Luma

Brief Overview of Luma

Luma is an event management and discovery platform designed for creators and community organizers to host memorable events. It provides a comprehensive solution for setting up event pages, inviting guests, and managing ticket sales from a single dashboard. The platform also functions as a discovery hub, allowing users to find popular local events or browse by specific interests like tech, AI, and wellness. A core aspect of Luma is its ability to handle both free and paid events, with tools for managing guest lists and communications.

Organizers can create detailed event pages with custom themes, locations for both offline and virtual gatherings, and rich descriptions. The platform simplifies the entire event lifecycle, from initial promotion and ticket sales to guest check-in on the day of the event. Its free tier is notably robust, offering unlimited events and guests, making it an accessible event management tool for a wide range of users looking to build and engage their communities without initial overhead.

Luma Key Features for Content Creators

• Event Page Creation: Users can quickly set up a dedicated page for any event. The process involves selecting a theme, adding a title, setting the start and end times, and specifying a location, which can be a physical address or a virtual link.
• Flexible Ticketing System: Luma supports both free and paid ticket sales. Organizers can create multiple ticket types, offer coupons, and enable group purchasing. The platform accepts all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even regional payment methods like iDEAL and Konbini.
• Guest Communication Tools: The platform includes built-in tools for inviting guests and sending communications. The free plan allows for up to 500 invites or newsletters per week, while the Plus plan increases this to 5,000. It also sends automated reminders to guests via email, SMS, push notifications, and WhatsApp.
• Event Discovery: Luma features a public discovery section where users can find events happening near them. Events can be browsed by city or by categories such as Tech, Food & Drink, Arts & Culture, and AI, helping organizers reach a broader audience.
• Community Calendars: Organizers can create and share public calendars for their communities. Users can subscribe to these calendars to stay informed about all upcoming events from groups like Design Buddies, The AI Collective, and South Park Commons.
• Guest Management and Check-in: The platform provides tools to manage attendees, including the ability to check in guests directly through Luma. The Luma Plus plan adds a dedicated "check-in manager" role for larger events.
• Registration Controls: Hosts have granular control over their guest lists. They can require approval for registration, set capacity limits with an automated waitlist, and even use token gating for exclusive access.
• Integrations and API: The free plan includes a Zoom integration with attendance tracking. For more advanced automation, the Luma Plus plan offers integration with Zapier and provides API access to connect Luma with other workflows and tools.
• Generous Free Plan: Luma offers a free-forever plan that includes unlimited events and unlimited guests. This plan provides access to most core features, making it a powerful starting point for any event organizer. A 5% platform fee applies to paid events on this tier.
• Premium Customization and Features: The Luma Plus plan unlocks advanced capabilities, including 0% platform fees on ticket sales, custom URLs for event pages, the ability to collect taxes, and an increase to five calendar admins.

Luma Target Users & Use Cases

Luma is designed for a diverse range of users, from individual creators to large community organizations. Its straightforward interface makes it accessible for beginners, while its advanced features like API access and Zapier integration cater to more technically proficient organizers and teams.

• Primary Creator Types: Community managers, tech meetup organizers, local business owners, workshop facilitators, and professional networking groups.
• Experience Level: Suitable for both beginners and experienced event organizers.
• Team Size: The platform supports both solo creators and teams, offering unlimited cohosts and up to 3 calendar admins on the free plan, with the Luma Plus plan including 5 admins and the option to purchase more.
• Specific Use Cases:
  • Hosting a local tech hackathon or AI-focused meetup.
  • Organizing a grand opening or special shopping night for a retail business.
  • Selling tickets for a professional happy hour or networking event.
  • Managing registrations for a virtual workshop hosted on Zoom.
  • Creating and curating a public event calendar for a large online community.
  • Running a series of in-person fitness or wellness classes with capacity limits.
  • Promoting cultural events like reading parties or art exhibitions.
  • Controlling access to exclusive events by requiring registration approval.

How to Get Started with Luma

Setting up an event on the platform is a direct process:

1. Create an account using an email address or phone number.
2. Navigate to the event creation page to start building the event.
3. Fill in the essential details: event title, date, time, and location (either a physical address or a virtual link).
4. Customize the event by choosing a theme and adding a detailed description.
5. Configure event options, such as setting up free or paid tickets, enabling a waitlist, and deciding whether to require approval for attendees.
6. Publish the event page to make it live and begin sharing the link to invite guests.

Frequently Asked Questions About Luma

Is Luma free? Yes, Luma has a "Free, forever" plan that allows users to create an unlimited number of events with an unlimited number of guests. This plan includes a 5% platform fee on any tickets sold.

What are the limitations of the free plan? The free plan limits outgoing invites and newsletters to 500 per week and includes a 5% platform fee on ticket sales. It also provides up to 3 calendar admins, whereas the paid plan offers more.

What payment methods does Luma support for tickets? The platform accepts all major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. It also supports various regional payment methods, including iDEAL, Konbini, and PayNow, to accommodate a global audience.

Does Luma integrate with other tools? Yes. The free plan includes a Zoom integration that features attendance tracking. The Luma Plus plan expands on this with Zapier integration for workflow automation and full API access.

Can I host private events on Luma? Yes, organizers can control access to their events. The platform allows hosts to require approval for registration, effectively making the event private or curated. It also supports token gating for registration.

Bottom Line: Should Content Creators Choose Luma?

Luma is a strong choice for community builders, event organizers, and creators who need a simple yet powerful platform to manage both virtual and in-person events. Its dual functionality as both an event management tool and a discovery platform provides significant value, helping with promotion and audience reach.

The most compelling advantage is its extensive free plan, which offers unlimited events and guests, making it highly accessible for anyone looking to start hosting events without an upfront financial commitment. For those who need more advanced features, the Luma Plus plan is a logical upgrade, offering 0% platform fees, custom branding options, and powerful integrations. The primary limitations are the weekly invite cap and platform fees on the free tier, which are addressed in the paid plan.

Ultimately, Luma presents a polished and effective solution for the entire event lifecycle. It is well-suited for creators focused on building communities and hosting memorable gatherings, offering a scalable platform that can grow with their needs.