How to Buy Concert Tickets

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Categories: How Tos

  • Need help with finding tickets to the big show? Check out our guide on How to Buy Concert Tickets and you'll be on your way in no time.

  • Introduction

    • It doesn't matter if you're 15 years old or 70. Attending a live concert performance can be a thrilling experience. Whether it's your favorite rock band, a classical symphony orchestra or the hottest new Broadway musical, concerts are a great way to see your favorite performers live and in person. But wanting to go to a concert is only half the battle. Next you need to find and buy tickets. Unfortunately it's not always as easy as it sounds. Follow the tips in this guide, and you'll be rocking out in the front row in no time!

  • Find A Concert

    • Obviously, the first thing that you'll need to do is to find a concert worth going to. Everyone has their own tastes and their own ways of finding out about concerts in their area, so if you have a favorite method, go to it! If you're someone who has trouble finding good concerts and are always the last to know about great shows, try some of these:
    1. Read the Live Music section of your local newspaper. They should have up-to-date listings of what bands are playing at venues in your area.
    2. Check out your favorite band's Official Site and MySpace page for tour updates and venue information. If possible, sign up for an email alert when tickets are available for shows in your area.
    3. Listen to the radio. You favorite music stations will usually have reports on upcoming shows, both on the air and on their websites.
    4. If you enjoy classical music, check out the website Meet the Music which gives you information on orchestras in your area.
    5. Keep your ears to the ground. Talk to your friends about what shows they are looking forward to.

  • Concert Search Applications

    1. iConcertCal: Syncs with your iTunes music library and automatically creates a calender of concerts in your area (of artists in your playlist).
    2. iLike (and Facebook App): Allows you to get notices when there are concerts in your area, and see if any of your friends are going.
    3. Major ticket selling sites, such as Ticketmaster and Pollstar, allow you to sign up for free event and venue notifications in your area.

  • Buy Tickets From the Venue

    • Your first option should always be to contact the venue that's hosting the concert. They often have a number of tickets available at face value, meaning that you don't have to pay the exorbitant surcharges that many ticket websites add on to the cost of the ticket.
    1. Call the venue to see when tickets will be available for purchase (most ticket sales start at 10am).
    2. Ask if they process ticket orders by phone, online, or at the box office only.
    3. If they offer phone or online sales, contact them as soon as the tickets become available.
    4. If the venue doesn't allow online or phone purchases, go directly to the venue box office on the date tickets become available.
    5. Some classical, jazz and world music presenters offer subscription tickets or member discounts. Subscriptions require you to buy tickets for multiple concerts at one time, but give you a substantial discount in return. Memberships cost more, but members are often given the best seats in the house and can buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

  • Tips & Warnings

      • Buying tickets directly from the box office usually means that you don't have to pay any shipping or processing fees.
      • Even if a show is sold out, many venues will release "house" seats as the date of the concert draws nearer. "House" seats are seats set aside by the venue for the press, VIPs and the artist. If any of these go unclaimed, they will be put on sale. Call the box office and ask whether the venue intends to release any "house" seats and, if so, when.
      • People who have purchased more tickets than they need will sometimes return them to the box office. (If the concert is being presented by a non-profit organization, they receive a tax credit for donating the ticket back.) On the day of the show, let the box office attendant know that you are interested in a ticket if one becomes available.
      • If a show is really popular, you may have to wait in a long line to purchase tickets at the box office. In these cases, it is good to get there well before the time tickets become available.
      • It can sometimes be hard to reach a real person when calling a venue directly.

  • Buy Tickets Online

    • If you don't want to deal with the time and hassle involved in going directly to the venue, there are plenty of ways in which you can research and purchase concert tickets from the comfort of your own home. As more and more people gain access to computers, the Internet has become one of the most popular ways to buy concert tickets.
    1. Start by picking a show you want to attend.
    2. Figure out when the show is and where it will be held.
    3. Contact the venue to find out which of the major online ticket vendors (see Resources below) is the primary vendor of their tickets.
    4. Go to their website and enter the name of the artist into the search box.
    5. Search through the list of upcoming shows to find the one you are looking for.
    6. Click on the "Find Tickets" or "Purchase" button.
    7. Choose the amount of tickets you want and the section you want to sit in (if available).
    8. Choose your delivery option.
      • Ticket sites usually charge more for quicker mail shipping.
      • Some will let you download and print out your tickets for a small fee.
    9. Fill out all of your personal and billing information and click on the "Submit Order" button.
    10. Write down you confirmation code and print out a copy of your receipt.
    11. If you chose the printable ticket option, an email will usually be sent to your mailbox with a link to download the ticket. The email should also have your reference number on it.
    12. If you chose traditional mail as your delivery method, you should receive your tickets in the mail based on which delivery speed option you chose.
    13. If you chose the "will call" option, you can pick up your tickets at the venue on the night of the show and avoid paying delivery charges altogether.
    14. Get your tickets and go!

