Just registered for your demo site? Lets get you set up so you can see what it will be like to use Event Espresso for your events!
Check out the video tutorials starting with the one below.
Pre-setup recommendations
Let’s review some important WordPress website settings on your demo site before getting started with Event Espresso.
Step 1) Confirm your website’s timezone are set a city/region near you. Go to your WP-admin (WordPress dashboard) for your demo site –> Settings –> General. Change the UTC option to a city/region near you and save changes by clicking on the Save Changes button.
Step 2) Confirm pretty permalinks are enabled. From your WordPress dashboard for your demo site go to Settings –> Permalinks. If the option is set to Plain, then change it to post name and save changes by clicking on the Save Changes button.
Notes from the video: Enabling pretty permalinks is not required to use Event Espresso. However, it does make the links on your site easier to read and better for search engine optimization to help attendees find your events and for you to sell tickets.
Next action step: Continue to the section below.
Update your organization settings
The organization settings page holds information such as your address and a primary contact email address (or email group) for your organization. From your WordPress dashboard, look for Event Espresso in the admin menus and then click on General Settings.
Now update the Contact Information section to add your own information and then save changes by clicking on the Save button.
Notes from the video: You can also upload a logo for your organization and add social media links but these steps are optional.
Next action step: If you are located outside of Canada or the United States, then update the countries in Event Espresso by following the steps in the next section below. Otherwise, continue to the section for creating your first event.
Change country settings
By default, the United States and Canada are enabled as countries in Event Espresso. If you are located in another country, then you can change the countries through Event Espresso –> General Settings –> Countries.
Look for the Country Appears in Dropdown Select Lists option and set it to No for the United States. Then save by clicking on the Save Country Details button.
Now repeat this step for Canada and again set the option to No and save changes.
Now you are ready to enable your country. Select your country from the drop-down option towards the top of the page and then look for the Country Appears in Dropdown Select Lists option and this time set it to Yes and save changes by clicking on the Save Country Details button.
Create your first event
Events for Event Espresso are created through the events editor. From your WordPress dashboard for your demo site, go to Event Espresso –> Events and click on Add New Event. You’ll now be viewing the event editor.
Go ahead and enter a title for your event and then add a description. Then create a datetime (when an event takes place) and ticket/pricing option. You can then select the venue for the event. Scroll to the lower right area of the page and then upload a featured image. Then you can save the event as a draft using the Save as draft button in the top right area of the screen and then preview it.
If you are happy with the setup of the event, then you can publish it by clicking on the Publish button and it will be open for registration.
Next action step: If your event has multiple pricing options and dates, then see the next section below. Otherwise, continue to the section for creating a custom registration question.
How to use multiple datetimes and pricing options
The multiple datetimes and multiple ticket/pricing options feature will let you create several datetimes for an event and then assign one or pricing options to each date or one ticket for multiple dates. Remember that a datetime is when an event takes place.
Need some inspiration on how this feature can be used? Check out a carpentry workshop, Segway tour, dolphin sightseeing tour, or half-marathon / 5k on our demo site.
Next action step: If you need to restrict a guest to picking only one pricing option at a time, then continue to the section below. Otherwise, continue to the section for creating a custom registration question.
How to use the maximum tickets option
The maximum tickets option can be used to restrict the number of pricing options that can be registered for during a single transaction. It can also be used to force a guest to select a single option rather than allowing different quantities of different pricing options.
Need some ideas on how this can be used? Check out a puppy training workshop on our demo site.
Next action step: Continue to the section below.
Create a custom registration question
Event Espresso has questions available to request the name, email, address, and phone number from your guests. If you need to collect custom information, then you can do that by creating new questions and assigning them to a custom question group or an existing question group. Make sure your event is using the existing or new question group by editing the event and selecting the appropriate question groups in the Questions for Primary Registrant and Questions for Additional Registrants meta boxes that are usually found on the right-hand side of the event editor about 2/3 of the way down the page.
A question group organizes a set of questions. For example, the address question group holds questions related to a registrant/attendee’s address. Here is an example of how some custom question groups may appear.
Notes from the video: Event Espresso supports a variety of different question types. Create different questions and question groups as needed and then assign them on a per-event basis through the event editor.
Accept payments and supported add-ons
Event Espresso supports a variety of online payment methods including Authorize.net, PayPal Express, Stripe, Braintree, and more.
Offline payment options like invoice, bank transfer, and check are also supported.
You can test an offline payment method like invoice, check, or bank transfer on your demo site. From your WordPress dashboard (WP-admin) on your demo site, go to Event Espresso –> Payments Methods and then click on a payment method and then enable it and save changes.
Not sure if your payment method is supported? Try searching for it on our support site.
What is an add-on?
An add-on is a tool that extends Event Espresso to introduce new features. Here are some examples:
- Events calendar (your guests can browse a calendar and register for an event)
- Promotions (you can create incentives for your guests to register for more events)
- Multiple event registration (your guests will be able to add multiple events to a shopping cart and check out once)
- Attendee mover (quickly move your guests between events)
- Printable tickets (your guests will receive a ticket that can be printed out)
You’ll be able to purchase individual add-ons for your project or you can go with the Everything support license which is a bundle of current add-ons and new add-ons while your support license is active.
Common questions about Event Espresso
Here are some frequently asked questions about Event Espresso 4.
I understand that Event Espresso can be used to create a variety of events. Are there certain types of projects where Event Espresso is not a good fit?
Event Espresso can be used for many type of events but it isn’t a good fit for projects that are event marketplaces (e.g. a local Ticketmaster or Eventbrite) or projects that need multi-lingual tools (e.g. qTranslate or WPML).
Does Event Espresso charge any per-event or per-tickets fees?
The fees that you pay are for a support license and our support licenses and add-ons are renewed on an annual basis. We provide loyalty discounts for on-time renewals at a 30% discount. If you do not renew, then you can continue to use the software as-is on your website.
Are there recommended website hosts?
Yes, you can see WordPress hosts based on feedback from our members on our requirements page. A good WordPress host is an investment for your organization.
Can I get a list of guests for my events?
The Registrations CSV report system can create that report for you.
Can I change the order of the event elements on the event pages?
Yes, you can re-order the content through Event Espresso –> Events –> Templates in the WP Dashboard.
I’m using a caching solution like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, or my web host uses caching. Will I need to change anything on my own website?
Yes, please exclude the Event Espresso pages from your caching solution.
Where can I see shortcodes for Event Espresso 4?
Check out the shortcodes for Event Espresso 4.
I want to customize the templates for Event Espresso. What do you recommend?
Take a look as this blog post for more information on working with custom templates. If you are not comfortable with making customizations, then partner with an Event Espresso professional.
I read about the Everything support license on EventEspresso.com. Can I start with the personal support license and then upgrade later on?
Yes, you will receive a credit for your existing purchases towards your everything support license.
Is there a roadmap available for new features?
You can see our roadmap for Event Espresso 4 on Trello.
