=== Live Event Seating –  Seating Chart, Floor Plan, RSVP & Event Ticket ===
Contributors: macmonir
Tags: event tickets, rsvp, ticket sales, seat booking, seating chart
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.1
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.3.1
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Sell event tickets, manage RSVPs, and book seats with an interactive seating chart. Zero commission, with or without WooCommerce.

👉 **[View Live Seating Chart Demo](https://macmonir.net/test/seating-chart-demos/)**

== Description ==

**Sell Tickets & Collect RSVPs from Your Own WordPress Site — Zero Commission, Zero Coding.**

Are you paying Eventbrite or Ticketmaster a cut of every ticket sale? Tired of building seating charts in spreadsheets, then manually cross-checking bookings? **Live Event Seating** solves both problems — for free.

It gives you a drag-and-drop venue builder, a complete **Event RSVP & Free Tickets** registration system, and a full WooCommerce ticket sales integration, directly inside WordPress. Visitors can pick their seat on a live interactive map, RSVP or claim a free pass instantly, or purchase paid tickets through WooCommerce checkout — while you keep **100% of the revenue**.

Works for concerts, conferences, seminars, workshops, church services, galas, auditoriums, comedy clubs, stadiums, school events, and table-reservation venues.

### 🪶 Purpose-Built Seating, Zero Bloat

Live Event Seating is built specifically for interactive seating charts, seat reservations, and event registration. It does not force a massive event-ticketing ecosystem onto your site: use the built-in RSVP and free-ticket tools on their own, or connect your existing WooCommerce setup when you need paid tickets.

---

### 🎟️ NEW: Event Tickets, RSVP & Attendee Registration

Run paid, free, or RSVP-only events with total flexibility — **no WooCommerce required for free events!**

* **✉️ Built-in Event RSVP System:** Let visitors RSVP "Going" or "Not Going" with real-time capacity limits and seat selection.
* **🎟️ Free Tickets ($0):** Issue digital admission passes with unique ticket codes instantly or route through WooCommerce $0 checkout.
* **👥 Central Attendee Dashboard:** View, search, and filter attendees across all your events from WordPress admin.
* **✅ 1-Click Door Check-In:** Easily check in guests on event day directly from the attendee management screen.
* **📥 One-Click CSV Export:** Download complete attendee rosters with names, emails, phones, ticket codes, and seat numbers for printing or badges.
* **📧 Automated HTML Email Confirmations:** Send branded, professional confirmation emails with event details, venue map location, time, and ticket codes automatically via `wp_mail`.

---

### 🎥 See It In Action (Demo + Video Tutorials)

**Live Seating Chart Demo**

👉 **[https://macmonir.net/test/seating-chart-demos/](https://macmonir.net/test/seating-chart-demos/)**


