> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fanfare.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Platform Overview > Understanding the key concepts in Fanfare Fanfare is a platform for managing controlled product access through virtual waiting rooms, queues, auctions, draws, and appointments. This guide explains the key concepts you'll work with. ## How Fanfare Works When you launch a high-demand product or event, Fanfare helps you manage the consumer experience by controlling who gets access, when, and how. Platform overview showing consumers entering a Fanfare experience with VIP, general, and waitlist paths before checkout. ## Core Concepts ### Experiences An **Experience** is your product launch, sale event, or access-controlled offering. Think of it as a campaign that groups together everything needed to manage consumer access. Experiences define: * **When it opens and closes** — Control exactly when consumers can participate * **What products are available** — Connect your products to the experience * **How consumers get access** — Through queues, draws, auctions, or other methods [Learn more about Experiences →](/concepts/experiences) ### Distribution Types A **Distribution** is the method that controls how consumers gain access to purchase. Fanfare supports several types: | Type | How It Works | Best For | | ----------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------- | | **Queue** | First-come, first-served line | High-demand launches | | **Draw** | Random lottery selection | Fair allocation of limited items | | **Auction** | Competitive bidding | Unique or collectible items | | **Appointment** | Scheduled time slots | In-store pickups, consultations | | **Timed Release** | Instant access at a set time | Flash sales, member perks | | **Waitlist** | Notify when available | Pre-launch interest, overflow | [Learn more about Distribution Types →](/concepts/distributions/overview) ### Consumers Fanfare tracks your consumers as they participate in experiences. Consumers can be: * **Guests** — Shopping without an account (guest checkout) * **Registered** — Have provided email or phone * **Verified** — Confirmed their identity via email or phone As consumers engage, Fanfare calculates helpful scores: * **Loyalty score** — Based on purchase history and engagement * **Activity level** — Recent engagement patterns [Learn more about Consumers →](/concepts/consumers) ### Audiences An **Audience** is a group of consumers you want to target. Use audiences to create exclusive access for specific groups: * **VIP consumers** — Based on purchase history or loyalty * **Newsletter subscribers** — Synced from your email platform * **Invite lists** — Manually curated for exclusive events [Learn more about Audiences →](/concepts/audiences) ### Products Connect your **Products** to experiences to make them available for purchase. Fanfare supports: * **Variants** — Different sizes, colors, or options * **Inventory tracking** — Optional stock management * **Media assets** — Images and descriptions [Learn more about Products →](/concepts/products) ## The Consumer Journey Here's what a typical consumer experience looks like: Consumer journey showing discovery, participation, access, and purchase. ### Instant Updates Consumers see their status in real time: * Queue position and estimated wait time * Current high bid in auctions * Draw entry confirmation * Countdown to access ## Choosing the Right Approach | Your Situation | Recommended Distribution | Why | | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------ | | More demand than supply, fairness matters | **Queue** | First-come ordering feels fair | | Limited inventory, everyone deserves a chance | **Draw** | Random selection is equitable | | Unique items, price discovery needed | **Auction** | Bidding finds the right price | | Scheduled service or pickup | **Appointment** | Time slots work best | | Quick access at a specific time | **Timed Release** | Simple, instant access | | Building interest before launch | **Waitlist** | Capture demand early | ## Next Steps * [Experiences](/concepts/experiences) — Learn how to set up your first experience * [Distribution Types](/concepts/distributions/overview) — Understand each distribution method * [Consumers](/concepts/consumers) — Learn about consumer identity and scoring