Creative Ideas to Promote Recitals and Sell More Tickets

When you’re running and promoting an event—whether it’s a semi-regular one, like an annual dance recital—it’s important to constantly come up with fresh ideas to promote your event and sell more tickets.

With Stage Stubs, it’s never been easier (or more affordable) for dance studio owners to sell tickets to their events. Stage Stubs’ ticketing software is completely free for studios to use, and it even includes additional features to help generate extra revenue.

But, each year, you’re going to want to come up with new ways to generate excitement for your upcoming event. Different ways to do this include: 

1. King & Queen Raffle 

Now this is, if we do say so ourselves, a fantastic idea.

A few weeks before your ticket release, open up a raffle for two very special tickets. But not just any tickets—these are the tickets everyone will be wanting. Why? Because the winners will be crowned as your show’s Royal VIPs.

Here’s what they get:

• Early entry to the show
  
• The best two seats in the house
  
• Complimentary drinks and popcorn
  
• (Optional) A crown or sash to really make them feel like royalty
  

How does it work?

Simple. In the weeks leading up to your ticket launch, sell raffle entries for just £1 each. Then, right before tickets officially go on sale, pick your winners.

Not only will your winners feel like royalty, but you’ll likely cover the costs with raffle sales—and you’ll generate buzz and excitement for your show before tickets even go live.

2. Create a Fun Contest

As your event date gets closer, why not give ticket sales a final boost by running a free giveaway?

The prize can be simple but valuable to your audience, such as:

• Two free tickets
  
• A piece of free merch (t-shirt, tote bag, or water bottle)
  
• Complimentary snacks or drinks
  
  How to run it:

Social media is your best friend here. Use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to spread the word and get people involved.

1. Like & Tag Contest – Ask people to like your post and tag a friend they’d bring to the show.
   
2. Share to Enter – Encourage followers to share your post on their story or feed for an entry.
   
3. Bonus Entry for Ticket Holders – Already bought a ticket? Give them an extra entry for proof of purchase. That way, you’re rewarding early buyers while still driving sales.
   

At the end of the contest, pick a winner (or two) and announce them on social media. 

3. Limited Tickets With Perks

What do we mean by this? Simple—release the first 10–30 tickets with exclusive perks that make them extra special. These could include:

• Limited-edition merchandise (like a show t-shirt, tote, or badge)
  
• Free trial classes for the next season
  
• Commemorative tickets for their children to keep as a memory
  

These special tickets don’t just sell seats—they create a sense of urgency, and parents will want to grab them before they disappear.

How to advertise it:

You’ll need to build anticipation before ticket sales open. Let people know in advance that the first batch of tickets comes with exciting extras, and set a clear launch date and time. 

The good news? With Stage Stubs, you can pre-set exactly when your tickets go live—so everyone has a fair chance.

Even better, Stage Stubs allows you to attach merchandise to your tickets and sell it seamlessly, without you having to lift a finger. That means those exclusive perks can be bundled and ready to go from the moment tickets open.

Create Urgency and Creative Ticket Sales With Stage Stubs

With Stage Stubs, it’s easier than ever to run creative ticket-sales offers and build urgency. Unlike a traditional theatre box office, you have full control over every aspect of your ticketing.

• Pricing structure — Set up tiered pricing or special prices (early-bird, VIP, or different pricing for different seats). Learn more about what this means and how you can implement this in our post: 'Seating Plans vs No Seating Plans'.
  
• Ticket live time — Decide exactly when tickets go on sale. Pre-schedule the launch date/time so everyone knows when to act. And you don’t have to do anything!
  
• Merchandise bundles — You can attach merchandise to tickets (for example, a show T-shirt, commemorative item) directly through the platform. Stage Stubs handles all that seamlessly.
  
• Revenue tracking — See real-time ticket sales, monitor attendance, and track the revenue flowing to your bank account.
  

Fast setup — Events can be live in minutes. With Stage Stubs, you can set event details and seating plans quickly.