Create a reserved seating event

Enable reserved seating under the Build event page when you create your event. Then, go to Tickets to create your venue map. On your venue map, create seating sections and add ticket tiers. Set your ticket prices based on your tiers.

This article walks through the full setup flow for a reserved seating event, from turning on reserved seating to building and customizing your venue map, adding ticket tiers, and creating tickets with checkout settings. If you already have reserved seating set up and just need to block or reserve specific seats, see Add holds to a reserved seating event. If you want to turn off reserved seating, see Remove reserved seating from an event.

Turn on reserved seating under "Build event page"

You can't enable reserved seating if:

• Your event is a recurring event.
• You already created tickets.
• Your event uses a waitlist.

To create a reserved seating event:

1. Log in to your account and go to Events.
2. Select Create event.
3. Under Location, select Venue and enter a physical address.
4. Select Reserved seating.

For Eventbrite Music, select Reserved seating when you create tickets instead.

Create your venue map

Choose how to build your map

Go to Add tickets and choose how you want to create your map. If this is your first event at this venue, you'll need to create a new venue map.

If you've created an event at the same venue before, you can:

• Create a new venue map and tickets.
• Use a map from a previous event, but create new tickets.
• Use the map and ticket settings from a previous event.

No matter what you choose, you'll be able to update the ticket settings and venue map afterward.

Note: You can't create or edit a seating map from a mobile device.

Build the map

When you open the venue designer, choose between a preset layout or a blank canvas. If you choose a preset layout, enter the number of sections, rows, or tables you want, then select Continue. Click and drag elements to reposition them.

To add sections, tables, objects, or text to your map, click the related icons. You must have at least one ticketed area. Choose from:

• Section
  • Reserved seating: attendees pick their individual seats.
  • General admission: attendees choose a general section.
• Table: a table with seats.

To create a rectangular table where all seats face each other, set "End seats" to the maximum.

Customize your map

Edit your labels

Tickets for reserved seating events have labels that help attendees find their seats — for example, "Balcony 1, Row AA, Seat 7."

To update your labels:

1. Select a section or table.
2. Select Edit.
3. Select the prefixes and labels to update them.
4. Mouse over "Table prefix" or "Section prefix" to preview the change.
5. Select Apply.

Note: To update labels on an assigned seating section, you must be on the Labels menu.

Update the layout of assigned seating sections

By default, assigned seating sections are rectangles with no skews or curves. If this doesn't match your venue:

1. Select your assigned seating section.
2. Select Edit.
3. Under Layout, change the alignment, curve, and/or skew.
4. Select Apply.

Edit or delete individual seats

To change the label of an unsold seat:

1. Select a section or table with seats.
2. Select Edit.
3. Select the seat you want to edit.
4. Update the label.
5. Select Done, then Apply.

To remove unsold seats from a section or table:

1. Select a section or table with seats.
2. Select Edit.
3. Select the seat(s) you want to remove.
4. Select Delete unit(s), then Apply.

To add a deleted seat back, select it again and click Restore unit(s).

Add tiers to your event

Tiers divide your seats into different areas — for example, a "Front row" tier or a "Balcony" tier. All seats must be assigned to a tier before you can publish your event.

1. Go to Tiers in your venue designer.
2. Select Add tier. Click the tier name to rename it, or click the colored circle to change its color (attendees see tier colors when selecting tickets).
3. Click the seats you want to add to the tier. Select entire sections, rows, or tables by clicking their label. Hold Shift to select multiple seats or sections, then click and drag to select an area.
4. Click the + next to the tier name to add your selected seats. Added seats change to the tier's color.
5. Optional: Adjust the selling order by dragging the "eye" icon close to your best seats. When attendees don't pick a seat, Eventbrite assigns the seat closest to the eye icon.

Add tickets and manage checkout settings

After creating your venue map, save your changes and close the venue designer. Then create tickets and choose which tiers to sell them in.

If your event has paid tickets, you'll need Eventbrite Payment Processing. Donation tickets aren't available for reserved seating events.

1. Save and close the venue designer

When you save, give your venue map a name and choose whether to reuse it on other events. Then click the "X" to close the venue designer.

2. Create tickets

1. Select Add ticket type.
2. Give it a name, like "General Admission" or "VIP."
3. Enter a price for each tier the ticket is in.
4. Set the dates for when tickets should be on sale.

To create a free ticket, enter "0" for the price. If you don't want the ticket available for a certain tier, leave that price field blank.

3. Review your advanced settings

• Add a ticket description — let attendees know what's included with their ticket.
• Change ticket visibility — hide tickets to prevent attendees from seeing them.
• Limit tickets per order — cap how many of that ticket type an attendee can select per order.
• Set your sales channel — choose where attendees can order tickets. "At the door only" tickets won't appear in your online listing.

4. Save your changes

5. Optional: Choose your checkout settings

To remove the pick-a-seat option:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Uncheck "Allow attendees to pick their own seats."
3. Save your changes.

To change the order tickets display at checkout:

1. Go to Admission.
2. Set Group type to Ticket type.
3. Rearrange tickets by dragging the icon to the left of the ticket name.

After you publish your event, view your event page and select tickets and/or seats to confirm your settings are correct.

Common questions

Can I remove the "Best available" option from my event?

The "Best available" option can't currently be removed from a standard reserved seating event. As an alternative, enable "Show map preview" in your checkout settings so attendees can go directly to the seating map and choose their own seats. We've recorded this feedback for our product team to consider.