Event Calendar: Highlight and manage your events
The Event Calendar feature allows you to create and manage calendars for various events, such as tour dates, film screenings, or speaking engagements. Calendars will update dynamically, meaning that any changes you make to a saved calendar will be immediately reflected on all reels that use it.
You can view an example of an Event Calendar on this reel (scroll to the bottom) »In this article:
Creating Event Calendars
To create an Event Calendar, navigate to the Reel Settings ▸ Event Calendar page from the left-hand navigation menu. Then, select “Event Calendar” from the side menu to access the Event Calendar settings.
Adding an Event Calendar
Once on the Event Calendar settings page, click the “Create New Calendar” button to create a new calendar and open the settings panel.
Entering event details
Once you’ve created a new calendar, give it a name and click on “Add Event” to open the event details popup. Here, you can add event information such as date, venue name, address, and an optional link. The address field will automatically search for the venue based on the name or address you provide. Click “Add Event” to save the event to your calendar.
Saving your Event Calendar
Your Event Calendar will be saved automatically as you add events. Any changes you make to a saved calendar in the future will be immediately reflected on all reels that use it.
Using Event Calendars
Adding an Event Calendar block to a reel
Now that you’ve saved an Event Calendar, you’re ready to use the Event Calendar block while in the Reel Builder.
To add an Event Calendar block:
- Hover in the center of the Reel Builder and between (or above/below) the blocks where you want to add the calendar until the plus sign icon appears.
- Click the plus sign to open the block menu.
- Click on “Event Calendar” to insert the new block (block names are sorted by Basic and Advanced blocks and appear alphabetically in the menu).
Event Calendar block settings
Once the block is added, you can customize various settings to optimize the display and functionality of your Event Calendar.
Customize the section header by typing a new title in the “Section Title” field. This text will appear above the Event Calendar block on your reel. Feel free to personalize this field by picking a name that suits your calendar, like “Film Screenings,” “Music Festivals,” or “Speaking Engagements.”
Change the label on the link button by entering your preferred text in the “Link Button Label” field. It defaults to “More Info,” but you could change it to something like “Buy Tickets” or “Register Now” to better suit your needs.
Edit the text displayed when there are no events in your calendar by typing a new message in the “Text to show when there are no events” field. This allows you to provide a custom message to your audience when your calendar is empty.
Select the calendar you want to display from the drop-down list. This will determine which events are shown in the Event Calendar block on your reel. The next five events for that calendar will display below the settings so you can confirm that you’ve chosen the correct calendar.
Toggle the option to hide past events if you don’t want them to appear in the calendar. This helps to keep your Event Calendar focused on upcoming events and maintain a clean appearance.
Choose whether to show a map of the events by toggling the map view on or off. The map can provide a visual representation of event locations, but you can turn it off if it doesn’t make sense for the information you’re displaying or if it doesn’t match your reel’s overall aesthetic.
Set a limit on the number of events displayed by entering a value in the “Show Events X days into the future” field. This allows you to control how far into the future your calendar displays events. Additionally, you can specify the maximum number of events to display by entering a value in the “Show a maximum of X events” field. This is useful if you have a large event calendar and want to display only a select number of upcoming events.
Managing Event Calendars
Editing or deleting Event Calendars
To edit or delete an Event Calendar, go to the Event Calendar settings page, and find the calendar you want to edit.
You can:
- Update the calendar’s name
- Add more events by clicking “Add Event”
- Edit individual event details by clicking the pencil icon next to an event
- Delete individual events by clicking the garbage can icon next to an event
- Delete the entire calendar by clicking the “Delete Calendar” button
Any changes you make to a saved Event Calendar will be immediately reflected on all reels that use it.
Tips and best practices
Updating Event Calendars dynamically
Event Calendars are designed to update dynamically, so any changes you make to a saved calendar will be immediately reflected on all reels that use it. This means you don’t have to manually update each reel with new event information, as the Event Calendars take care of it for you. Just remember to update your calendars regularly with any new information or events you want to showcase.
Making the most of the optional link button
This button can be customized to provide more information or direct viewers to a ticket-purchasing page. By tailoring the label (e.g., “More Info” or “Buy Tickets”), you can guide your audience to take the desired action. Remember that you don’t have to use the button if you don’t have anywhere to send people.
Optimizing the map view
The map view can be an engaging visual element that helps your audience understand the locations of your events. However, if the map view doesn’t make sense for the information you’re showing or doesn’t contribute to your reel’s overall aesthetic, you can turn it off. Experiment with different settings to create the most effective presentation for your events.
Adapting the Event Calendar for various purposes
While the Event Calendar is primarily designed to showcase events like tour dates or film screenings, you can also use it for other purposes. For example, you could use the calendar to display workshops, webinars, or other time-sensitive activities. Just make sure to choose a layout and settings that best display the information you want to highlight.
By following these tips and best practices, you can create a dynamic and engaging Event Calendar that showcases your events and keeps your audience informed.