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RSVP vs verified attendance
The two are used interchangeably in live events and they measure different things. One is a plan, the other is a record of what happened.
The short answer
An RSVP is an intention recorded before the event and costs the person nothing to give. Verified attendance is an arrival recorded at the venue from evidence collected on the night. The gap between the two is the conversion rate, and it is where most turnout claims fall apart.
Where the two diverge
| Aspect | RSVP | Verified attendance |
|---|---|---|
| When it is recorded | Before the event, at the moment someone responds. | At the event, from evidence collected on the night. |
| What it describes | A stated intention to attend. | A confirmed arrival, with the evidence behind it. |
| Cost to the person | None, which is why intentions are given freely and decay quietly. | A scan at the venue, which requires being there. |
| Evidence behind it | A form submission or a tap. | QR check-in, staff scan, ticket match, geofencing, or dwell. |
| What it supports commercially | Planning and capacity expectations. | Booking, guarantees, promoter credit, and sponsor accountability. |
Common questions
Is an RSVP the same as attendance?
No. An RSVP is a stated intention recorded before the event, and intentions decay as plans change. Verified attendance is recorded at the venue from evidence collected on the night, so it reflects who arrived rather than who said they would.
What is RSVP-to-attendance conversion?
The share of people who RSVPed and then actually arrived. It is the ratio that separates genuine pull from a long list of low-cost commitments, and it is one of the measures Ci reports for promoters.
Are RSVPs still useful if they do not prove attendance?
Yes, for planning. An RSVP list helps a venue anticipate capacity and staffing. The mistake is treating that list as a turnout figure in a booking negotiation or a sponsorship report, where it overstates the room.
How does Ci record attendance instead of intention?
A fan scans a QR code at the event. Independent evidence such as a staff scan or a matched ticket raises the confidence of that record, and qualifying dwell combined with several agreeing signals raises it further. Each record keeps the level it earned.