What are Event Credentials?

Credentials (also called passes or laminates) are the passes, wristbands and badges issued to accredited people at an event, showing who they are and which restricted areas and days they can access. Security staff check them at every zone entry.

How credentials work

Credentials are the final step of accreditation:

  1. Design: each pass type gets a colour or number for its access zones, plus security features that make copying hard.
  2. Production: passes are printed with names or produced as blank stock for each category.
  3. Issue: people collect them at an accreditation desk with photo ID, or the tour manager collects them for the whole party.
  4. Checking: stewards and security check credentials at each zone and scan barcodes or RFID chips where used.

Matching the right pass to the right person is easier when every request and approval is tracked, which is why festivals often manage accreditations in Crescat.

Credentials vs accreditation

Accreditation is the process of approving who gets access. Credentials are the physical or digital passes that result from it. You are accredited, then you wear a credential.

Common types of credentials

  • Laminates: durable printed passes on a lanyard, used by touring crews and artists
  • Wristbands: fabric, plastic or paper bands that can't be passed on once fitted
  • Badges: printed name badges, common at conferences
  • Stickers: one-day passes, such as after-show or guest passes
  • Digital passes: QR codes or RFID chips scanned at entry points
  • Vehicle passes: dashboard passes for parking and delivery areas

Frequently asked questions

What is a laminate?

A laminate is a hard-wearing pass on a lanyard, usually issued to a touring party for the whole tour. It shows the holder's role and access level, such as AAA (Access All Areas), and is often designed specially for each tour.

What is printed on an event credential?

Most credentials show the event name, the holder's name or category, the zones they can access, the valid dates and a security feature such as a hologram, barcode or unique design. Some also include a photo.

What happens if you lose your credential?

Report it to the accreditation desk straight away. The lost pass is usually cancelled so it can't be used by someone else, and a replacement is issued after an ID check, sometimes for a fee.

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