How to Get Hot Tickets

We feel your pain: John Tesh is in town and you can't find front-row tickets anywhere. Fret not, because those hard-to-get tickets-- Broadway hits, NCAA playoffs, Wimbledon, even the Olympics--are almost always available if you're willing to invest the time and the money. Here's how to dance the hot ticket tango.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Start with the least expensive ticket source, and move up from there if you have to. Call the venue directly or search one of the two primary online ticketing sources: TicketMaster.com or Tickets.com. You might get lucky.
2. See if anybody in your town is trying to unload his or her choice seats at a reasonable price. Get today's local paper and look under "Tickets" in the classifieds section. Local online classifieds are a good source as well. Nonbroker bids on eBay.com with FedEx delivery is another possible way to go, but it's not without risk. (See How to Use Online Auction Sites.)
3. Now it gets more expensive, because you'll probably have to go through a ticket broker--a fast-talking dealer who hires people to stand in line for prime tickets or buys them from season ticketholders, then resells them at considerably higher rates. (Technically, this is illegal in most states, but it's rarely prosecuted.) The two major broker Web sites are WebTickets.com and TicketsNow.com. If you go to eBay.com and click on eBay Stores and then click on "Tickets," you'll find dozens of other ticket broker Web sites.
4. Check out online concierge services, a route few people know about. They specialize in obtaining premium seats for sold-out events. Expect to pay top dollar for the service. Check out such sites as ManhattanConcierge.com and Concierge Services of Atlanta (csoa.com).
5. Arrive at the event early if you're desperate, with plenty of cash in hand to buy tickets from a scalper--essentially a tax-free ticket broker sans office. If the price is too high, wait until the show is about to start: Scalpers still holding tickets at the last minute will usually unload them at very reduced rates.

What to Look For:

• Primary ticket providers
• Local newspaper or online ads
• Online ticket brokers
• Online and hotel concierge services
• Scalpers

Tips & Warnings

• If you're staying at a hotel, ask the concierge to assist you with finding hard-to-get tickets. Be sure to tip well for the service. (See How to Tip Properly.)
• Although it's illegal in most circumstances to resell tickets at higher than their face value, it's not illegal to purchase them.
• Beware of counterfeit tickets, particularly from scalpers. It's very tough to distinguish the fakes from the real thing.