> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Create a social event
> Publish an event with customer-facing details, RSVPs, tickets, and check-in support.
## What you will accomplish
You will publish a customer-facing event with a name, date, time, location, and description. Customers can RSVP from their portal or a shared link. On event day, your team can [check attendees in](/docs/marketing-events/check-in-social-event-attendees).
A **social event** is the right choice when people need a real date, a place to meet, and a way to say they are coming—not just a one-time email blast. If you only need to send a message, use [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign) instead.
## When to use a social event
Use a social event (not a simple campaign) when customers need:
* A dedicated event page with date, time, and location.
* RSVP choices such as **Going**, **Maybe**, or **Can't Go**.
* Paid tickets or a maximum number of guests.
* QR or ticket check-in at the door.
**Social event vs email campaign**
**Email campaign** = you push a message out to customers. **Social event** = customers open an event page and choose whether they are coming. Many facilities do both: create the event first, then invite people with a campaign.
## Before you start
* Confirm the event name, date, time, location, and capacity.
* Decide whether the event is free or paid.
* Decide who may see the event: all customers, invited customers only, or anyone with a public link.
* Prepare a short description—what to expect, parking, and what to bring.
* For paid tickets, confirm payment processing in [Settings > Billing](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/billing).
## Step 1: Open the event form
From the dashboard sidebar, click **Marketing & Events**, or go to [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing).
**Expected result:** You see the **Calendar** tab with planned campaigns and events.
Click **Create New** in the top-right corner of the page.
**Expected result:** A menu opens with message types (email, text, social post, and more).
Click **Social Event**. A step-by-step **Create social event** wizard opens.
**Why this matters:** This starts the RSVP and check-in flow. Other menu items create campaigns or social posts instead.
*Choose Social Event when customers need an RSVP page—not when you only need a one-time email.*
## Step 2: Walk through the creation wizard
The wizard has four short steps: **Basics** → **When & where** → **Options** → **Review**.
Type the **Event name** customers will see. Examples: **Cars & Coffee Open House**, **Winter Storage Prep Night**.
Upload an **Event photo** (optional) and write a short **Description** so guests know what to expect.
Click **Continue**.
**Why this matters:** This name appears on the calendar, in customer emails, and on the RSVP page.
Pick a **Start date & time** in the future. The app will not save an event that starts in the past.
Click **Add end time** when the event has a clear end (for example 10:00 AM–1:00 PM).
Add a **Location** customers recognize (such as **Main Lounge**) and an **Address** for off-site events.
Click **Continue**.
Turn on **Recurring event** only for monthly meetups. Leave it off for one-time open houses.
Use **Max attendees** when space is limited. Leave blank if there is no cap.
Enter **Cost (\$)** for paid tickets, or leave blank for free events. You can add more ticket options after creating.
Turn on **Custom theme colors** only if this event needs its own page colors.
Click **Continue**.
Confirm the summary looks right, then click **Create social event**.
**Expected result:** You land on the event detail page where you can add tickets, invite people, and share the RSVP link.
## Step 3: Set who can see and RSVP
After the event is saved, you land on the event detail page (a link like `/dashboard/social-events/` plus the event id).
*Use this page before event day to watch RSVPs and page visits. On event day, click Check in at the door.*
On the event detail page, click **Edit**.
Find **Visibility** on the edit form and pick who may open the event page:
* **Anyone with the link** — anyone with the link can view and RSVP (good for open houses advertised on your website).
* **Customers only** — only signed-in portal customers can view and RSVP (good for member-only facility events).
* **Invite only** — only invited guests can view and RSVP (good for private gatherings).
**Why this matters:** Wrong visibility is the most common reason customers say they “cannot find” an event.
**Expected result:** A **customers only** event requires portal sign-in. An **anyone with the link** event works from a copied link in email or on your website.
If you picked **Invite only**, you will also see how guests get access:
* **Invite link** — anyone with the special invite link can open the page.
* **Invite list** — only customers you add to the invite list can RSVP.
Use **Invite list** when you want tight control over who may attend. Use **Invite link** when you will share one private link with a small group.
On the **Edit** page you can also use **Bulk actions** to invite many customers at once—filter by tag, invite everyone in the filtered list, or remove guests in bulk.
Scroll down on the **Edit** page to find ticket and capacity options:
* **Add option** — create ticket tiers (for example **General Admission** and **VIP Parking**).
* **Enable waitlist** — let customers join a waitlist when the event is full.
* **Allow multiple tickets** — let one customer reserve more than one spot.
* **Show link preview** — control whether social apps show a preview image when the event link is shared.
**Why this matters:** These settings control how customers buy tickets and what they see before they RSVP.
*On the Edit page, scroll to ticket options when you need paid tiers, a waitlist, or multiple tickets per guest.*
Save the event. Return to the detail page and confirm the settings look right.
**Expected result:** The event behaves the way you explained to customers (portal-only vs public link).
**Test with one customer before a big blast**
Send the **Share** link to one trusted customer or a staff test account. Ask them to RSVP as **Going** so you can see the count change on the detail page.
**How to test quickly:** Copy the link from **Share** → **Copy link**. Open it in a private browser window (or ask a customer to open it from their phone). Choose **Going** on the RSVP page, then refresh the event detail page in your staff dashboard—the **Going** count should increase by one.
