Text Message Templates for Entertainment Venues (Copy & Paste)
Ready-to-use SMS templates for VR arcades, escape rooms and entertainment venues: reminders, review asks, win-backs, parties and promos, with timing and sending tips.
The best venue text messages are short, specific and written like a person: one reason to open it, one thing to do, and your venue's name up front. Below are copy-and-paste templates for the messages entertainment venues send most, with timing for each. Swap the brackets for your details.
These templates are part of our SMS marketing playbook for entertainment venues.
Before you send anything
- Marketing texts need prior opt-in consent and must include opt-out language. Check the rules for your region with your own counsel.
- Keep it under 160 characters when you can. Longer messages still send, but they split into multiple segments, and one emoji can shrink the per-segment limit to about 70 characters.
- Name the venue first. "Hi Sam, it's [Venue]" beats an anonymous number.
- One link per text. One call to action converts better than two.
[Name] = first name, [Venue] = your venue name, [Time] = session time.
Transactional (no promotion allowed)
Booking confirmation (instantly)
[Venue]: You're booked, [Name]! [Day] at [Time] for [Group size]. Details & waiver: [link]
48-hour confirm (T-48h)
[Venue]: Reminder for [Day] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or R to reschedule.
Day-of logistics (T-3h)
[Venue]: See you at [Time]! Arrive 10 min early, wear closed-toe shoes. Parking: [tip]. Waiver done? [link]
Waiver nudge (T-24h, if unsigned)
[Venue]: Quick one, [Name] — 3 of your group still need to sign the waiver before [Day]: [link]
Reviews and referrals
Post-visit thank-you + review ask (~24 hours after)
[Venue]: Thanks for playing, [Name]! If you had fun, a quick Google review helps us a ton: [link]
Referral nudge (after a 5-star response)
Glad you loved it! Bring a friend and you both get $5 off your next session: [link]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
More on review timing in how to get more Google reviews.
Win-back (60 / 90 days)
60 days
[Venue]: We miss the squad, [Name]! New games just dropped. Book this weekend from $25: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
90 days
[Name], it's been a while! Here's 15% off any session this month: [link] Code: COMEBACK. Reply STOP to opt out.
Beat-your-score (for score-tracking venues)
[Venue]: Your best score on [Game] was [Score]. Think you can beat it? Book a session: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Birthdays and parties
Birthday month
Happy birthday month, [Name]! Book a group session and the birthday guest plays free: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Party inquiry follow-up (same day, then T+2 days)
[Venue]: Thanks for asking about parties, [Name]! Pick your date and we'll hold it for 24 hours: [link]
Party final-details (T-7 days)
[Venue]: Your party is next [Day]! Final headcount & food choices due Friday: [link]
See the full party playbook in birthday party bookings as a profit engine.
Promos and launches
Dead-hour promo (to people who've visited midweek before)
[Venue]: Tuesdays are quiet, so they're cheaper. 2-for-1 sessions 4–7pm this week: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
New game launch (three touches)
- Something new is landing at [Venue] this Friday...
- It's here: [Game]. First look: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
- Weekend slots for [Game] are filling fast: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Holiday gift cards (late November)
[Venue]: Gift cards for the person who has everything. Delivered instantly: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.
No-shows and abandoned bookings
Abandoned checkout (2 hours later)
[Venue]: Still want your [Day] session, [Name]? Your slot is held for 30 more minutes: [link]
No-show recovery (next day)
[Venue]: We missed you yesterday! Your deposit is saved as credit for 14 days: [link]
Timing at a glance
| Message | When |
|---|---|
| Confirmation | Instantly |
| Reminder / confirm | 48 hours and 3 hours before |
| Review ask | About 24 hours after |
| Win-back | 60 and 90 days lapsed |
| Promo / launch | Weekday mid-morning or early evening; never before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local |
| Frequency cap | 1–2 marketing texts a month |
FAQ
How long should a venue text be? Aim for 160 characters or fewer. Longer texts send as multiple segments, which can look broken on some phones and costs more.
Should I use emojis? Sparingly. One can work, but emojis switch the message to a smaller per-segment limit, so a long text with an emoji may split.
Do I need to put "Reply STOP" on every text? On every marketing text, yes. Transactional texts don't need it, but it never hurts to be consistent.
Can I send these without a texting platform? Technically, but it won't scale, and you won't have consent records, STOP handling or quiet-hour controls. Revyn Engine runs these as automations with consent and opt-out tracking built in.
Not sure whether a message should be a text or an email? See SMS vs email marketing for venues.