Events and festivals: free QR codes for programme, sign-up and photos

An event has three phases. Before it, people want to know what is happening. On the day, they look for the way, the stand or the toilets. Afterwards they want to see the photos. Posters and flyers, however, are printed only once. A dynamic QR code solves this because its destination can be changed after printing. For a club party, an open day or a flea market, a free plan is enough if you plan it well.

One code, three phases

On the free plan the destination of each QR code can be changed twice. That fits an event exactly:

• when created: announcement with date and sign-up
• first change on the morning of the event: programme and site map
• second change the day after: photos and thanks to the volunteers

After that the code stays valid and keeps pointing to the photos. If the event is postponed because of rain, you need one of the two changes for the new date. Plan for that from the start.

Which other QR codes an event needs

• Sign-up for stands, volunteers or participants
• Directions and parking: straight into the maps app
• Food and drinks at the stand: prices and allergens
• Photo upload: to a shared folder where guests add their pictures
• Feedback: a short survey at the exit
• Donations or raffle

With the main code that makes seven QR codes. 13 remain for further events during the year.

Working out the scans honestly

The 1,000 scans a month apply to the whole account. For an event a quick calculation is worth it. A summer fair with 800 guests, about a third of whom scan the programme, reaches around 270 scans on the day. Add scans from posters in the weeks before and the photos afterwards. 600 to 800 scans in the event month are realistic. A street festival with several thousand guests will be well above that. Then a short note appears before the destination at first, and after seven days above the limit the codes show only a notice until the end of the month. For such an event a paid plan with unlimited scans is the safe choice.

Tips for posters and stands

• at least 4 cm on the poster, larger on big posters
• a line next to it saying what the code opens: “Programme and site map”
• at the stand at eye level, not on the table behind the goods
• for evenings without light: not behind reflective film

Plan without a trial period

Events are planned months ahead. A free offer with a 14-day trial ends before the poster is even up. At Same-QR the free plan has no trial period, needs no credit card and shows no ads when scanning. So you can print in spring and celebrate in summer.

Conclusion

An event needs few QR codes, but well-planned ones. Use the two destination changes for the three phases, work out the scans for the event month and, for big events, settle on a plan with unlimited scans in good time. For small events the free plan of Same-QR is enough.

Frequently asked questions