How to Buy Concert Tickets

Buying concert tickets online beats standing in line for hours. However, online tickets cost extra with fees and shipping charges. Ticket brokers often buy large blocks of tickets to high-demand concerts, which makes it even harder to buy tickets individually. Determine the best method to buy your concert tickets after reading these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine when tickets go on sale. Either call the venue or check online ticket sales websites. Watch free weekly publications for local live music information, and visit band websites to check their tour information.

2. Find out if the venue sells ticket over the phone or online. Call the venue as soon as possible before the ticket sale date. Generally, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m.

3. Go online a few minutes prior to the ticket sale. Start at the venue website, followed by Ticketmaster. Visit the venue in-person to eliminate charges such as shipping or other handling fees.

4. Check Craigslist, newspaper classifieds, and other online user-to-user sales areas for sold out concert tickets. Some bands host message boards where fans exchange tickets.

5. Contact a ticket broker for hard-to-find concert tickets. Expect to pay more than face value.

Tips & Warnings

• At the ticket sale time, call the venue and visit Ticketmaster's website to find tickets online at the same time.
• For sold out shows, check periodically for available tickets. Venues sometimes hold blocks of tickets until a few weeks prior to large-scale events.
• For major concerts, find out if parking is included in the ticket cost.
• People sell counterfeit tickets online. Watch out for ticket authenticity with non-approved individuals or brokers.
• Tickets purchased after market (from brokers or user-to-user sales) are usually void in the event of a concert cancellation. Refunds are generally not available.

Resources

• Ticketmaster for online ticket sales and concert information
• Poll Star for concert listings and live music resources
• Craigslist for user-to-user concert ticket sales

[isalante]

on 6/15/2009 I like using Ticketstumbler.com and Tickex.com. Both sides let you compare multiple ticket providers (e.g. Stubhub, Razorgator, Ticketsnow, etc) at the same time.

[eventfan]

on 12/28/2008 I have had great experience using ticketloot.com

i thinl they are probably among the xheapest of online ticket brokers.

[aliber]

on 12/12/2007 Ticketmaster is always sold out of the better seats so I get my tickets from a ticket broker and i will never buy from ebay again(got ripped off)I use www.frontrowusa.com
and i get the best service and no worries.

[JRIngrisano]

on 12/8/2007 Excellent suggestions. Ticketmaster has a monopoly that drives up ticket prices. It has been my experience that the minute tickets go on sale online, 100% of the good seats are already gone, brokered in advance.

In addition to your great recommendations, I would suggest buying double the number of tickets you need from Ticketmaster (but only to hot hot hot events) and then offering them yourself. If you do it right, you can get to go free. Of course, if you end up holding the bag, you could lose a lot of money.