**How to Create a Seating Chart**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT0iIeyFuac

**How to Connect Seats to WooCommerce**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmppxSxJzmA

**Advanced Venue Builder Features**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX_SOW647-o

---

### 🆓 What You Get — Free

* **Drag & Drop Venue Builder:** Build your seating chart visually inside WordPress admin — no design tools, no developers.
* **Starter Templates:** Load a ready-made theater, banquet, classroom, or wedding layout in one click and customize it to fit your venue.
* **All Element Types:** Circular tables, rectangular tables, seat rows, stages, images, and freeform polygon shapes.
* **Event RSVP Registration:** Collect RSVPs (Going / Not Going) with capacity limits, start/end dates, and seat assignment.
* **Free Event Tickets:** Issue free admission tickets with unique alphanumeric codes and email delivery.
* **Centralized Attendee Management:** Dedicated admin dashboard to view, filter, check-in, and manage all attendees.
* **CSV Attendee Export:** Export full guest rosters to CSV with UTF-8 support for Excel and Google Sheets.
* **Automated Confirmation Emails:** Branded HTML email templates for RSVPs and digital tickets.
* **WooCommerce Ticket Sales:** Link seat prices to WooCommerce variable products and accept payments with any gateway you already use.
* **Multi-Level Pricing:** Charge different prices for VIP, Standard, and Economy seats on the same map.
* **Interactive Seat Selection:** Customers click a seat and see its price in real time before adding to cart.
* **5-Minute Seat Locking:** A seat turns "reserved" (orange) the moment it hits a cart, preventing double-bookings — and auto-releases if the order is abandoned.
* **Prevent Double-Bookings:** Completed bookings mark seats gray and unavailable instantly.
* **Full Order Details:** Seat number, event name, date, time, and venue appear in the WooCommerce cart, checkout, order emails, and thank-you page automatically.
* **Customizable Seat Colors:** Match your brand — change available, selected, and booked colors from plugin settings.
* **Shortcode Display:** Paste `[lesl_seating_plan id="YOUR_EVENT_ID"]` into any page or post.
* **Builder Integrations:** Add an Event Seating Plan block in Gutenberg or an Event Seating Plan widget in Elementor, then select the event from a dropdown.
* **The Events Calendar Integration:** Link a seating plan to a calendar event and display it below the event details without changing calendar data. Enable The Events Calendar integration from Seating Charts > Settings before adding seating metaboxes and maps to calendar events.
* **Zero-Bloat Architecture:** Purpose-built seating tools without forcing a large, unrelated event platform onto your WordPress site.
* **0% Ticket Commission:** Keep every dollar your customers pay.

---

### 🚀 Hitting a Limit? Upgrade to Premium.

The free version is built for getting started. The **Premium versions** are built for running a professional event operation — handling sold-out waitlists, offline smartphone check-ins, self-service seat release & transfer requests, group bookings, upsell add-ons, and more.

👉 **[View All Premium Plans & Pricing](https://macmonir.net/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-seating-chart-plugin/#pricing)**

---

### 🏆 Which Version is Right For You?

**LITE (Free)**
Best for: Launching your first ticketed or RSVP event with or without WooCommerce.
* Visual drag-and-drop builder
* Starter templates for theater, banquet, classroom, and wedding layouts
* RSVP & Free Tickets registration system with Attendee Manager & CSV export
* Automated HTML email confirmations
* WooCommerce seat-based ticket sales
* Multi-level pricing, seat locking, double-booking prevention
* Display via shortcode

**STARTER — 1 Website**
Best for: A single venue that needs a polished, professional setup.
* **0% Ticket Fees** — keep 100% of every sale
* **Tiered Pricing** — VIP vs Standard, visually shown on the map
* **Whole Table Booking** — one click for a sponsor to buy an entire table
* **Real-time Seat Summary** — live cart sidebar prevents race-condition double-bookings
* **Advanced Builder Tools** — Undo/Redo (Ctrl+Z), 360° rotation, curved seat rows, block/kill seats, alphabetic seat numbering
* **Pan & Zoom** — mobile-friendly map navigation for large venues

**BASIC — 5 Websites**
Best for: Freelancers and agencies managing multiple client venues.
* Everything in Starter, licensed for up to 5 sites

