Some events are large and complicated, but others are small and simple. Here are some tips to keep your small events simple and easy to run. Follow these practices, and you can set up a fully e-commerce enabled event in a minute or two.
If you run similar events, it is much faster to copy a previous event than to set one up from scratch. The event schedule will automatically be adjusted to conform to the new event dates. You should still proof-read it to make sure there aren't any details left behind from the old event.
Do not bother setting up a registration form. By default the system will collect name and contact information at checkout. You may not need anything more than that.
If you do need more information, keep a standard, re-usable registration form handy. The registration system will offer to recycle old registration forms to simplify your event setup. Choose your standard form from a previous event. Select the re-use form option to use the form as-is without changes.
A good multi-purpose registration form should ask for (at a minimum):
first_namelast_nameemailThe inclusion of email ensures that the form will also work in some special cases, like guest registrations and instant registration without checkout.
A single fee can cover numerous price points, include early, late, member, and non-member pricing. You can also add comp pricing for admins.
The fewer fees you have, the easier it is to configure special registration flow rules.
Instant registration is a convenience for your registrants, allowing them to register in a single step. This is only possible if the event itself does not require any special registration features:
Because the event is free, the registration system can skip the entire checkout process, reducing the entire registration sequence to a single form submission. However, because the registrant does not provide any billing contact information, you should ensure that you collect adequate identifying and contact information on your registration form.
Because checkout was skipped and no billing address was collected, some features that expect a billing address card will not be available. This includes scheduled emails and contact lists. Regular notifications are still supported, provided you collect an email address on the registration form.
If you select the Instant registration if possible option, but the event decides that it is not possible due to more complex event features that you have also enabled, the setting will simply be ignored and the registration will go through the normal registration process.