Editor’s Note:
This post was originally published in November 2017. It has been updated in July 2025 to reflect enhancements to ThunderTix's Single Seat Prevention feature, including new seating rule options and per-event override capabilities.
Options for Reserved Seating Events
Every once in a while, a patron might prefer a little elbow room by leaving an empty seat between themselves and the next person. But for venue admins — especially during sellout shows of reserved seating events — those orphan seats in the middle of a row can be tough to resell.
To help you maximize your capacity and minimize unsold seats, ThunderTix now offers enhanced single-seat prevention controls — with even more flexibility to tailor settings at both the seating chart and event level.
New “Single Seat” Setting Options
You can now configure how ThunderTix handles empty seats with three distinct rule options, found under each seating chart:
Chart-Level Settings (Available per Seating Chart)
Under Seating Charts, in the Single Seat column, choose from:
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Disabled
No prevention logic is applied. Patrons can leave single seats between others freely.
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Allow Only Aisle-Adjacent Empty Seats
Prevents ticket buyers from leaving a single seat between their selection and another sold seat — except when the empty seat is next to an aisle or at the end of a row.
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Prevent Empty Seats Anywhere
The most restrictive option. Ensures that no single empty seats are left, regardless of position.
These options help you balance sell-through efficiency with patron preference — especially for high-demand shows or venues with unique seating challenges.
NEW: Per-Event Overrides
Need even more control?
Now you can override the single-seat setting on a per-event basis, giving you the ability to fine-tune seating rules for specific events — without needing separate charts.
Example:
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Your seating chart is set to allow aisle-adjacent single seats.
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But for a sold-out Saturday night show, you want tighter rules.
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Simply override the setting at the event level and switch to prevent all single empty seats, ensuring every seat is sellable.
This gives you the best of both worlds: a default setting that fits most events, with the flexibility to adjust when needed.
How It Works
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The single seat prevention logic only applies to public ticket buyers.
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Admins and box office staff can still select any seat when logged in via the admin portal — so you’ll always maintain full control.
Why It Matters
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Maximize your seat map — fill in those single gaps
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Customize by event type — e.g., looser rules for casual shows, strict enforcement for sellouts
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Improve sales flow — reduce buyer confusion and hesitations
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Keep box office control — staff can always make exceptions when needed
ThunderTix gives you the tools to manage seating logic your way — whether you're running a small comedy club or a 1,500-seat theater.
Let’s get more butts in seats — with fewer gaps, better control, and total flexibility.