There are multiple ways to start or end your participant registration. We recommend the following:
For the payment methods (Configuration > Attendee Registration > Methods of payment): set the start date in the past and the end date far in the future. If Converia is handling your ticketing, you don’t have to worry about it.
Now set the real registration start and deadline in Configuration > Attendee Registration > Configuration. Don’t forget to check the box “Activate attendee registration”.
If you want to end your participant registration ahead of the deadline, adjust the registration deadline or uncheck the box “Activate attendee registration”.
How to start/end the registration and what to be careful of is described in the manual: Attendee Registration Activation