Does my event's venue have to be in the GigXchange directory?

No. When you create or edit an event, fill in Venue Location with the town or city, then use the Venue field just below it — that one searches our venue directory as you type, but you are never forced to pick from it.

If the venue is listed, choose it from the results. Your event is then linked to that venue's directory page, and the venue name on your event becomes a link to it. Picked the wrong one? Press Change and search again.

If the venue is not in the directory, keep typing — whatever you write is used as the venue name, exactly as you typed it. Picking from the list does not create new venue pages, and typing a name does not either; it simply labels your event.

If the directory search cannot be reached for a moment, your typed name is still saved, so you can carry on creating the event.

To announce the event to the public once it is booked, see listing a gig in the directory.