Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 1, 2025

ErieShows ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website at www.erieshows.com (the "Service"). By using the Service, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to provide and improve the Service. The types of information we may collect include:

• Personal Information:
  • Account Information: When you create an account (via email/password or Google OAuth), we collect your name, email address, and, if applicable, profile information provided by Google.
  • Event Submissions: When you post an event, we collect details such as event title, category, genre, venue, date, time, price, description, and any uploaded images.
  • Payment Information: For premium memberships processed via Stripe, we collect billing information (e.g., name, email, and payment method details). Stripe handles payment data directly, and we store only a Stripe customer ID for subscription management.
• Usage Data:
  • Interactions: We collect data on your interactions with the Service, such as events you RSVP to ("Going," "Interested," "Not Going"), comments you post, events you save, and likes you give.
  • Browsing Data: We collect information about your browsing activity, including pages visited, search queries, and event categories/genres/venues selected.
• Third-Party Data:
  • Weather Data: We fetch weather information for Erie, PA, from OpenWeatherMap to display in event modals.
  • Location Data: When viewing events in map view, we use Google Maps to geocode venue addresses. We do not collect your precise location unless you explicitly provide it (e.g., via browser permissions).
• Device and Technical Data:
  • We collect information about your device, such as IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers, to optimize the Service and ensure security.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information to:

• Provide the Service: Display event listings, process RSVPs, allow event posting, and enable commenting and liking.
• Personalize Your Experience: Recommend events based on your interests, browsing history, and RSVP activity.
• Process Payments: Facilitate premium membership subscriptions via Stripe.
• Enhance Features: Display weather information, plot events on maps, and show events in calendar or grid views.
• Communicate: Send you updates about your account, event RSVPs, or subscription status (e.g., payment confirmations).
• Improve the Service: Analyze usage patterns to enhance functionality and user experience.
• Ensure Security: Detect and prevent fraud, unauthorized access, or abuse of the Service.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information as follows:

• Third-Party Service Providers:
  • Google OAuth: For authentication, we share limited data with Google as per their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
  • Stripe: For payment processing, we share billing information with Stripe, governed by their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
  • OpenWeatherMap: We send location data (Erie, PA coordinates) to fetch weather information, subject to their Terms and Privacy Policy.
  • Google Maps: We send venue addresses to geocode locations for map display, subject to Google’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
  • Cloudflare: For security and performance, we use Cloudflare, which may process device and technical data, subject to their Terms and Privacy Policy.
• Publicly Shared Content: Comments, event submissions, and RSVPs may be visible to other users. For example, your event posts and comments will display your name or username.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information to comply with legal obligations, respond to government requests, or protect our rights, property, or safety.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies (e.g., local storage) to enhance your experience and provide the Service. These include:

• Essential Cookies: Maintain your session (e.g., keeping you logged in) and are necessary for the Service to function.
• Preferences Cookies: Store settings (e.g., theme preferences) to personalize your experience.
• Analytics Cookies: Track usage (e.g., page views, event interactions) to improve the Service, set by us or third parties like Google Maps and Cloudflare.
• Advertising Cookies: Enable targeted ads (e.g., via ad banners), set by third-party ad networks if applicable.
• Local Storage: Stores data such as payment session IDs (e.g., for Stripe subscriptions) to facilitate transactions.

When you first visit our site, a cookie banner will ask for your consent to use non-essential cookies (e.g., analytics, advertising). You can accept, reject, or customize your preferences. You may also manage cookies via your browser settings, but disabling essential cookies may affect functionality. To change your cookie preferences or withdraw consent, revisit the cookie banner via the Privacy Settings link in the footer.

Third-party services (e.g., Google Maps, Stripe, Cloudflare) may set cookies for analytics or functionality, as described in Section 3. For details on their practices, see their respective privacy policies.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information, such as encryption for data transmission and secure storage. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your information:

• Access and Update: You can view and update your account information via your profile settings.
• Delete: You can delete your account by contacting us at support@erieshows.com. Note that some data (e.g., public comments or event posts) may remain visible to others.
• Opt-Out: You can opt out of promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in those emails or contacting us.
• Subscription Management: Premium members can manage their subscriptions via the "Manage Subscription" link in the footer.
• California Residents (CCPA): If you are a California resident, you have the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. While we do not sell your personal information in the traditional sense, certain data sharing with third parties (e.g., via analytics or advertising cookies) may be considered a "sale" under CCPA. To opt out, click the "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link in the footer or reject non-essential cookies via the cookie banner. You may also request access to or deletion of your data by contacting us.

If you are in certain jurisdictions (e.g., EU/EEA under GDPR), you may have additional rights, such as data portability or the right to restrict processing. Contact us to exercise these rights.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Cookies and local storage data have varying retention periods: essential cookies expire when you close your browser, while analytics and advertising cookies and local storage (e.g., payment session IDs) may persist for up to 12 months or until deleted. We may retain certain data (e.g., event posts, comments) after account deletion for operational or legal purposes, unless you request deletion.

8. Third-Party Links

The Service contains links to third-party websites (e.g., Facebook, Stripe, Google). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their privacy policies before providing information.

9. Children’s Privacy

The Service is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have such information, please contact us to have it removed.

10. International Data Transfers

The Service is operated in the United States. If you are outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and processed in the U.S., where data protection laws may differ. By using the Service, you consent to this transfer.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

• Email: support@erieshows.com
• Social Media: Facebook