diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/app/mailers/user_mailer.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/app/mailers/user_mailer.rb
index 6a5d5ec92..150942542 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/app/mailers/user_mailer.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/app/mailers/user_mailer.rb
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@
         subject = "Session Invitation"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_invitation"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@
         subject = "Session RSVP"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_rsvp"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
         subject = "Session RSVP Approved"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_rsvp_approved"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
         subject = "Session RSVP Cancelled"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_rsvp_cancelled"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@
         subject = "Your Session RSVP Cancelled"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_rsvp_cancelled_org"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@
         subject = "Session Cancelled"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_cancelled"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@
         subject = "Session Rescheduled"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_rescheduled"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@
         subject = "Session Rescheduled"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_reminder"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
         sendgrid_category "Notification"
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
         subject = "New Session Comment"
         unique_args = {:type => "scheduled_session_comment"}
         @body = msg
-        @session_name = session.description
+        @session_name = session.name
         @session_date = session.scheduled_start
         @comment = comment
         @session_url = "#{APP_CONFIG.external_root_url}/sessions/#{session.id}/details"
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/rsvp_request.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/rsvp_request.rb
index 9c1f9da48..a949f9306 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/rsvp_request.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/rsvp_request.rb
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ module JamRuby
       # verify invitation exists for this user and session
       invitation = Invitation.where("music_session_id = ? AND receiver_id = ?", music_session.id, user.id)
 
-      if invitation.blank?
-        raise PermissionError, "Only a session invitee can create an RSVP." 
+      if invitation.blank? && !music_session.open_rsvps
+        raise PermissionError, "Only a session invitee can create an RSVP for this session." 
       end
 
       # verify slot IDs exist in request
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ module JamRuby
         @rsvp.user = user
         
         slot_ids = params[:rsvp_slots]
+
         instruments = []
 
         # for each slot requested, do the following:
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js
index 824e4cd2b..de51572e0 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js
@@ -135,11 +135,11 @@
             });
         }
 
-        function submitRsvpRequest(sessionId) {
+        function submitRsvpRequest(sessionId, slotIds) {
           return $.ajax({
             url: '/api/rsvp_requests',
             type: "POST",
-            data : JSON.stringify({"session_id": sessionId}),
+            data : JSON.stringify({"session_id": sessionId, "rsvp_slots": slotIds}),
             dataType : 'json',
             contentType: 'application/json'
           });
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/rsvpSubmitDialog.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/rsvpSubmitDialog.js
index 1bb5d4a32..2f6c49d00 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/rsvpSubmitDialog.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/rsvpSubmitDialog.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
               var instrumentTitleCase = context.JK.toTitleCase(instrument);
               // var instrumentTitleCase = instrument.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + instrument.substr(1).toLowerCase();
               // var instTitleCase = val.instrument_id.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + context.val.instrument_id.charAt(0)
-              $('.rsvp-instruments', $screen).append('<input type="checkbox" value="' + val.instrument_id + '"/>' + instrumentTitleCase + "<br/>");
+              $('.rsvp-instruments', $screen).append('<input type="checkbox" value="' + val.id + '"/>' + instrumentTitleCase + "<br/>");
             });
           }
           else {
@@ -59,10 +59,22 @@
     }
 
     function events() {
+      $("#btnSubmit").unbind('click');
       $("#btnSubmit").click(function(e) {
-        rest.submitRsvpRequest(sessionId)
+        e.preventDefault();
+        var slotIds = [];
+        $("input:checked", '.rsvp-instruments').each(function(index) {
+          slotIds.push($(this).val());
+        });
+
+        if (slotIds.length === 0) {
+          $('.error', $screen).show();
+          return;
+        }
+
+        var error = false;
+        rest.submitRsvpRequest(sessionId, slotIds)
           .done(function(response) {
-            
             var comment = $.trim($('#txtComment', $screen).val());
             if (comment.length > 0) {
               rest.addSessionInfoComment(sessionId, comment)
@@ -70,15 +82,22 @@
 
                 })
                 .fail(function(xhr) {
-
+                  error = true;
+                  $('.error', $screen).html("Unexpected error occurred while saving message (" + xhr.status + ")");
+                  $('.error', $screen).show();
                 });
             }
-
-            app.layout.cDialog('rsvp-submit-dialog');
           })
           .fail(function(xhr) {
-
+            error = true;
+            $('.error', $screen).html("Unexpected error occurred while saving RSVP request (" + xhr.status + ")");
+            $('.error', $screen).show();
           });
+
+          if (!error) {
+            app.layout.closeDialog('rsvp-submit-dialog');
+            $("#btnSubmit").trigger("rsvpSubmitEvent");
+          }
       });
     }
 
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/scheduled_session.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/scheduled_session.js
index ff3792ede..857b47e02 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/scheduled_session.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/scheduled_session.js
@@ -92,6 +92,10 @@
           $("#txtSessionComment").blur();
         }
       });
+
+      $(document).on("rsvpSubmitEvent", function() {
+        location.reload();
+      });
     }
     
     this.initialize = initialize;
diff --git a/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss b/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss
index 92d551f31..1610a3345 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss
+++ b/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ input[type="text"], input[type="password"]{
 }
 
 .error input {
-    background-color:#Fadfd1 !important;
+    background-color:#fadfd1 !important;
     margin-bottom:5px;
 }
 
diff --git a/web/app/views/clients/_rsvpSubmitDialog.html.haml b/web/app/views/clients/_rsvpSubmitDialog.html.haml
index 49e7b2d9c..cbd69287d 100644
--- a/web/app/views/clients/_rsvpSubmitDialog.html.haml
+++ b/web/app/views/clients/_rsvpSubmitDialog.html.haml
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@
     %br/
     %span.schedule-recurrence
     %br/
-    %br/        
+    %br/
     %span.slot-instructions Check the box(es) next to the track(s) you want to play in the session:
+    .error{:style => 'display:none'} You must select at least 1 instrument.
     .rsvp-instruments
     %br/
     Enter a message to the other musicians in the session (optional):
diff --git a/web/spec/features/session_info_spec.rb b/web/spec/features/session_info_spec.rb
index 5de1dbb88..be3d56755 100644
--- a/web/spec/features/session_info_spec.rb
+++ b/web/spec/features/session_info_spec.rb
@@ -60,5 +60,13 @@ describe "Session Info", :js => true, :type => :feature, :capybara_feature => tr
   it "should allow only RSVP approvals or session invitees to add comments" do
   end
 
+  it "should show Submit RSVP button and launch submit dialog if user has not RSVPed" do
+  end
+
+  it "should show Cancel RSVP button and launch cancel dialog if user has RSVPed" do
+  end
+
+  it "should show no call to action button if user has not RSVPed and all slots are taken" do
+  end
 
 end
\ No newline at end of file