# Build a simple spreadsheet to track ticket sales for an event

Step-by-step setup for a ticket sales tracker with a data entry form, search, totals, and payment status for fundraisers and community events.

- Topic: Data & Analysis
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Advanced
- Tags: Data & Analytics, Sales, Explain & Teach, Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/build-a-simple-spreadsheet-to-track-ticket-sales-for-an-event

## Prompt

```text
Walk me through building a spreadsheet to track ticket sales for an event.

**Event:** [e.g. "fundraising dinner", "school play", "club raffle"]
**Software and version:** [e.g. "Excel 2016 for Windows", "Excel for Mac", "Google Sheets"]
**Ticket types and prices:** [e.g. "adult $20, child $10"]
**Who enters sales:** [just me / several volunteers]
**What I need to know:** [e.g. total sold, money collected, who still owes, seats left, sales per volunteer]

Give me step-by-step instructions, written for someone comfortable with basic spreadsheets:
1. **Columns** - e.g. Ticket ID, Date, Buyer name, Phone/email, Ticket type, Quantity, Amount due, Amount paid, Payment method, Sold by, Notes. Suggest which to drop or add for my event.
2. **Make it a table** and add data validation drop-downs for ticket type, payment method, and seller to prevent typos.
3. **Formulas** - amount due from quantity and price, balance owed, running totals, tickets remaining against capacity. Give the exact formulas.
4. **Data entry form** - how to turn on and use the built-in form in my version (e.g. adding the Form button to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel), or a simple alternative if my software doesn't have one.
5. **Searching** - finding a buyer with the form's Criteria button, filters, or a lookup cell.
6. **Summary area** - totals by ticket type, by seller, and unpaid balances.
7. **Protecting the sheet** so volunteers can't break formulas, and sharing or backing it up.

If I am collecting personal contact details, remind me to keep the file private and delete what I no longer need after the event.
```

## What to fill in

- e.g. "fundraising dinner", "school play", "club raffle"
- e.g. "adult $20, child $10"
- just me / several volunteers

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.