The short version
- Use one app for both jobs: scan pre-sold tickets and sell new ones.
- Tap to Pay turns a compatible iPhone or Android phone into a contactless terminal. No reader to buy, charge or pair.
- Set it up the day before. The admin enables Tap to Pay once, then any staff member can sell.
- Door sales and online sales land in the same Stripe account and the same reports.
Why door sales matter
Plenty of people decide on the night: a friend texts, the weather turns nice, they walk past the venue. If the only way in is "buy online", some will try on a slow phone connection at the door and some will just leave. A fast in-person option catches both groups, and it keeps your capacity count accurate because every sale goes into the same system as your online tickets.
What you need
- A Bloom account with Stripe payouts connected. The same setup you use for online sales.
- The Bloom Check-In app on each phone working the door.
- A compatible phone. An iPhone that supports Tap to Pay on iPhone, or an NFC-enabled Android phone that supports Tap to Pay on Android. You can mix both at the same event.
- A business address for your Stripe Terminal location. The app asks for it during setup.
- A data connection. Venue Wi-Fi or a reliable cell signal at the door.
Setting up Tap to Pay (once)
- Sign in to the Bloom Check-In app as the account admin. Only the primary host account can complete this step; staff sub-accounts can't.
- Turn on Tap to Pay and follow the prompts. You'll confirm your business location and accept the Tap to Pay terms. This registers your Stripe Terminal location for in-person payments.
- Have staff sign in with their own credentials. Once the admin has enabled it, staff can take payments on any supported device logged into your team account. They don't repeat the setup.
- Run a test sale before doors open. Sell a low-priced ticket to yourself, check that it shows in the dashboard, then refund it.
Do this the day before
Setup takes a few minutes, but you don't want to be accepting terms or hunting for a business address while a line forms. Enable Tap to Pay, sign in your staff and run your test sale ahead of time.
Running the door on the night
Checking in pre-sold tickets
Every Bloom ticket has a unique, single-use QR code. Scan it from the buyer's phone or a printout and the app marks it used. If someone forgot their ticket, search by name and check them in manually. Several staff can scan at once: the guest list updates in real time across devices, so nobody gets in twice on the same ticket.
Selling to walk-ups
- Enter the sale in the Check-In app: how many tickets and the amount.
- Add the guest's name and email so the sale is tied to a real person and you can invite them to your next event.
- Have them tap their card or phone on the back of your device. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Interac debit all work.
- Let them in. The sale is recorded against your event with your online sales.
Two lines or one?
At busy events, split the door: one person scanning pre-sold tickets (fast, a couple of seconds each) and one selling to walk-ups (slower, they're choosing). Put a sign up so pre-sold guests skip the buying line. Smaller events can run both from one phone.
What door sales cost
On Bloom, an in-person sale carries Bloom's $0.75 fee per sale plus Stripe's in-person processing. Stripe charges 2.7% + $0.05 for most cards plus $0.15 per Tap to Pay authorization, or a flat $0.15 for Interac debit. Like online sales, you can absorb fees or pass them on to the buyer.
For comparison, Eventbrite charges C$1 per paid ticket plus 2.9% processing for card sales through its Organizer app in Canada, and says that processing fee can't be passed on to buyers for at-the-door sales. Our guide to ticketing fees in Canada breaks down online fees platform by platform.
Interac refunds happen in person
In Canada, refunds on Interac debit payments taken in person must also be done in person: the guest taps the same card again. If someone might need a refund, do it before they leave.
Door checklist
- Tap to Pay enabled and a test sale done the day before
- Staff signed in on their own devices, with phones charged and a power bank on hand
- Door prices set (many organizers charge a little more at the door to reward people who buy early)
- Signs separating "Have a ticket" from "Buy a ticket"
- A plan for capacity: watch the live attendance count and stop door sales when you're full
- A way to collect emails from walk-ups so you can invite them back
After the event
Door sales appear in your dashboard alongside online sales, so your revenue and attendance numbers are complete without reconciling a cash box. You can export the full guest list, including check-in status, as a CSV. Walk-up buyers who gave an email can be invited to your next event: see how to build a following for recurring events.
Planning the rest of the night? Our event planning checklist covers everything from venue booking to post-event follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a card reader to sell tickets at the door?
No. With Tap to Pay on iPhone or Tap to Pay on Android, a compatible phone accepts contactless cards, phone wallets and Interac debit directly. Bloom supports both through the Bloom Check-In app.
Can door staff take payments without the admin's login?
Yes. The account admin sets up Tap to Pay once in the Bloom Check-In app. After that, staff sign in with their own staff credentials and can check guests in and take contactless payments without repeating the setup.
What does it cost to sell tickets at the door on Bloom?
Bloom's fee is $0.75 per in-person sale, plus Stripe's in-person processing: 2.7% + $0.05 for most cards plus $0.15 per Tap to Pay authorization, or a flat $0.15 for Interac debit. You can absorb the fees or pass them on, just like online.
Do door sales show up in my reports?
Yes. In-person payments run through the same Stripe account as your online sales, and appear in your Bloom dashboard analytics alongside online ticket revenue.
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