Event pages, RSVPs and text blasts

This is the reference for what a public show gets: its own page, RSVPs by phone, a reminder text before it starts, and text blasts from you. For a step-by-step plan for one night, see How to run an event.

Make a show public

New shows are Private, so only you can see them. To share one, switch it to Public in the scheduling form, either when you create it or later with Edit Details on your Calendar. The switch reads:

• Private - Only you can see this event
• Public - Anyone with the link can see this event

Making a show private again takes its page down and stops new RSVPs.

The event page

A public show gets a page at evenings.fm/e/ followed by a short code. To find it, open the show on your Calendar and click Share Link, which opens the page in a new tab.

The page shows the cover, the date and time, the title, Hosted by with your station name, the description, and an I'M GOING button. While your station is on air, a LISTEN LIVE button appears (or LISTEN while Always On is playing), so people can tune in from the page. Clicking the date downloads a calendar file that most calendar apps can open.

Dates and times on the page are shown in each visitor's own time zone. See Times and time zones.

Once a one-off show's end time passes, I'M GOING is replaced by "This event has ended" and we stop taking RSVPs. A repeating show has no end date, so its page stays open.

Private shows have no public page. Their Share Link opens your station page instead.

Your public schedule

Your station also has a public schedule listing all your public shows. For Sample Radio it's evenings.fm/sample-radio/schedule. Click Share at the top of your Calendar to copy the link.

RSVPs

When a listener clicks I'M GOING, they enter their name and phone number, then confirm the number with a 6-digit code we text them. The country code field starts at +1, so listeners outside the US and Canada need to change it. Text messages don't reach every country; numbers we can't text are turned away with a message saying so.

After that:

• They get a confirmation right away: You're going to "(your title)". Cheers! Reply STOP to opt out of event texts.
• They get a reminder 15 minutes before the start time, with a link to the event page. Someone who RSVPs in the last 15 minutes before the start won't get one.
• They get any text blasts you send.

On a repeating show, reminders currently go out for the series' first date only.

In the show's details on your Calendar, you'll see how many people are interested. Click the number to see their names and when they signed up. You never see their phone numbers. We send the texts, so listeners can RSVP without handing their number to you.

Opting out

A listener who replies STOP stops getting event texts from us. We also accept STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT, OPTOUT and REVOKE. Opting out covers every Evenings event they've RSVP'd to, and any they RSVP to later, until they reply START (or YES, or UNSTOP).

Send a text blast

Text blasts message everyone who RSVP'd, for example to say you're starting late or to thank people after the show.

1. Open the show on your Calendar. The Text Blast button only appears on public shows, and only on the Calendar.
2. Write your message. You have 160 characters, and a counter shows how many you've used.
3. Click Send text.

The message goes to everyone who confirmed their number and hasn't opted out. It arrives starting with The host of (your title) sent a Text Blast -, followed by your message. Past blasts are listed under Message History with the time sent and the number of recipients.

You can send up to two blasts a minute. Past that, you'll see "Too many messages sent. Please wait before sending again." If no one has confirmed an RSVP yet, or everyone has opted out, sending fails with "Failed to send message. Please try again."

Station subscribers and event RSVPs

These are separate lists. Event RSVPs only hear about the show they signed up for. Station subscribers, who signed up on your station page, get a text when you go live, at most once a day, and can reply S to unsubscribe. Neither list is texted when Always On starts.

Next

To put all of this together for one night, follow How to run an event. If a listener can't RSVP or says a text never arrived, email contact@evenings.email with the event link and their country, and we'll trace it.