass?
- How many tickets the pass is good for?
- What shows does the pass apply to?
- What date do you want the pass to go on sale to your patrons?
- How long should the pass be valid for - please provide a date that you'd like to stop selling this pass?
- What is the name of the pass?
- Is this pass meant to be sold only through the Box Office by you or your box officers, or is it also meant to be sold to your online buyers through your Passes public page?
- What would you like the "Announcement" to read? The announcement is the description of the pass - for flex passes and flex subscription passes it appears beneath the pass name on the Passes public page to your online buyers.
- Here's an example for a flex pass:
This flex pass can be redeemed for 1 ticket to any season show - it can be used for multiple tickets to the same performance, or spread out between performances. Please save your confirmation email for redemption. - Here's an example for a flex subscription pass:
This flex subscription pass can be redeemed for 1 ticket to each season show. Please save your confirmation email for redemption.
- Here's an example for a flex pass:
Pricing setup for passes
If you have pricing permissions and have received pricing training, passes can be created on the pricing screen as a new price term. The name of the price term is the name of the pass.
1. Passes are entered as a base price of $0 (since the tickets themselves don't cost anything, the pass may, see below)
2. Input the number of tickets the pass will include in the "# of tickets (per perf.)" field (in the case of Passes this is not per performance).
3. Select the package in the "package" field is to be limited to a selection of shows. (Recommended for flex pass and required for flex subscription pass.)
4. Select the type of pass - Flex pass, Flex subscription, Honorary, Promo.
5. Input the price of the total pass - 50 in the first example above, 0 for a comp or free promo pass.
6. Input a description of the pass for your patrons in the Announcement field (required). This will appear on retail public page to your patrons and will appear in their confirmation email. Typically this includes simple instructions for redemption as well.
7. Save when complete.
Valid through
A pass is valid indefinitely unless restricted by criteria you set up on this screen. So if you want the pass only valid for one season, for example, you'll need to build a package of the shows on the package screen (probably set to a number of shows 1) and then set the pass to be valid for that package. This then will prevent the pass from being used in the next season.
Fees
Ticketing fees such as per-order or per-ticket fees that you have set up to charge your patrons don't apply to Passes, which are sold as retail items. You can set up a retail order fee on the "items for sale" screen which will then apply per order to any retail purchase including items for sale, passes and gift certificates. Otherwise you can add a fee into the price of a pass and notate it in the pass description/announcement as included.
Ticket references
Pass paid ticket: This is a ticket that was obtained by redeeming a purchased pass with cost, and required no additional payment.
Pass discounted ticket: This is a ticket that was obtained by redeeming a pass with or without cost, but required additional payment.
Pass comped ticket: This is a ticket that was obtained by redeeming a comp or promo pass with no cost, and required no additional payment.
For additional information on the differences between Subscriptions and Passes visit Subscriptions vs Passes