Overview: Advance Self Check-in
What You Need to Know
The Advance Self Check-in option was designed to allow guests to skip the lines by checking in online prior to a Gala auction - but it can be used for any event where participants are issued tickets.
The most common uses:
- Any ticketed event: To allow/require guests to pre-store a credit card and skip the check-in lines.
- To deliver last minute information to guests once they have checked-in and provided any required information (by including it in the Self Check-in confirmation email)
- Free In Person Events where the likely participants are known: rather than requiring supporters to "buy" a $0 ticket online, supporters can be uploaded (with a ticket) from a spreadsheet - with Advance Check-in serving as their RSVP, and opportunity to confirm their information and provide a credit card.
You can preview the Self Check-In and Self Check-Out processes in this video.
The Advance Self Check-in feature has default language which allows you to simply turn it on and start using it, but it can also be customized for your unique event.
For a more detailed preview, we recommend starting with a trial: turn the feature on, invite yourself to check-in, then open your emailed invitation and follow the instructions.
You'll see how it works, and can also review the default messaging in context so you'll have a better idea of how you'd like to personalize it for your event.
Note: If your event will not use the bidder number generated with each ticket, be sure to remove the default bid number references when setting up self check-in.
Tip: Edit the Self Check-In email to let guests know when online check-in will close—ideally at least one hour before your gala begins.
Example: "Self Check-In is available until 12:00 PM on the day of the event."
When Self Check-In closes, turn off the feature. This immediately deactivates all outstanding check-in links, giving your team time to prepare Bid Paddles for guests who checked in online.
At the event, you can offer an express check-in line or have a volunteer distribute Bid Paddles to pre-checked-in guests.
The Advanced Self Check-In feature is designed to work with events that pre-assign bidder numbers. Since Self Check-In is a form of event check-in, the software automatically assigns a bidder number as soon as a guest completes the process.
If you plan to manually assign bidder numbers during in-person Gala Check-In, we'd recommend not using Advanced Self Check-In.
That said, you can still offer online Self Check-In even if you're assigning bidder numbers at Gala Check-In. Here's how to make it work:
- Guests who complete online Advanced Self Check-In will automatically receive a bidder number from the software.
- Guests who check-in at in-person Gala Check-In can have their bidder numbers assigned manually at the registration table.