**PRO — Unlimited Websites**
Best for: Power users, large venues, festivals, and complex multi-section spaces.
* Everything in Starter & Basic, plus:
* **📱 Offline-First PWA Ticket Scanner** — scan & verify tickets with zero internet or Wi-Fi dead zones ↓
* **🔄 Seat Release & Automated Refunds** — self-service seat cancellations and 1-click WooCommerce refunds ↓
* **🔔 Waitlist System** — capture sales even after selling out ↓
* **🔁 Seat Transfer & Swaps** — let customers swap their own seats after purchase ↓
* **  Ticket Transfer Requests** — transfer bookings, reassign tickets, and manage seat changes from WooCommerce My Account ↓
* **🪟 Ticket Scanning Window** — quick event-day check-in screen for staff to scan and verify tickets in seconds ↓
* **🔤 Custom Row Prefixes** — assign row labels like A, B, VIP, West, or custom prefixes for easy seat navigation ↓
* **🍽️ Seat & Table Add-ons** — upsell food packages, drinks, parking & merchandise at checkout ↓
* **👥 Group & Bulk Booking** — auto-select adjacent seats for groups ↓
* **🏛️ Sections Mode** — balconies, orchestra pits, and multi-zone stadium layouts
* **🎫 General Admission (GA) Areas** — sell unreserved standing-room tickets with capacity limits
* **👤 Booking Manager** — central attendee dashboard with export
* **📦 Import/Export Venue Layouts (JSON)** — reuse your venue as a template
* **📅 Events Manager Integration** — extends calendar integration to also support the Events Manager plugin, on top of the free Events Calendar support ↓
* **🧩 Waitlist Form Block** — add your sold-out waitlist signup form via Gutenberg block, no shortcode needed ↓
* **⏱️ Countdown Timer** — visual seat lock timer in cart and checkout
* **🎨 Visual Ticket Designer** — drag-and-drop ticket layout builder for branded PDF tickets, receipts, and event details ↓
* **🖨️ Advanced Ticket Templates** — drag-and-drop PDF ticket customizer
* **📥 1-Click PDF Ticket Downloads** — instant PDF downloads from admin & automated email attachments ↓
* **🎟️ Per-Seat-Type Coupons** — discount codes locked to specific seat tiers ↓
* **📅 Multi-Date Events** — one map, multiple performances ↓
* **♿ Accessibility Seat Marking** — ADA-compliant wheelchair and companion badges ↓
* **👤 Guest Name Assignment** — personalized place cards and check-ins for VIP tables ↓
* **📱 Apple & Google Wallet Passes** — one-tap "Add to Wallet" on thank-you page, emails & My Account ↓
* **🏷️ Manual Order Management** — book any seat for walk-ins, phone orders, and comps directly from admin ↓
* **Premium Support**

👉 **[Compare All Features & Get Pro](https://macmonir.net/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-seating-chart-plugin/wordpress-seating-chart-features/)**


---

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `live-event-seating-lite` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress.
3. Go to **Seating Charts > Add New**.
4. Use the "Seating Plan Builder" to create your chart.
5. Choose your Event Ticketing Type (Paid WooCommerce, RSVP, or Free Tickets).
6. Display your seating chart by either:
   - Pasting the shortcode `[lesl_seating_plan id="YOUR_EVENT_ID"]` into any page or post.
   - Using the new "Event Seating Plan" Gutenberg block or Elementor widget and selecting your event from the dropdown.


== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= How do I create a seating chart in WordPress? =
Go to Seating Charts > Add New and use the drag-and-drop builder to place tables, seat rows, and stages on your canvas. When you're done, copy the shortcode and paste it into any page or post.

= Do I need to be a developer to use this? =
No. Our drag-and-drop builder requires zero coding.

= Is my data removed when I uninstall the plugin? =
Clean Uninstall Guaranteed. Remove the plugin, and all plugin data is safely deleted, keeping your database lean.

= Can I use this plugin for free events and RSVPs without WooCommerce? =
Yes! Live Event Seating includes full support for standalone RSVP registration and Free Tickets. You can set capacity limits, collect attendee names and emails, allow seat selection, send automatic email confirmations, and track attendees directly in WordPress without needing WooCommerce active.

= How do Free Tickets and RSVPs work? =
In the event editor, select either "RSVP Registration" or "Free Tickets ($0)". Visitors can choose their seat on your chart, submit their details, and receive an instant registration code or digital ticket via email. Free tickets can also optionally be routed through a WooCommerce $0 cart flow.

= Can I view and export the list of event attendees? =
Yes. Go to **Seating Charts > Attendees** in your WordPress dashboard. You can view all confirmed attendees, search by name, email, or ticket code, check in attendees with a single click, and export the full roster to CSV.

