A few weeks back, I get this Facebook invite for a party held downtown. I’m all excited about going, so I RSVP via Facebook, and next thing I know I’m planning for the big event. Then I get an email. “If you’re coming, please RSVP using Eventbrite, that’s how we’ll know who’s coming.” Huh. Eventbrite.
Although I had heard of the app before, this was my first opportunity to try it out, so that’s just what I did. What were the results? Well let’s find out!
Like the article? You should subscribe and follow us on twitter.
The Art of the Party
Since this was all a new experience to me, I figured I’d try it out. To establish their RSVP system, the organizers of the event had registered their gig with Eventbrite. I clicked a link from Facebook, and it took me to the Eventbrite website, where I had to create an account. I registered for the party, and then that was that.
Sign up was simple and straightforward.
So where does the iPhone come into play? After opening up the iPhone app, I signed in using the same email address I received the invite with. That prompted me to another screen to check my email to activate my account, and once that was done, I was back in Eventbrite and ready to go. It seemed a bit convoluted, but I chalk that up to my inexperience with the system, and not a flaw in their workflow.
The Plan
With the event now registered and on my iPhone, I had a few other options to work out. From the Event Details screen I could find out when and where the event was happening, including a map with a conveniently dropped pin. I could either Add The Party To My Calendar, Contact Organizer, View Event Page, View Ticket or Add To Passbook. I decided to do two things: Add to My Calendar, and Add to Passbook.
Oooh. A fancy Passbook ticket.
As I expected, the app did both of those tasks perfectly. Adding the event to the calendar filled in all of the necessary spots into the Calendar app, and Add to Passbook gave me a fancy card for my Passbook (my first one!). Not too shabby.
Events in my area.
There was another option, but I’m not quite sure if it was party specific or not, since my event offered discounts on cars via Über and free passes on the light rail. I was able to use Eventbrite to tell the promotors how I was getting to the party, and if I was available to carpool or not. Again, your mileage on this one may vary.
Party Time
On the day of the party I pulled out the app, all excited to try it out. I used it to get directions to the event (which just opened up in Apple Maps), and then used Passbook to register. Well actually, I would’ve, but the people holding the event were just checking IDs, so my fancy Passbook invite didn’t mean much. Bummer. Assuming that was different though, the planners could’ve used the QR code on the Passbook card to scan my invite, then I’d be logged into Eventbrite’s system.
The Other Stuff
At this point, Eventbrite was shaping up to be a one-trick pony, as I’m about as social as a three-toed sloth. But then I started digging deeper, and I found a few other cool things.
There are lots of other things you can do with Eventbrite.
To start, the opening screen has all sorts of options for events in my general area. It’s not quite as in-depth or widely used as Ticketmaster, but there are lots of business or networking functions that I could hit in my area just by picking up a ticket for the designated price and going on from there. It’s pretty handy.
The Final Point
This is one of those apps that will likely stay on my iPhone, albeit buried in a folder somewhere so that I have to use Spotlight to find it. Don’t get me wrong, it comes in handy when you need it, it’s just that you’re not going to need it very often — if you’re like me, anyways. If you’re a constant networker who loves to pound the pavement and meet new people, or you go to concerts all the time, Eventbrite might be the best thing ever.
But it does come in handy, and there are lots of features on deck, so it’s hard for me to rate it poorly. It serves a purpose, and serves it well — it’s just not one that helps me out much. You, though? You’re likely not the shut-in whose neighbors question whether or not they actually exist. So for you, I’d recommend Eventbrite for all of your ticket and event-related needs. For me, I’ll just curl up here in the house where the sunlight rarely enters and no one makes fun of my pajamas.