Public events have a shareable link that anyone can open. Members only events are completely hidden from non members. Not just behind a sign in, but invisible to anyone who is not signed in as a member of your community. Use members only for events that you would rather keep off the open internet, such as school discos.
You choose the visibility setting when you create or edit an event.
What "public" actually means
A public event is visible to anyone with the link, and shows up in your community's public events list. There is no sign in needed to view it or buy a ticket. Public events can also be found via Google and other search engines.
Use public events for:
- Open community fairs and summer fetes
- Fundraising events with broad appeal
- Anything you actively want shared on social media
What "members only" actually means
A members only event is completely invisible to anyone who is not signed in as a member of your community. That means:
- The event does not appear in your community's public events list.
- The event's link shows a "not found" page to anyone who is not signed in as a member.
- Search engines and AI assistants cannot see it because they are not signed in.
- Even if someone shares the link in a WhatsApp group, anyone who is not a member will see "not found".
How to switch a single event between public and members only
- Go to Events in your admin sidebar.
- Click the event you want to edit.
- Click Edit at the top of the event page.
- Find the Visibility section.
- Toggle between Public and Members only.
- Click Save.
The change takes effect immediately. If you switch a public event to members only, anyone who already bought a ticket can still see their order. But new visitors will not see that the event exists.
Who counts as a "member"?
A member is someone who has signed up to your community via your community page. Membership is tied to one community at a time, so being a member of one community does not give access to another.
From the Members section of your admin dashboard you can remove or ban any member at any time.
Common questions
Can a members only event be linked to a fundraiser?
Yes. The fundraiser itself can stay public while the event is hidden. Linking the two does not change either one's visibility.
Can I send a one time invite link to a members only event?
Not currently. Anyone you want to attend needs to be signed in as a member of your community.
Does the QR check in still work for members only events?
Yes. QR check in works the same way. The buyer's ticket QR is valid regardless of the event's visibility setting.
What is next?
More event articles coming soon: creating an event, ticket types, time slots, QR check in.