= Are confirmation emails sent automatically? =
Yes. Attendees receive responsive HTML confirmation emails with complete event details, location, time, seat numbers, and unique ticket codes upon RSVP or free ticket claim.

= Can I sell event tickets without paying platform commissions? =
Yes. The free Lite version includes full WooCommerce integration — your customers select seats, pay through your existing WooCommerce checkout, and you keep 100% of the revenue. No per-ticket fees, ever.

= Do I need WooCommerce? =
WooCommerce is only required if you want to sell paid tickets with payment gateways. For free tickets, seat reservations, and RSVP events, WooCommerce is completely optional.

= Does Live Event Seating add unnecessary bloat to my site? =
No. Live Event Seating is purpose-built for seating and event registration rather than forcing a massive ecosystem onto your site. Use its built-in RSVP and free-ticket tools independently, and connect WooCommerce only when you need paid ticket checkout.

= What happens if two customers try to book the same seat at the same time? =
The moment a seat is added to a cart, it is soft-locked for 5 minutes and turns ("reserved") for all other visitors. If the order is not completed, the seat is automatically released — preventing double-bookings without any manual work.

= How do I scan tickets at the door? =
The Pro version includes a dedicated Progressive Web App (PWA) ticket scanner with offline verification capability. You can install it on any iOS or Android phone with 1 tap, scan QR codes in under 5ms even with zero internet, and have check-ins automatically sync back to WordPress when internet reconnects.

= Can customers cancel or request a seat release? =
Yes — with the **Seat Cancellation & Refund System** in Pro. Customers submit a seat release request from their WooCommerce My Account page. When you approve it, the seat is automatically freed on the live seating chart, a native WooCommerce refund is issued, and the next person on the waitlist is notified.

= Can customers change their seat after booking? =
Yes — with **Seat Transfer** in Pro. Customers submit a swap request from My Account. You approve or reject with one click, and the plugin handles everything else automatically.

= Can I book multiple adjacent seats at once for a group? =
Yes — with **Group Booking** in Pro. A "Find Best Seats" toolbar lets customers enter how many seats they need and the system instantly finds and highlights the best available consecutive block.

= Can I upsell food, drinks, or merchandise with seats? =
Yes — with **Seat & Table Add-ons** in Pro. Attach any WooCommerce product as an add-on, with an interactive modal displaying before checkout and auto-suggested quantities based on selected seats.

= What happens when my event sells out? =
With the **Waitlist System** in Pro, a signup form appears automatically. When any seat is released, the next person in the queue receives a 30-minute purchase link — all without any manual effort from you.

= Does this work with The Events Calendar? =
Yes! The free version includes basic integration, allowing you to link a seating plan to a calendar event and display it below the event details. The Pro version expands on this with advanced features and native integration with the Events Manager plugin as well.

= Can I use one seating map for a multi-day event? =
Yes — with **Multi-Date Events** in Pro. Attach a full schedule to a single map. One ticket covers the entire event run, with the full itinerary shown on every PDF ticket.

= Can I mark seats for wheelchair access? =
Yes — with **Accessibility Seat Marking** in Pro. Designate seats as Wheelchair or Companion, with visual badges on the live map and throughout the entire checkout process.

= Can I assign guest names to individual seats for a gala or wedding? =
Yes — with **Guest Name Assignment** in Pro. Attach a specific attendee name to any seat after purchase, so your place cards and CSV exports show real names, not billing names.

= Can customers save their ticket to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet? =
Yes — with **Wallet Pass Integration** in Pro. When an order completes, an "Add to Wallet" button appears on the Thank You page, in the confirmation email, and in My Account. The pass includes the event details, seat info, and QR code, and updates automatically if a seat transfer is approved.

