Comp ticket

What is a comp ticket?

A comp ticket is a ticket to a paid event that the organizer gives to a specific person for free. "Comp" is short for complimentary. The ticket is valid in the same way as a paid ticket: it has a name on it and it is checked at the door.

A comp ticket is a decision about one guest. The event still has a price for everyone else.

Who gets comp tickets

• Sponsors and partners. A number of tickets is often part of a sponsorship agreement.
• Speakers, performers and their guests. Each one usually gets a small, fixed number.
• Staff and volunteers. People who work at the event, or their families.
• Press and reviewers. People who will write about the event or record it.
• Donors and long-time supporters. A thank you from a nonprofit, a club or a congregation.
• Customers you owe something. For example a guest whose earlier event was canceled.

Comp ticket vs free ticket vs discounted ticket

	Comp ticket	Free ticket	Discounted ticket
What it is	A free ticket to a paid event, for a chosen person	A ticket to an event that is free for everyone	A paid ticket at a lower price
Who can get one	Only people the organizer selects	Anyone who registers	Anyone who qualifies or has a code
Price the guest pays	Nothing	Nothing	Part of the standard price
Who starts it	The organizer	The guest	The guest

Why comp tickets matter

• They take capacity. Each comp ticket is a place you cannot sell, so a comp has a real cost at an event that sells out.
• They fill a room. At an event that will not sell out, comps for the right people make the event better for the paying guests.
• They keep relationships. A sponsor or a donor who gets a ticket with their name on it feels expected.
• They must be counted. Comp guests need a seat, a meal and a badge, so they belong in the same attendee list as paid guests.

How to issue a comp ticket

Organizers use one of three methods:

• Add the booking by hand. The organizer creates the order for the guest and marks it as complimentary.
• Send a code for a full discount. The guest goes through the checkout and the code brings the price to zero.
• Make a hidden free ticket type. Only people who have the link can see it and book it.

On Checkout Page, the first method works like this:

1. Open the event and select "Add booking".
2. Enter the guest's details. Fill in the fields of the event, such as the guest's name and email.
3. Choose the ticket type and quantity.
4. Select "Complimentary" as the payment method. The tickets are issued free of charge.
5. Add the booking. The guest gets the confirmation email with the ticket, and the booking counts against the quantity limit of that ticket type.

A complimentary booking appears in the bookings list with a "Comp" badge, so comps and paid bookings stay apart in your records.

Comp ticket best practices

• Set a comp budget before tickets go on sale. Decide how many places each group gets: sponsors, speakers, staff and press.
• Put a name on each ticket. A named comp is easy to check at the door. This also works with will call pickup.
• Record who approved it and why. After the event you will want to know where the free places went.
• Decide if a comp can be passed on. Say clearly if the guest can give the ticket to another person.
• Count comps in the capacity. A comp guest uses a place in the same way as a paid guest.