To identify customers who are 'First Timers' within a specific time frame, follow these easy steps. 

NOTE: If you are looking for a quick count of First Time customers by calendar year, run the CRM Summary report.

What is the question I am asking? 
How many customers attended my venue for the first time in the financial year ending 2017 (1 April 2016 - 31 March 2017?

How to answer my question in VS. Create a segment of customers that INCLUDES people who have attended within a specific date range and EXCLUDES anyone within that segment who has attended before the date range, resulting in a segment of first time attenders.

Finding the answer:

1. Create a new segment called 'First Timers FY2017'

2. In the first tab, Events Customers Attended, tick the PERF DATE range and choose the date period  you are looking to analyse. In this case, 1 April 2106 - 31 March 2017.

3. In the third tab, Filter by Customer's Attributes, select the option for Data Capture to ensure you are only including customer accounts where there is data. 

NOTE: At this stage, you might also want to use any data protection or marketing preference filters if you are planning to use the segment for mailings.

4. click Save & Count to find the number of customers who have attended a performance within your date range and have data in their record. 

5. Click BACK which takes you to the homepage for the segment. Now create another criteria to EXCLUDE customers who have attended previously.

6. Click on the REMOVE FROM SELECTION tab and click New Criteria 

7. In the first tab, Events Customers Attended, create a performance date range that will capture any previous attendances BEFORE the date range you are analysing. In this case, 1 Jan 1990 to 31 March 2016. Click SAVE & COUNT to get the number of customer who fit these criteria and go BACK to the segment homepage.

8. On the segment homepage, click Refresh Segment - this will give a count of customers who attended within the required date range (1 Apr 16 - 31 Mar 17) and did not attend before those dates. These are the First Timers in FY 2017.