Festivals

ESSENCE Festival

WRSTBND works with ESSENCE Festival in our hometown of New Orleans to make sure everything runs smoothly for one of the world’s largest cultural celebrations.

The Story

01.

The Client

ESSENCE Festival is a legendary celebration of Black culture and community, held every year in New Orleans. Known for its incredible performances, empowering conversations, and vibrant energy, it brings together hundreds of thousands of attendees across multiple venues for an unforgettable experience.

02.

The Challenge

With massive crowds and multiple venues, ESSENCE Festival needed a system that could handle a lot—credentialing for staff and performers, registration for attendees, and secure access at over 50 entry points. From NFC passes to mobile wallet registrations, everything had to work together to keep the festival running and the experience top-notch.

03.

The Results

For the past five years, WRSTBND has helped ESSENCE Festival handle it all. We’ve issued 38,000+ credentials, 90,000+ digital passes, and processed 175,000+ scans each year, making sure everyone—whether backstage or in the audience—had the right access. From managing backstage credentials to creating mobile wallet passes for attendees, we’ve been proud to support ESSENCE Festival

Event Stats at a Glance

38,000+ Credentials Issued

90,000+ Digital Passes Distributed

175,000+ Scans Processed Annually

Image Gallery

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"WRSTBND did more than just say 'we're going to process your tickets.' They said we're going to figure out how to sell more tickets, how to make more money, and we're going to show you the revenue in live time."

Rob DeViney

COO, City Park

"We could not ask for a better partner in WRSTBND! We were looking to elevate the experience for our guests, all while collecting data to make our business more efficient – and they’ve delivered time and time again. Any curveball we throw them, they’ve been able to work with us to figure out a solution. From wild and crazy credential access rules, to ticket swaps, to POS meal voucher scenarios, they’ve got us covered. They are simply the best!"

Michelle Eifler

Director, Partner Relations & Business Integration, Farmers Insurance Open

"Working with WRSTBND has been a game-changer for our events. Their technology streamlines access control and attendee tracking, making the entire process seamless for both our team and our attendees. The support team is always responsive and proactive, ensuring we maximize the value of their services. It's a pleasure partnering with a vendor who truly understands the needs of large-scale conferences."

Dylan Ashley

Manager, PCMA

"The team at WRSTBND is so responsive to our needs, it's almost as if the platform was built for us! Everyone is a pleasure to work with, the platform is intuitive, and most importantly, it works when you need it."

Ryan Auhl

Partner, Relentless Beats

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See More of Our Work

WRSTBND supports the world’s best events with powerful, integrated solutions. From global sporting events to massive music festivals, we handle it all—see what we can do for you.