Selling tickets by bank transfer and screenshots works for twenty guests. Past that, it falls apart. Payments get missed, names get mixed up, someone forwards a screenshot to three friends, and on the day you're scrolling through WhatsApp at the door while the queue grows.
Selling online fixes most of that. Buyers pay in one step, get a ticket that can only be used once, and you get a clean list of who is coming. Here's how to set it up properly.
1. Decide what you're selling
Before you create anything, write down the ticket types you need. Most events need fewer than they think. A good starting point is one regular ticket, plus an early-bird ticket with limited stock to reward people who commit early.
Add more types only if they're genuinely different. A VIP ticket should include something regular doesn't, such as a better view, a drink or a meet-and-greet. A group ticket (a table for four, say) works well for dinners, parties and comedy shows, where people come with friends anyway.
For each type, decide how many you have. If your venue holds 300 people, the total across all ticket types shouldn't go over 300.
2. Set your prices and decide who pays the fee
Every ticketing platform charges a fee on paid tickets. The question is whether your buyer pays it at checkout or you absorb it.
On revel, the fee is 5% of the ticket price plus ₦100, including payment processing. On a ₦5,000 ticket that's ₦350. If the buyer pays, they pay ₦5,350 and you keep ₦5,000. If you absorb it, they pay ₦5,000 and you receive ₦4,650.
Neither is wrong. Passing the fee on is common for concerts and parties. Absorbing it can make sense for low-priced tickets, or when you want the price on your flyer to be exactly what people pay. Whichever you choose, buyers see the full amount before they pay.
3. Write an event page that answers questions
Your event page is your salesperson. Every question it doesn't answer is a reason for someone to wait, and people who wait often forget.
Cover the basics clearly: what the event is, who it's for, the date and start time, the venue, and what each ticket includes. Then answer the questions you usually get in your DMs. Is there parking? Is there a dress code? Can I bring a child? What time should I arrive? Will food be sold?
Use a good cover image. It's the first thing people see when the link is shared, so it should look good small, on a phone screen.
4. Share one link everywhere
Once the event is published, it has a single link. Use that same link in your Instagram bio, your WhatsApp status, your broadcast lists, your X posts and on your flyer as a QR code. Sending everyone to one place means every buyer gets the same information and the same checkout.
5. Make check-in fast
Every ticket bought online arrives by email with a QR code and a short check-in code. At the door, scan the QR code with any phone, or type the code in. Each ticket can only be checked in once, so a forwarded screenshot won't get a second person in.
Brief your door team before guests arrive. Have at least two phones ready to scan for a large event, and keep the attendee list open in case someone can't find their email.
6. Get paid
On revel, money from each confirmed sale goes into your wallet, where every transaction is listed. When you're ready, request a withdrawal to your Nigerian bank account. Withdrawals are reviewed before they're paid out, so request yours with enough time before you need to pay vendors.
Common mistakes to avoid
Launching without an end date for early bird. Early-bird pricing only creates urgency if it ends. Limit the stock, and tell people how many are left.
Too many ticket types. Six options make people stop and think, and some of them leave. Two or three is usually enough.
Hiding the price. "DM for price" loses buyers who don't want a conversation. Put the price on the page.
Forgetting mobile. Almost everyone will open your link on their phone. Check your event page and checkout on a phone before you share it.
