# Workflow Action: Set Event Start Date

The Event Start Date action allows you to build automation around a specific date & time. Once you set the Event Start Date, the items in that workflow can be sent in relation to that day and time using the 'before' and ‘after’ actions. This is useful for sending out reminders for both in-person and online events with a set time for the entire group of leads (e.g webinars, conferences, etc.) Or, maybe you want to schedule something in My Cool Brand to occur after the event, such as sending out a follow-up email.  Follow these steps to learn how to customize your Workflows using the Event Start Date.

{% embed url="<https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wIA_L0F5CzUY2j3dbibQobCZFwI1jBKfQIPHc6LVnxKlfhdh7KjaBXSY2xsJEpADjiAf8INDrA0G_y1Sm_ulMvGd7zJaS6QI59BekwuL-tlbiOgyGhmIFHbfp0al_acPFNVm6sVJsGR6PZGf2r1fBHs>" %}

**Step 1: Add the Event Start Date Action in the Workflow**

* Navigate into the particular Workflow you want to edit.
* Add an action using the +
* Choose “Set Event Start Date” and customize the action.
  * For the type, you can choose Custom Field, Specific Date/Time, or Specific Day
* Select the option you wish to use, fill out the custom field or the date/time information, and Save Action to add this to your Workflow.

{% embed url="<https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JiJJ_a0xetLCLAZnS2FDZDPaNJ4aUj2s4BWYFcS4ACp4ZcS-FEy_TMljjJOqj34KZ0N0JtpFRpau3hTph6ymQWZPxGECTTeLO2AmrU2Up5hMrk4jmE_8sJZgIq5jV30PhB6gvcEva6vBbzfglYap2f0>" %}

**Step 2: Set up the Wait / Appointments action.**

* Add a “Wait” action within the Workflow.
* Use “Appointment Time” and set up the “Until” section with **before** or **after** X number of days/hours/minutes.

{% embed url="<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GwaKW287G9c8i77W1Xr_l0dayKLaz0CLaY_aUoaw7kFHnPednfAYctpgLaIaA_L7xjMdkLOahZtgSmS7CEbOiXcxI4IVNlQyByhxz_rXw3G-aI9oiq95igQhZMoiyK2SReYA8tmVB6mBZy7xpBYwFqA>" %}

* If you set this to 2, as shown below, it will wait and send off the action 2 days before the scheduled Event Start Date.

{% embed url="<https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZhjC6vfm3RhZeUPtuRAjrxetVYOHjUaX-8YgHnMq3EJm0i3kPCwrApC5tK8SJTIZSl9mlwT7NmA3h3iBM_C_CPy57sZ1RnUkggbqYXagQKiQ9j0ba5eTSVvHF4eTBRs4sZG93NL09rY-51o17rCPJ1Q>" %}

* Save to confirm any changes you’ve made.

**NOTE:** This action is repeatable within the workflow.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://software-help-docs.gitbook.io/knowledge-base/software-guide/workflow-actions/workflow-action-set-event-start-date.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
