Love is in the air! And while the rest of the world is busy stressing over dinner reservations and finding the perfect bouquet, we think it’s the perfect time to focus on a different kind of relationship: the one you have with your ticket purchasers.
You don’t need a massive budget to make your guests feel special. In fact, sometimes the smallest gestures create the biggest buzz (and the most loyal fans).
If you want to turn casual ticket buyers into long-term brand advocates, here are five low-cost, high-impact ways to show your attendees some love this February.
1. Sweeten the Scan
First impressions matter. The moment a guest walks up to the door is your biggest opportunity to set the mood.
Instead of just scanning their ticket and waving them through, surprise them with a small "thank you" treat. It could be as simple as a branded sticker, a heart-shaped chocolate, or a glow bracelet. It sounds tiny, but that unexpected moment of delight stops them in their tracks and says, "We’re really glad you’re here."
💡Pro Tip: If you’re using the Passage Manager App, your staff can scan tickets in 0.25 seconds flat, leaving them plenty of time to hand out a treat and a smile without slowing down the line.
2. Show Your Love with a Promo Code
Want to show appreciation to your past customers? Send a "Valentine" to everyone who bought a ticket from you in the last year.
Draft a quick email with a subject line like "A little love note for our favorite fans..." and include a discount code for your next event. Even a small discount (like 10% off or $2 off) triggers a psychological reward. It’s not about the dollar amount; it’s about the exclusivity of being on your "VIP list."
How to Do It: You can whip up a new promo code in your Passage dashboard in under 60 seconds. Set it to expire after Valentine’s Day to create a sense of urgency!
3. Surprise a Lucky Winner with a "Golden Ticket"
This is one of the easiest ways to generate social media buzz during your event.
Pick a random number (e.g., every 50th person to scan in) and upgrade them on the spot. If you have a VIP section, give them a wristband. If you’re General Admission only, give them a voucher for a free drink or a free t-shirt from your merch booth.
The cost to you is minimal, but that attendee will almost certainly post about it on Instagram or TikTok, telling their friends how awesome your event is.
4. Get Social!
You don’t have to wait until the doors open to show appreciation. Keep an eye on your social media mentions this week. If you see someone tweeting about how excited they are for your show, or tagging their friends in your posts, show them some public love!
Reply to their comment, share their post to your story, or DM them a code for a free popcorn. acknowledging your guests individually makes them feel like part of the family, not just a number on a spreadsheet.
5. Send a "Morning After" Thank You
The relationship shouldn’t end when the lights go up. The day after your event, send a follow-up email that is purely about gratitude.
Skip the hard sell for a moment. Just thank them for spending their evening with you, share a link to photos from the night, and maybe include a link to a Spotify playlist of music played at the venue. It’s a warm, fuzzy way to close the loop and ensures the last touchpoint they have with your brand is a positive one.
Need some help setting up that email blast? Check out our integration with Zapier; it makes it super simple to automatically send emails after your event ends.
Final Thoughts
Customer loyalty isn’t bought with expensive ads; it’s earned through experiences. By taking a few minutes this week to sprinkle in some "attendee appreciation," you aren't just selling tickets. You're building a community that will come back year after year.
Need to set up a quick "Love Note" discount code? Log in to your Passage admin area to get started!
Need some help? Schedule a call with our Support team! We’d be happy to assist.