  • Tips & Warnings

      • To improve your chances of getting tickets to a popular show, find out the exact time that tickets go on sale and make sure your are at your computer and ready when they do.
      • Increase your chances of getting in-demand tickets by having a few of your friends also try to purchase tickets online. When one is successful, have them buy tickets for everybody and tell everyone else to stop trying.
      • Online ticket vendors will usually tack on large processing and convenience fees, adding to the total cost of your ticket.
      • If a show you have purchased tickets for is canceled, refunds and exchanges are usually handled by the venue, rather than the ticket vendor.
      • Some vendors may have limits on the amount of tickets you can purchase.

  • Major Online Ticket Vendors

  • Buy From A Ticket Broker

    • Okay. So you've exhausted all of your resources, and you still can't find a ticket. The venue is sold of out tickets, Ticketmaster doesn't have any, and the ticket your sister promised you is going to her new boyfriend. But don't worry. All is not lost! This is where Ticket Brokers come in. Let's start with the basics:
      • Question: What is a Ticket Broker?
      • Answer: A Ticket Broker is an entity (either an organization or an individual) that buys up large quantities of tickets from the primary vendor and then re-sells them to people at a marked-up price.
    • Although dealing with a Ticket Broker can often be a hit or miss proposition, for those who just have to see a certain concert, there aren't really many other sure-fire options. Here are some tips and instructions on how to confidently buy concert tickets from a ticket broker:

  • Find a Reputable Broker

    • The best way to avoid getting scammed by an unscrupulous ticket broker is to only deal with ones that are reputable and established. Here are some tips on evaluating a broker's reputation:
    1. Only deal with brokers that are members of the National Association of Ticket Brokers, a group that regulates standards and ethics within the industry.
    2. Check with the Better Business Bureau to find out if they are registered, and if so, whether or not they have any formal complaints lodged against them.
    3. Look at their website. Is the name of the owner or manager that runs the site clearly labeled, with a office address, contact email and 1-800 number? Anonymous, faceless websites are a good sign that a broker is out to scam you.
    4. Find out whether or not they offer any sort of guarantee on their services, such as a 100% money back guarantee.
    5. Look for an icon that indicates that the website offers secure payment options (i.e. Hacker Safe, Verisign Secure or BBB Reliability Program).
    6. Ask your friends and family what ticket brokers they've used in the past and whether they had a good experience.

  • Tips & Warnings

      • Since the market value of the tickets may change drastically over the few weeks before the show, try to wait until the price is at its lowest.
      • Calling your ticket broker directly can sometimes be a way to negotiate the price of your ticket down further, as well as have them check the availability of tickets for you.
      • If you are looking for tickets to a sold-out concert, be prepared to pay more than face value for the tickets. Market Value is what you should expect to pay.
      • Once you've bought your tickets, don't check the prices again. You'll just get angry at yourself if they happen to go down.

  • Ticket Brokers

  • Alternative Ticket Buying Methods

    • Besides the three methods discussed above, there are a few other alternatives that you can try to use to find tickets:
    1. If you are looking for tickets to a particular band's concert, try joining their fan club or signing up for a mailing list. Bands will often make pre-sale tickets available to members of their fan club.
    2. Try looking for tickets on Craigslist. People who have more tickets than they need, or who have decided not to go to the concert, will often re-sell their tickets online. Be cautious, though. Make sure that the seller is legitimate so you don't get ripped off.
    3. Use eBay Tickets to search for and bid on seats to the concert you're interested in. Since tickets are sold by auction and given to the highest bidder, you may be able to get them for below market value. You may also end up paying more, so be careful.
    4. Buying seats from ticket scalpers is always an option, though not always the most pleasant. They can usually be found selling tickets in front of major concert venues and will try to get as much for their tickets as possible. Use your bargaining skills. Always try multiple scalpers to see who will give you the best deal.
    5. While this one is definitely a long shot, radio stations will often run contests in which the prizes are tickets to a popular concert. I know, I know, you never win anything. But hey, if you're desperate, you'll try anything.

  • Conclusion

    • Everyone remembers the first concert they went to. Whether it was the Spice Girls at Madison Square Garden or The Three Tenors at the Metropolitan Opera, the intensity and magic of a great live concert has the ability to remind you of why you love music in the first place. And although getting tickets to a popular show can sometimes be a pain, the experience you have will more than make up for the time and money you spent getting there. So: shop wisely, buy confidently, and most of all, have a great time!

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