Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from derby organizers about setup, ticketing, event-day support, and more.
Fit & Scope
- Does SimpleDerby work for any kind of fishing derby?
- Yes. We've supported saltwater salmon derbies, lake trout derbies, ice-fishing events, and freshwater club derbies — single-day and multi-day, with a few dozen anglers up through multiple thousand. Because every setup is built around your event, the categories, prize structures, and rules can match whatever your derby actually does, rather than what a generic platform supports.
- Our derby has unusual categories, divisions, or prize rules — can your platform handle it?
- That's exactly the situation we're built for. Our portals aren't a generic template; we gather the specifics of your event up front and configure the system and workflow around them. Complex category structures, youth/adult divisions, side contests, mystery-fish prizes, and multi-species scoring are all things we've set up for past derbies.
Setup & Onboarding
- What does the setup process look like?
- It starts with a planning conversation where we learn how your derby runs — registration, ticket sales, rules, weigh-in process, prize categories, leaderboard rules. From there our team builds your portal and ticketing setup, and we walk you through it before the event opens. You don't need to be technical; we handle the build, you tell us how your derby works.
- How far in advance do we need to start?
- The earlier the better, but we've turned setups around in a few days when needed and practical. A typical timeline is a month or two before ticket sales open, which gives us time to dial in the details and gives you time to promote the event.
Ticketing
- Where do tickets get sold — our website, Facebook, both?
- Both. Tickets are sold through our system, which you can link to from your event website, your Facebook page, or a QR code. All sales and attendee data flow into your portal in one place — you don't need a separate e-commerce setup.
- Can we still sell paper tickets in person?
- Yes. Plenty of derbies run a mix — online sales plus paper tickets at local shops, weigh-in stations, or sponsor locations. Your portal allows manual entry of paper tickets so you have a single view of who's entered.
- How do refunds, transfers, or weather cancellations work?
- We handle the technical side of refunds and ticket transfers through your portal, and we'll work with you on a cancellation/rain-date policy that fits your event. The exact refund terms depend on the situation. Some credit card fees and custom work may not be refundable, but we'll work with you towards the best possible outcome.
Event Day & Support
- What kind of support do we get on event day?
- Our team is available throughout your event to help with anything that comes up — weigh-in entries, leaderboard updates, last-minute changes. Past organizers have specifically called out that our setup and support let their volunteers focus on the event itself instead of wrestling with spreadsheets.
- What if the weigh-in location has bad cell service or no internet?
- To get the most out of the system, weigh-in stations enter data in real time. We used to offer an offline mode, but modern cellular and satellite devices have made it unnecessary for the events we've supported. If cell service at your location is unreliable, we recommend testing it ahead of time and having a backup plan in place.
Data & Pricing
- Who owns the registration and ticketing data, and can we export it?
- Your data is yours. After the event you can export your attendee list, ticket sales, and results in CSV formats so you can use them for sponsor reports, newsletters, or planning next year's derby.
- How much does it cost?
- You can find a full breakdown of our plans, features, and rates directly on our pricing page. If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out!
- Do you offer a discount for charitable causes?
- Yes! Verified 501(c)(3) organizations receive a discount. See our pricing page for details.
Start Planning Today
Connect with us to begin crafting your next unforgettable derby event — and follow along on social for updates, new features, and tips for organizers.