Strict Bubble Seating in Spektrix

In this article, we’ll explain what Strict Bubble Seating is and what you can use it for.

Before you read this article, you should be familiar with:

• Introduction to Attributes
• Instance Attributes
• List item

What is Strict Bubble Seating?

Strict Bubble Seating is a feature which enables you to create groups of seats on a Reserved Seating Plan. When the seats are grouped together (often known as a ‘bubble’) they only be sold if a customer purchases all of the seats within the group.

TIP: Strict Bubble Seating is a feature for online sales. In the Sales Interface, you can select fewer seats than the whole 'bubble' and will not be forced to select all of the seats as a customer would online.

Strict Bubble Seating was designed during the Covid-19 pandemic to limit sales to ‘bubbles’ and enforce social distancing. For example, if a ‘bubble’ contained four people, a customer must purchase all four seats in the ‘bubble’.

TIP: Both Layout Overlays and Strict Bubble Seating can be set at Instance-level. This gives you the flexibility to implement ‘bubbles’ only on specific Instances.

How could I use Strict Bubble Seating?

You can use Strict Bubble Seating to enforce that all seats in a group are purchased together. For example, a cabaret performance where customers must purchase all of the seats around a single table.

You can set up Strict Bubble Seating to cater for groups of different sizes and ensure that seats around the table are sold as in groups.

Considerations before using Strict Bubble Seating

Consider the following before you set up and use Strict Bubble Seating:

• Strict Bubble Seating only works on the ChooseSeats iframe. Customers will be able to book partial ‘bubbles’ if you or Agents sell tickets through the API. To prevent this, you might want to consider disabling the API for these Events/Instances.

   

• Strict Bubble works by masking seats. It isn’t possible to have Seats which are both masked and Locked.

   

• Strict Bubble seating is not compatible with Fixed Series.

   

• The  Best Available Overlay is not compatible with Strict Bubble Seating. You’ll need to uncheck Best Available on any Instances before using Strict Bubble Seating.

   

How to Set Up the Strict Bubble Seating Attribute

Strict Bubble Seating is controlled by an Instance Attribute. You’ll need to set this up by precisely following the steps below.

TIP: To set up Strict Bubble seating, you’ll need the Settings Administrator Role on your User Account before you can change these settings. If you don’t have this, ask the Settings Administrator in your organisation.

To set up the Strict Bubble Seating Instance Attribute, follow these steps:

1. Click the Control Panel button (in the bottom left corner of Spektrix):

   
   

2. Click Settings:

   
   

3. In Attribute Definitions, click Instance from the left menu:

   
   

4. Click New Attribute Definition:

   
   

5. You’ll see a New Attribute Definition screen:

   
   

Complete the following:

• Name: Strict Bubble Seating.

  TIP: You must enter Strict Bubble Seating as the Attribute Name. This Attribute is case sensitive and must not include any leading or trailing spaces.

• Type: Checkbox.

Click Create Attribute Definition to save the Attribute.

Adding Strict Bubble Seating to a Layout Overlay

Once you’ve set up the Strict Bubble Seating Attribute, you’ll need to:

1. Create a Layout Overlay
2. Mask the seats on your Layout Overlay
3. Apply the Layout Overlay to your Instance

Creating a Layout Overlay

To set up your Reserved Seating Plan for Strict Bubble Seating, you’ll need to create a new Layout Overlay where you’ll mask seats to create your ‘bubbles’.

You can learn more about creating Layout Overlays and masking seats by reading How to Create and Edit a Layout Overlay.

TIP: Both Layout Overlays and Strict Bubble Seating can be set at Instance- level. This gives you the flexibility to set up individual Instances differently depending on if you want to implement ‘bubbles’.

Masking Seats in a Layout Overlay

Masking seats lets you hide seats and/or rows of seats, leaving individual seats and/or groups of seats for customers to choose from.

By default, on a Reserved Seating Plan, each seat follows the next. For example, A1 is followed by A2, A2 is followed by A3, and so on. Masking seats breaks those ‘next seat’ associations, enabling you to select what seats you want to be grouped together.

REMINDER: For Strict Bubble Seating to work in rows of reserved seats, you must mask seats to break the ‘next seat’ associations. If you check the Strict Bubble Seating Instance Attribute on an Instance, but you haven’t created ‘bubbles’ in your row, Spektrix will treat the whole row as a ‘bubble’.

Here’s what a Seating Plan could look like when you’re creating bubbles of seats via a Layout Overlay:

Here’s what that Seating Plan could look like for customers online and in the Sales Interface:

REMINDER: Strict Bubble Seating is a feature for online sales. In the Sales Interface, you can select fewer seats than the whole 'bubble'.

If a customer online tries to book fewer than all the seats in a ‘bubble’, they’ll see a message “This selection is not allowed because it would leave one or more empty isolated seats. Please select again.”

You might like to inform customers that all seats around the table must be purchased. You can edit the background image of your Seating Plan to include a message:

To learn more about editing background images read How to Create and Edit a Layout Overlay

Applying a new Layout Overlay to Instances

Once you’ve created a Layout Overlay, you’ll need to apply this to your Instance(s). Read Applying an Overlay at Instance Level for more information.

Updating Instances with the Strict Bubble Seating Attribute

Once you’ve applied the Layout Overlay to your Instance(s), you’ll add the Strict Bubble Seating Attribute to your Instance(s).

Search for the Instance, click Edit and check the Strict Bubble Seating Instance Attribute box:

TIP: You can apply your Layout Overlay and the Strict Bubble Seating Attribute for an individual or multiple Instances at once using the Bulk Instance Update Tool.

Once you’ve created the Strict Bubble Seating Instance Attribute, make sure:

• You've ticked the Strict Bubble Seating Instance Attribute for the Instance(s) you want to use it on
• You’ve applied the Layout Overlay you’ve created to those Instances
• You’ve tested thoroughly to make sure it’s working as you’d expect

TIP: You’ll need to test this in your online booking path as Strict Bubble Seating is used for online sales.

Further Reading

This article should give you the information you need to set up Strict Bubble Seating. To learn more about Seating plans, visit the Seating Plans section of the Support Centre.