A trial lets someone book one class from a course (term) schedule on its own — free or at a price you set — without enrolling in the whole course. Trials are separate from drop-ins: you control how many trials each person can have, who is allowed to book one, and trial bookings are marked on the class roll.
Step 1: Set your studio's trial rules
Go to Studio Profile > Studio Settings > Trials, set the options below and click Save Changes.
Trials per person (1–100, default 1) — the total number of trials each person can book at your studio, across all classes. The account holder and each child on the account are counted separately. Cancelled trials don't count; attended trials and no-shows do.
Who can book a trial:
Anyone — only the per-person limit applies.
Not already enrolled in the course — someone who already has an active booking in that course can't book a trial in it.
New students only — someone who has ever had a (non-trial) class booking at your studio can't book a trial.
Roll emoji (default 🌟) — shown on the class roll next to anyone booked as a trial.
Trials category — the class category where students find trial classes (see Step 3). If you haven't set one, it shows Created on first use.
Step 2: Turn on trials for a course schedule
Trials are switched on per schedule, and only for Term (course) classes. When creating or editing a course schedule:
Switch on Allow trials.
Leave Free on for a free trial, or switch it off and enter a Trial price.
Set Trials open until (required) — class dates on or before this date can be booked as a trial. It can't be later than the term end date.
Trials don't change how the course is sold — the class still shows its normal course and drop-in options everywhere else.
Step 3: The Trials category
The first time you save a schedule with trials on, Groovio sets up your Trials category automatically — it uses an existing category called Trials if you have one, otherwise it creates one. You can choose a different category in Studio Profile > Studio Settings > Trials. In your categories list it has a Trials badge.
The Trials category automatically lists every class with trials open, showing only the dates up to each schedule's Trials open until date. You don't need to add classes to it yourself.
How students book a trial
Students can book trials in the Groovio app or on your booking website — it works the same way in both.
On your studio's class schedule, students tap or select the Trials category. Classes open for trials are shown as a Trial Class with the trial price (or Free), and a Book trial button (or Full when there are no spots).
They choose who the trial is for — themselves or one of their children — and see how many trials that person has left.
A free trial is booked straight away. A paid trial is paid by card only — wallet balance, packages, memberships, discount codes and payment plans can't be used.
If your studio requires waivers, PAR-Q or a goal questionnaire, students are asked to complete them as part of booking the trial, just like a normal booking.
A trial books that single class only, not the whole course. It can't be booked once the class has started, or if the class is full. The class's age limits and tag booking restrictions still apply.
You can also send someone straight to a trial: on a class date that's open for trials, use the Trial share button to share a trial link for that date.
Booking a trial for a student (staff)
When you add a student to a class date that's open for trials, tick Book as trial (single class, counts toward the trial limit). Choose who it's for under Booked For. For a paid trial, charge the student's saved card, use their wallet, or record cash, EFTPOS or another payment method, then click Book trial.
Staff bookings count toward the person's trial limit, and the limit can't be overridden. Unlike students, staff can add a trial to a class that has already started (for example, while taking the roll).
Seeing trials on the roll
Trial bookings show your Roll emoji next to the student's name in the class's student list, and the class list export includes a Trial column. Trial bookings are also labelled Trial in the student's activity log.
Cancellations, make-ups and moves
Cancelling: cancel a trial with Cancel Booking (marking a single date as not attending isn't available for trials). A cancelled trial no longer counts toward the person's limit, so they can book another.
No make-ups: trials never issue a make-up credit, even if the course has make-ups turned on.
Moving a trial: if you move a trial booking to another class, it stays a trial and doesn't use up another trial.
No enrolment fees: term enrolment fees aren't charged on trials.
Course completion: a trial isn't treated as completing the course, so it won't trigger course-completed automated messages.