# Set up reserved seating

> Draw a seat plan for each ticket type so customers pick their own numbered seats when they buy tickets for your event.
>
> Source: https://docs.bcl.my/event-seating/

With reserved seating, each ticket type has its own seat plan, and customers pick numbered seats when they buy. Use it for dinners, theatre shows and seated concerts.

## Turn on reserved seating

Reserved seating is set for the whole event:

1. Go to **Events** → **Events** and click **Edit** on your event.
2. On the **Event Information** tab, set **Event Type** to **Reserved Seating**.

   *(Screenshot: The Event Information tab with Event Type set to Reserved Seating)*

3. Make sure your ticket types are added, then click **Update Event**. The **Seating** button only works on ticket types that have been saved.

## Draw a seat plan

Do this for every ticket type you sell. In a **Reserved Seating** event, a ticket type without a seat plan is not shown on your event page.

1. Under **Event Tickets**, click **Seating** on the ticket type. After you save a plan, the button shows how many seats it has.

   *(Screenshot: The Ticket Items table with the Seating button of the VIP ticket highlighted)*

2. Choose the **Layout Type**: **Grid (Hall / Theater)** for rows facing a stage, or **Pond (Left & Right Seating)** for seats on both sides. Enter a **Layout Name**.
3. Under **Seat Setup**, set how seats are numbered with **Prefix** and **Start Number**, then set **Stage Position**, **Stage Type**, **Rows** and **Seats Per Row**.

   *(Screenshot: The VIP Seating Configuration panel with Rows and Seats Per Row highlighted)*

4. Check the plan in the **Layout Designer**. Click a grey seat to turn it into a gap, or click an empty space to add a seat back. **Reserve seats** holds seats that should not be sold. Seats already sold are red.
5. Click **Save Seating Configuration**. The plan is saved straight away.

   *(Screenshot: The Layout Designer with seat V1-002 sold and the Save Seating Configuration button highlighted)*

## Choose how a ticket maps to seats

Click **Edit** on a ticket type and choose a **Ticket Mode**:

| Ticket Mode | One ticket gives | Use it for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Standard** | 1 seat and 1 attendee | Most events |
| **Shared seat** | 1 seat, several attendee names | Several people sharing one seat or space |
| **Group bundle** | Several seats, set in **Seats Per Ticket** | A table of 10, or "Buy 1 Free N" deals |

*(Screenshot: The Ticket Mode field in the ticket's settings panel)*

Click **Update Ticket Settings**, then **Update Event**.

## What customers see

Your event page lists each ticket type with the number of seats on its plan. The customer picks a ticket type, chooses seats on the plan, and pays. Each seat becomes a participant with its seat number, for example V1-002.

*(Screenshot: The event page listing Early Bird, Normal and VIP with the seats on each plan)*

## Tips

Seat plans are easier to manage with a few habits:

- **Add rows at the end, not the start.** BCL will not save a smaller plan that would remove seats already sold, and shows **Layout not saved**. Add seats or rows at the end, or move those buyers first.
- **Move a buyer to another seat from Participants.** On the [Participants](/event-participants/) page, click ⋮ on their row, then **Move Seat**.
- **Use one prefix per plan.** For example, A for Hall A and V for VIP, so seat numbers never repeat across ticket types.

## Common issues

### Can customers choose their own seats?

Yes. Set the event's Event Type to Reserved Seating, then click Seating on each ticket type to draw its seat plan. Customers pick seats on the plan when they buy.

### Why is a ticket type missing from my Reserved Seating event page?

In a Reserved Seating event, only ticket types with a seat plan are shown. Click Seating on that ticket type and save a seat plan for it.

### Can I sell one ticket for a table of 10?

Yes. Click Edit on the ticket type and set Ticket Mode to the Group bundle option (multiple seats per ticket), then set Seats Per Ticket to 10.