= Can I book seats manually for walk-ins or phone orders without going through the public checkout? =
Yes — with **Manual Order Management** in Pro. Event staff can select any available seat from the live map inside WordPress admin, assign it to a customer, and generate a real WooCommerce order with a scannable QR ticket and optional confirmation email — all without touching the public-facing checkout.

== Changelog ==

= 1.3.1 =
* Feature: Added a Gutenberg block for displaying event seating plans directly in posts and pages
* Feature: Added The Events Calendar integration so seating plans can be attached to calendar events and shown in event details
* Enhancement: Moved the Seating Status page under the Seating Charts menu for easier admin access
* Fix: Improved compatibility and stability for RSVP, free ticket, and seat-booking flows on current WordPress and PHP versions
* Fix: Corrected attendee management and export behavior to keep check-in status and event data consistent
* Enhancement: Refined ticket confirmation and seating-map interactions for a smoother frontend booking experience

= 1.3.0 =
* Feature: Added complete Event RSVP registration system with "Going / Not Going" response options and capacity limits
* Feature: Added Free Tickets ($0) issuing system with unique digital ticket codes and instant registration cards
* Feature: Added Centralized Attendee Management dashboard (Seating Charts > Attendees) with live search and filtering by event, type, and status
* Feature: Added 1-Click door check-in toggle on the attendee management screen
* Feature: Added 1-Click CSV Export for attendee rosters with full UTF-8 encoding for Excel and Google Sheets
* Feature: Added automated, responsive HTML email confirmation templates for both RSVPs and Free Tickets via wp_mail
* Feature: Added option to route free tickets through WooCommerce $0 cart & checkout or direct instant registration
* Enhancement: Standalone operation — plugin now runs free events, RSVPs, and seat bookings without requiring WooCommerce installed
* Enhancement: Real-time capacity progress bar displayed on frontend RSVP and Free Ticket forms

= 1.2.2 =
* Fix: added settings for the seat colors which can be controlled from admin
* Fix: Seat lock race condition resolved — the same seat can no longer be soft-locked by two customers simultaneously during concurrent bookings
* Fix: Multiple seats now add correctly to cart — each seat gets its own unique cart entry instead of merging into one
* Fix: Seat info now displays correctly in WooCommerce Gutenberg Cart and Checkout blocks
* Fix: Order details on thank-you page, My Account, and emails now show seat info in clean format (Event title, seat label, date/time/venue) instead of raw meta keys
* Fix: PHP warning "Undefined variable $has_seat" on cart page removed
* Fix: Quantity number no longer shown next to seat items on thank-you page

== Screenshots ==

1. Lite vs Pro version feature comparison.
2. Create a venue floor plan using the intuitive drag-and-drop seating chart builder.
3. Customize table reservations, stages, and seat bookings easily in the editor.
4. Frontend interactive seat selection and booking for your event attendees.
5. Event RSVP Registration admin panel
6. RSVP Frontend form
7. Free ticket admin panel
8. Free ticket Frontend
9. [PREMIUM] Link your seating map to WooCommerce products with Tiered Pricing.
10. [PRO] Build complex auditorium and stadium layouts with Sections Mode and General Admission (GA) areas.
11. [PREMIUM] Automated email ticket delivery featuring scannable QR Codes.
12. [PRO] Built-in QR Code ticket scanner for fast event-day attendee check-ins.
13. [PRO] Real-time Seat Lock countdown timer displayed on the WooCommerce cart and checkout pages.
14. [PRO] Ticket customizer using an advanced drag-and-drop visual builder.
15. RSVP configuration in metabox
16. RSVP form with seating map
17. [PRO] Waitlist form — captures customer interest automatically when your event sells out.
18. [PRO] Waitlist Manager — view all entries, their status, and notify anyone with one click.
19. [PRO] Self-service Seat Transfer form in the WooCommerce My Account area.
20. [PRO] Group Booking toolbar — auto-selects the best block of adjacent seats in seconds.
21. [PRO] Per-Seat-Type Coupon panel in the WooCommerce coupon editor.