Text messages (SMS) with Twilio

Connect Twilio

1. In the Twilio Console, copy your Account SID and Auth Token, and buy (or pick) the number you'll text from. For US numbers, register it for A2P 10DLC so carriers deliver your texts.
2. In VenueWS go to Settings → Text messages (SMS).
3. Fill in Account SID, Auth Token and Send from (the number, or a Messaging Service SID starting with MG).
4. Click Check and connect. VenueWS checks with Twilio that the number is on that account before saving; the token is stored encrypted.

Use Send a test text to see one arrive. Texts come from your number and Twilio bills you for them directly.

Text the guests who have no email

In the venue's Settings & devices, switch on Text guests who have no email and save. A guest with a phone number and no email then gets their invitation and the day-before reminder as a short text with the link to their page (the waiver first, if the event has one). Guests WhatsApp already reaches don't get a text as well.

By switching it on you confirm those guests agreed to get texts about the event.

At the door

The scanner's Sign on their own phone → Text sends a guest their waiver link. See A guest who hasn't signed, at the door.

STOP

Every invitation text ends with "Reply STOP to opt out". Twilio honours STOP on its side; to have VenueWS stop queuing texts to that number too, set the webhook shown under Replies and STOP as the number's "A message comes in" webhook in Twilio. Last 30 days shows what was sent, what failed and how many opted out.