Reply to event RSVPs in your Instagram DMs

Tap a card to copy the message. Swap anything in braces, like {name}, for your own words before you send it.

• First DM for a ticketed event

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  Hi, thanks for your comment! This reply is automatic. Tickets for {time} at {place} are on sale now. Would you like the booking link? Reply YES and I'll send it straight over.

  Until they answer, Instagram allows this one message and nothing more. The date and venue go in now, so even someone who never replies knows where to be.

• The RSVP form, once they reply

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  Here's the form to save your spot: {link} It takes about a minute. Use an email address you check, because that's where the reminder and any changes will come from.

  Say how long the form takes and why you want the email. Both make it feel quicker to fill in.

• Confirming a spot by hand

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  You're on the guest list, {name}. See you on {time} at {place}. If your plans change, just message me here and I'll give the spot to someone on the waitlist.

  For lists you keep yourself. Asking people to say if they can't come is the simplest way to cut down on empty seats.

• Bringing a friend

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  Friends are very welcome! So we know how many chairs to put out, could they RSVP with their own name? Here's the form to send them: {link}

  One RSVP per guest gives you a true headcount and an email for each reminder. If space is tight, say how many friends each person can bring.

• The event is full

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  Thanks so much for asking, and sorry: every spot has gone. I keep a short waitlist, and people do drop out. Would you like me to add you?

  Only offer a waitlist if someone will really get in touch when a place opens, by email or by typing a message in the Instagram app.

• A place has opened up

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  Good news, {name}: someone can't make it, so there's a place for you on {time} if you'd still like it. Could you let me know by tomorrow evening? After that I'll offer it to the next person.

  Send this one yourself from the Instagram app, since their last message is probably days old. The deadline stops the place sitting empty while you wait.

• Directions on the day

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  Here's the map pin: {link} The entrance is easy to miss, so look for {place}. If you get lost, message me here and someone will come out and find you.

  This one goes to people already on their way. Put the landmark in the text so they can find the door without opening the map.

• Accessibility question

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  Thanks for checking. There's step-free access through the main entrance, an accessible toilet on the ground floor and seating throughout. Is there anything else that would make it easier for you to come?

  List only what the venue really has. If you're not sure, say you'll find out and reply the same day, then do it.

• Is it free?

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  Yes, it's free to come. We just need an RSVP so we stay under the venue's limit: {link} Food and drinks will be on sale on the night.

  Yes or no first. If anything costs money once they're there, say so now rather than at the door.

• Running late

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  No problem, come along whenever you can. We start at {time}, but people arrive all evening, so just come in and find a seat.

  Someone asking this is deciding whether it's still worth coming. A relaxed answer gets them through the door.

• Can't make it after all

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  Thanks for letting me know, {name}, that really helps. I'll pass your spot to someone on the waitlist. Hope to see you at the next one.

  Thank people for cancelling. If cancelling feels awkward, they simply don't turn up, and the spot is lost.

• Answer to the day-before Story

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  Thanks for replying! Here's tomorrow at a glance: doors open at {time}, the address is {place}, and the map pin is here: {link} See you there.

  Post a Story the day before asking people to reply DETAILS, and set this as the automatic answer to that word.

• Thank-you after the event

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  Thank you for coming last night, it was lovely to meet you. The photos are up here: {link} One quick question: what should we do differently next time?

  Send it to guests who messaged you during or after the event, while their 24 hours are open. A Story asking people to reply PHOTOS reaches everyone else.

1. 1Each comment can get one private reply, only within 7 days of the comment. Switch the auto-reply on before the event post goes up, so every RSVP is answered in seconds.
2. 2After that private reply, nothing else can be sent until the guest answers. Their answer opens 24 hours for the form, the map and anything else.
3. 3Automated messages must go out within 24 hours of the guest's latest message. A reminder on the morning of an event next week can't come from an auto-reply unless they've written to you since.
4. 4The human agent tag is the only message tag Instagram supports. It lets a person answer a guest's message by hand for up to 7 days, and it isn't meant for reminders sent to a whole list.
5. 5Automated chats have to say they're automated: at the start of a conversation, after a long gap, and when a person hands the chat back to a bot.

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