Custom Concert Tickets

Stubs, Perforations and Entry

A perforated stub lets door staff tear off one part of the ticket and keep it as a record, while the fan keeps the main part. Matching numbers on both parts let you count attendance accurately and check stubs later against sales. Some promoters add a second stub for a free drink, a merchandise discount or a raffle entry.

The perforation needs to tear cleanly without ripping into the ticket. We position it on your proof and use a perforation strength suited to the card weight, so the stub comes off easily at the door but does not fall off in a pocket or a wallet. Venues running weekly nights tend to order the two-stub layout as nightclub tickets with a drinks stub.

Information Every Ticket Needs

Keep the essentials clear: the act, the venue, the date and time of doors and the start, the ticket type, the price if you show it, the seat or standing area, and any age restrictions. Add the promoter's name or contact details for queries and a short line about terms, such as no re-entry or no refunds, on the back.

Design with the event in mind. Tour artwork or the band's album cover on the front makes the ticket collectable, while the back carries the practical details. Leave room for the number on both ticket and stub, and make sure it is printed in a clear, readable font for door staff working in poor light.

If the gig might be rescheduled, consider whether the date belongs on the ticket at all or on a sticker applied later. A printed date makes the ticket more collectable, but a postponement then means explaining to every ticket holder that their original ticket is still valid. Some promoters print the date and keep a short notice ready for social media just in case. Theatre and comedy promoters use the same layout rules on printed event tickets for seated shows.

Card, Finish and Size

Tickets are usually printed on a sturdy card between 300 and 400 gsm, so they survive being carried around in pockets and handled at the door. Matt or silk card takes print well and accepts a pen mark if seats are allocated by hand. Gloss lamination makes artwork pop but is harder to mark, so it suits tickets with pre-printed seat details.

The classic concert ticket is a long, narrow format with the stub at one end. Smaller wallet sizes suit wristband-style events and club nights. VIP tickets can be made larger or printed on a premium board with a foil edge, so they feel special when they are handed over.

Rounded corners are a small extra that make a difference. They stop tickets catching on pocket linings and give a finished, professional look. A lanyard hole turns a VIP ticket into a pass that can be worn around the neck all night, which saves staff from asking to see it repeatedly. The card weights and finishes explained guide helps if you are choosing between silk and uncoated.

Promoters, Venues and Bands

Independent promoters use custom concert tickets for gigs at small and mid-size venues. Venues use them for their own house shows and for box office sales. Bands selling tickets directly at gigs, online or through fan clubs use them as merchandise as much as entry passes. Schools, choirs, orchestras and community groups use them for concerts and fundraising nights. Charity events use them alongside raffle tickets.

Each buyer needs a slightly different mix of security and design. A school concert may only need numbering and a stub. A sold-out gig with resale risk benefits from foil and UV ink. Posters and flyers for the same gig can be run as part of our printed marketing material for venues.

Fix the Numbering Range Before the Artwork

Tickets are the one print job where the numbers matter more than the picture, so settle the numbering first: the start number, how many per outlet, and whether VIP tickets run in their own range. Write that down and send it with the venue, date, doors and start times, because a reprint over a wrong number costs more than any design change. Pick one or two security features that your door staff can check in a second, and brief them on where the foil or UV mark sits.

Send the artwork, the numbering plan, the quantity and the on-sale date, and a custom quote comes back by email within one working day. The free proof shows the front, the back, the stub and the exact position of every number, so check it against your spreadsheet before approving. Printing takes 4–7 working days after approval and tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses is free, taking 2–3 working days; leave another week to get bundles out to record shops and bars. Misnumbered or damaged tickets reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded. Promoters running a bar at the gig often add numbered raffle tickets for the interval to the same run.