Getting More out of Eventbrite With Extensions

Did you know that there are loads of extensions for Eventbrite that help connect your event to other handy tools? For example, you can consolidate data automatically by synchronising your Eventbrite account with a CRM tool like Salesforce, or mail your database with the MailChimp extension. These are made possible with the Eventbrite API.

So what is an API and how can it make your life easier? We took a moment to ask Eventbrite Product Manager, Mitch Colleran, for the low down on API and extensions.

What is the Eventbrite API and how does it work?

API stands for ‘Application Programing Interface’ and the most important part of that word is ‘interface’.

You may be familiar with the term ‘user interface’, or put simply, the way that people interact with applications. An API is the interface that applications program into. This creates a way for two separate applications (for example Eventbrite and MailChimp) to interact with each other.

As the Product Manager, I’m responsible for identifying the opportunities that come with exposing this interface to other partners, who then build extensions — which you can find on Eventbrite Spectrum: Eventbrite.com.au/Spectrum

If an event organiser had specific functionality in mind and wasn’t sure how to make it happen — what would they do to get started?

The first step would be to browse Eventbrite Spectrum to see if one of our existing extensions serve your needs.

While most of our extensions centre around establishing connections to other popular platforms (e.g. MailChimp, Salesforce, SurveyMonkey, Facebook) — we have extensions that serve more niche needs as well. Extensions can help with everything from designing conference badges and printing tickets, to designing sponsorship proposal decks.  

As an organisation grows, their needs might become so complex that custom software development is needed and this is ultimately enabled by our open API as well, but it’s a considerably larger undertaking and is more common among large organisations.

If you can’t find an existing extension in Eventbrite Spectrum, then you have to decide if you want to take on the task of building the software that you need. If the answer is yes, then the next step is to have a rough outline of the software solution that you need and have a developer look over our API documentation to see if it’s feasible.

To see a full list of Eventbrite extensions, head to the Eventbrite Spectrum page. If you need to utilise the API for your own app or development, check out developers.eventbrite.com