New to selling tickets on-site with Showpass? Read this first. It points you to the three guides that will get you up and running, in the order to read them.
A few terms you'll see
- POS (point of sale): The tool your staff uses to ring up a sale in person. Showpass offers four POS methods: Desktop App, iPad POS, Mobile POS, and Web Box Office.
- Tap Reader: A small wireless card reader from Square that accepts tap or chip card payments. Pairs with the Showpass iPad app.
- Square Terminal: A standalone payment device from Square that accepts tap, chip, and swipe. Pairs with the Showpass app on iPad, laptop, or browser.
- OAuth: A one-time setup that connects your Square account to your Showpass account so card payments can be processed. You only do it once per organization.
- Kiosk Mode: A setting in the iPad app that turns the iPad into a self-serve ticket kiosk. Attendees buy and check in without staff help.
- Web Box Office: A POS that runs in a browser, inside the Showpass Dashboard. No app to install.
Step 1: Get the lay of the land
Read Selling On-Site Overview. Five-minute read. It explains what on-site selling is and what each Showpass POS method does at a high level.
Step 2: Pick your POS method
Read Choosing Your POS Method. Side-by-side comparison of all four POS methods. Most organizers land on iPad POS or Desktop App.
If you're still unsure, the short answer is:
- Have iPads? Use iPad POS.
- Have laptops at a permanent box office? Use Desktop App.
- Roaming staff with phones? Use Mobile POS.
- Just need to start fast with no extra hardware? Use Web Box Office.
Step 3: Set up your chosen POS method
Open the guide for whichever POS method you picked:
What about scanning tickets?
If you're handling the gate (not selling), see Mobile App Organizer Guide. The same guide covers scanning, check-in presets, and offline mode.
Hardware setup
When you're ready to connect a Square Terminal, Square Tap Reader, printer, or cash drawer, head to the Payment hardware section. The Square Terminal and Payment Hardware Reference is the main entry point.