## Step 4b: Preview what customers will see
Before you email hundreds of people, open the event the same way a customer would. This catches wrong dates, missing locations, and visibility mistakes early.
On the event detail page, click **Share** → **Open link**. A new browser tab opens with the customer-facing event page.
**Expected result:** You see the event photo (if you added one), name, date, time, location, and description—not your staff dashboard.
Check that the date and time match what you will say on the phone. Confirm the location name and address are easy to find.
**Why this matters:** Customers often decide whether to attend from this one page on their phone.
If you are signed in as staff, you may need a customer test account to submit an RSVP. Use a [customer login link](/docs/facility-web-pages/share-customer-login-links) for a test customer, or ask a teammate to RSVP once.
**Expected result:** After a test RSVP, the **Going** count on the event detail page increases by one.
*This is what customers see when they open your shared link. It should match what you describe in emails and at the front desk.*
**Portal vs public link**
**Customers only** events appear inside the signed-in customer portal. **Anyone with the link** events work from a copied link on your website or in a text message. **Invite only** events need the special invite link or invite list you configured on **Edit**.
## Step 4c: Guests, tickets, and questionnaires (optional)
On the event **Edit** page under **Settings**, you can:
* **Additional guests** — Let RSVP-ers bring extras by headcount only, or collect guest names and contact info. Choose whether extras are free or charged at the same price as the selected ticket option.
* **Issue QR tickets** — Turn this off when you want a confirmation screen instead of a QR code at check-in.
* **Event questionnaire** — Attach a [custom form](/docs/marketing-events/create-and-share-a-custom-form) and choose whether attendees fill it out **during RSVP** or **after RSVP**. During RSVP, the questions appear inline on the event page (no separate form submit). After RSVP, attendees can save answers from the confirmation screen.
Use **Duplicate** on the edit page to clone an event as a draft (options and settings copy; RSVPs do not).
### Recurring events
When you create a recurring event or generate more occurrences, new dates start as **drafts** (unpublished). Publish each occurrence when you want it on the customer calendar so series do not stay live indefinitely.
### Pricing display
If a ticket option has no charge, the customer page does **not** show “Free” or `$0`—so dinner or hospitality events are not mistaken for complimentary meals.
## Step 5: Share the event with customers
On the event detail page, click **Share**. A small menu opens.
Pick the option that fits your workflow:
* **Copy link** — paste into a text, email, or [campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign).
* **Open link** — preview what customers see before you send it widely.
* **QR code** — print or display at the entrance so guests can scan and RSVP.
Ask them to open the link and choose **Going**, **Maybe**, or **Can't Go** so your counts stay accurate.
*Copy link is the most common choice for email and text invites. QR codes work well on posters at the facility.*
*Display a QR code at the door or on flyers so customers can RSVP from their phones.*
## Step 6: Watch RSVPs before event day
Check **Total Views**, **Capacity**, **Going**, **Maybe**, and **Can't Go** so you know how many people to expect and whether customers are opening the event page.
Use **Search attendees...** to find someone by name or email when they call your front desk.
For a full walkthrough of RSVP planning, read [Review social event RSVPs and attendees](/docs/marketing-events/review-social-event-rsvps-and-attendees).
## What success looks like
* The event appears on [Marketing & Events](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/marketing) on the correct date.
* Visibility matches how you plan to promote the event (portal, public link, or invite only).
* At least one test RSVP updates the **Going** count on the detail page.
* Staff know where to open the event on event day for [check-in](/docs/marketing-events/check-in-social-event-attendees).
## Troubleshooting
**Customers cannot find the event**
Open the event and review **Visibility** on **Edit**. Invite-only events only work for invited customers. Customers-only events require portal sign-in.
**The event time looks wrong**
Check your facility time zone in [Settings > General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general).
**Paid tickets do not work**
Finish payment setup in [Settings > Billing](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/billing) before selling tickets.
**Create Event is disabled or shows an error**
Make sure **Event Name** and **Start Date & Time** are filled in and the start time is in the future.
**I picked the wrong item from Create New**
Close the window and choose again. **Email Campaign** sends a message; **Social Event** creates an RSVP page.
## What to do next
After you save the event, most facilities invite customers in this order:
1. Click **Share** on the event detail page and copy the RSVP link.
2. Create an [email campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign) that includes the link and a short description.
3. Finish the message and audience in [Add campaign message, audience, and publish](/docs/marketing-events/add-campaign-message-audience-and-publish).
4. A few days before the event, follow [Review social event RSVPs and attendees](/docs/marketing-events/review-social-event-rsvps-and-attendees).
**Why create the event before the email**
The campaign can link directly to a live RSVP page. Customers see the correct date, time, and location—and your **Going** counts update automatically.
Before event day, you can also post the link in a [community channel](/docs/marketing-events/manage-community-channels).
On event day, use [Check in social event attendees](/docs/marketing-events/check-in-social-event-attendees).
After a great visit, consider [Request and manage reviews](/docs/marketing-events/request-and-manage-reviews).
## Related topics
- [Create social event](/docs/api-reference/marketing/create-social-event.md)
- [Create a text, push, or social campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-text-push-or-social-campaign.md)
- [Check in social event attendees](/docs/marketing-events/check-in-social-event-attendees.md)
- [Create a campaign](/docs/marketing-events/create-a-campaign.md)
- [Review social event RSVPs and attendees](/docs/marketing-events/review-social-event-rsvps-and-attendees.md)
This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.