Scheduling guide

How to organize signups across multiple dates

Use one event with dated slots when people choose among sessions in the same program. Give every session its own date, time, and capacity, then make it clear whether guests should choose one or several.

  • One program, clearly dated sessions
  • A complete setup walkthrough
  • The right approach for repeat events

By Signup Bubble · Reviewed

In this guide

Choose one shared program or separate events

A three-session reading program and a monthly book club both span dates, but the work is different. In the program, readers choose a discussion from one page. In a monthly club, each meeting might have a new book, location, and attendance list.

Choose the structure before entering dates
Your planUseYou will manage
Several sessions in one programDated slotsOne signup page and roster
A similar event on a new dateDuplicate an eventA new event to review and edit
Weekly or monthly meetingsOrganization recurring seriesSeparate events in a series

Work through three reading discussions

Offer two discussions on the first day and one on the next day. Each lasts an hour and has eight seats. Readers choose one discussion, so everyone can find a time without signing up for the whole program.

That gives the program twenty-four possible places across three sessions. Each session still stops at eight. Leave the event-wide Attendee limit empty unless the program has a separate overall restriction.

Example

Day 1 · Two discussions

Afternoon discussion · 4 to 5 PM

5 of 8 spots filled

3 spots open

Evening discussion · 6 to 7 PM

8 of 8 spots filled

Full

Day 2 · One discussion

Afternoon discussion · 4 to 5 PM

2 of 8 spots filled

6 spots open

The first evening is full, but readers can still choose either afternoon discussion.

Example program: two discussions on the first day and one on the second. Choose your own dates and use the same timezone for all three.

Set the dates, then build the sessions

Open the reading-group template and use your program's actual dates. The first and last day define the event window; the individual slots define the sessions people reserve.

  1. 1

    Choose a schedule across days

    Under When is this event?, select Several dates & times. This keeps the sessions together on one signup page.

  2. 2

    Set the window and timezone

    Enter First day, Last day, and Timezone. For our two-day program, the last day is the day after the first. Use the timezone participants should follow.

  3. 3

    Apply and review the starter schedule

    After choosing the first day in the reading-group starter, use Apply starter schedule to these dates. Check every session's actual date, start time, and end time. Rename the discussions if that makes them easier to recognize.

  4. 4

    Give each discussion eight places

    Set capacity to eight on each slot. Use Slot selection required and leave Allow multiple slot selections off when each reader should attend one discussion.

  5. 5

    Decide whether readers may bring friends

    For individual reservations, leave Allow group signups off. If one reader may reserve for a group, turn it on and enable Count whole party toward slot capacity for every discussion.

Help each reader arrive for the right session

Put the shared location and joining instructions in the event description. If sessions meet in different rooms, identify the room in the relevant slot label or instructions. A reader should not have to compare several messages to find the right place.

Dated-slot confirmations and reminders use the participant's slot schedule. Review the reminders before publishing and verify that each slot has the date and time you intend. A program spanning two days should still give each reader a clear appointment.

If you move the program, review its window and every affected slot together. Changing only the first day does not mean every session has been rescheduled. Check existing signups and communicate the new details to affected readers.

Check the program before you share it

Use the preview on a phone and look for the decision a reader needs to make: which discussion should I attend? Keep the selection instructions close to the schedule.

  • All three sessions have real dates, start times, and end times within the program window.
  • Each session has eight places; the whole program is not accidentally capped at eight.
  • Readers choose one session, and any group reservation uses the intended number of seats.
  • Location, timezone, and reminder settings match the final schedule.

Your next step

Put your plan into practice

Start with a template, or use the docs when you need a closer look at a setting.

Start a reading-group signup