It’s the week of Valentine’s Day. You check the calendar, and your heart skips a beat. But not in the romantic way. It’s the "I completely forgot to schedule a holiday promotion" kind of heart palpitation.
We get it. You’re busy running an event business. Sometimes the holidays sneak up on you.
But here is the good news: It is not too late. In fact, "last-minute" can sometimes work in your favor by creating a natural sense of urgency.
If you have zero graphics prepared and zero time to brainstorm, don’t panic. Here are three emergency marketing ideas you can launch in under 20 minutes using your Passage account.
1. Create a 24-Hour "Cupid is Stupid" Flash Sale
If your event isn't naturally romantic (e.g., a haunted attraction, a sports match, or a comedy club), don't try to force the romance. Lean into the chaos.
Launch a flash sale today that targets the anti-Valentine crowd or the procrastinators.
- The Offer: 14% off all tickets (for Feb 14th).
- The Code: CUPID or LOVESTINKS.
- Why it works: It’s simple, it’s funny, and it requires no complex imagery. Just a text post on social media saying: "Don't have a date? Who cares. Come hang out with us instead. Use code CUPID for 14% off for the next 24 hours."
Passage Shortcut: You can create a coupon code in your admin dashboard in about 30 seconds. Set it to expire automatically at midnight so you don't have to remember to turn it off.
2. Combine the "Perfect Pair" Merch Bundle
You don’t have to discount your tickets to run a promo. Instead, increase your average cart size by bundling items you already have.
Create a "Date Night" ticket type that includes:
- 2 General Admission Tickets
- 2 Drink Tickets (or Concession Vouchers)
- The Kicker: A "skip the line" privilege or a free parking pass.
Call it the "We Planned Your Date For You" Package. You are solving a problem for your customer (planning the date) while securing upsells for yourself.
Passage Shortcut: Use the "Bundles" feature to group these items into a single SKU. It makes checkout faster for the customer and inventory tracking automatic for you.
3. Launch a Zero-Effort Social Giveaway
If you don't want to mess with ticket prices, generate noise instead. Run a "Tag Your Date" contest on Instagram or Facebook.
- The Post: Post a photo of your event.
- The Caption: "Forgot to get a gift? We got you. Tag the person you want to bring to [Event Name] in the comments. We’ll pick one winner tomorrow at noon to win 2 free VIP passes."
- The Result: You get massive engagement and your event shows up in hundreds of new feeds.
When you pick the winner, DM all the losers a consolation prize: a 10% off discount code. You turn disappointed entrants into ticket buyers instantly.
4. Steal These Email Subject Lines
Writer's block is the enemy of speed. If you need to send an email blast today, just copy and paste one of these subject lines. We’ve designed them to get opens:
- For the Procrastinators: Forgot to plan for Saturday? Open this.
- For the Discount: Be our Valentine? (Gift inside)
- For the Anti-Valentine: Sick of hearts and flowers? Read this.
- For the last-minute push: 48 hours left to grab this deal...
Final Thoughts
You didn't miss the boat; you just waited for the perfect moment to create urgency! Pick one of the strategies above, log in to Passage, and get it live before lunch. You’ve got this.
Ready to launch that flash sale? Create your promo code in Passage Now.
