Booking is the point where an event stops being an idea and starts costing money. A few minutes of checking before you pay can save you from a wrong date, a surprise fee or a booking page that is not what it seems. This checklist works for concerts, workshops, exhibitions and festivals, and it applies whichever site or app you use to find the event.
First, know what we do and do not do
Events Around Me is a listings site. We do not sell tickets, run events or handle payments. The booking or website link on an event page, labelled "Visit Website / Book Tickets", takes you to a page run by the organiser or by a ticketing service. Refunds, transfers and entry conditions are handled there, not by us. That is why the checks below matter: once you click through, you are dealing with the organiser's own terms.
Before you click the booking link
Read the whole event page. The description, date, time, venue, price and organiser name are all on one page. If the date or time is missing, the event may not be fully announced. A "coming soon" banner means exactly that, so wait before paying for anything.
Look at the status banners. Cancelled and postponed events are marked clearly at the top of the page. Check again on the day you plan to go, because status can change after a listing is published.
Compare the details with the organiser's page. Once you reach the booking page, the event name, date and venue should match the listing. If something differs, ask before paying. If our listing is the one that is wrong, tell us using "Report incorrect information" at the bottom of the event page so it can be corrected.
On the booking page
- Check the web address. Make sure you are on the organiser's site or a recognised ticketing service, not a lookalike address. If you were sent a link in a message, compare it with the link on the event page.
- Read the price breakdown. Look for platform fees, taxes and add-ons before the final step. The total at the last step is the real price.
- Find the refund and transfer policy. Many tickets are non-refundable, and some can be transferred or resold only under certain rules. Look for the policy before you pay, not after.
- Check what the ticket includes. Entry, seating, food, parking and merchandise are often separate. For workshops, check whether materials are included and whether there is a minimum age.
- Note the entry rules. Some venues set age limits, bag rules or ID requirements. Organisers usually state these on the booking page or in the description.
Paying safely
Use a payment method you can trace, and be cautious about any request to pay by sending money to a personal account when the event says it has an online booking page. If a page asks for more personal information than seems necessary to book a ticket, stop and check with the organiser through the contact details on their official page. Keep the confirmation email or message, and a screenshot of the booking page, in case you need to raise a problem later.
What to do after you book
- Save the event so the date and venue are easy to find again, and use "Add to Calendar" on the event page so you get a reminder.
- Check how the ticket is delivered. E-tickets usually arrive by email or in the organiser's app. If nothing arrives, contact the organiser promptly.
- Plan the journey. Use the directions link on the event page and allow extra time for travel, parking and queues.
- Check the event page again on the day. Look for a cancelled or postponed banner and confirm the start time.
If an event is cancelled or postponed
Contact the organiser or the ticketing service you booked through. They decide whether tickets are refunded, held for the new date or credited. Keep your booking confirmation handy, and read any announcement on the organiser's official page, since that is where refund instructions usually appear.
A quick checklist
- The event page shows a clear date, time, venue and price.
- No cancelled, postponed or "coming soon" banner is showing.
- The booking page matches the listing, and the web address looks right.
- You have read the fees, refund policy and entry rules.
- You have saved a confirmation and added the date to your calendar.
For planning around more than one event, read our guide to weekend plans. If the event you want is free, our guide to finding free events in Kerala covers registration and the other things to check. You can browse everything coming up on Find Events.