Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio, that has gained immense popularity over the past decade. The band consists of lead singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. Twenty One Pilots is known for their high-energy live shows, creative music videos, and songs that blend multiple genres like pop, rock, hip hop, and reggae. They have built a massive global fanbase called the “Skeleton Clique” that passionately supports the duo.
Given their fame and dedicated fanbase, Twenty One Pilots concerts routinely sell out quickly. Demand for tickets often far exceeds supply. This article will analyze factors that contribute to Twenty One Pilots’ concerts selling out so rapidly. It will also provide tips for fans hoping to purchase tickets.
Brief History of Twenty One Pilots
Tyler Joseph first created Twenty One Pilots in 2009 as a solo project. The band’s name was inspired by a play Joseph was studying in college called All My Sons, which featured a plot based on a World War II scandal related to defective airplane parts. This theme of mental health struggles and existential questions would go on to deeply influence Twenty One Pilots’ music.
Joseph released two self-titled albums, Twenty One Pilots in 2009 and Regional at Best in 2011. The latter featured early versions of songs like “Holding On To You” and “Guns For Hands” which would be re-recorded for their major label debut.
In 2012, Josh Dun joined Tyler Joseph to make Twenty One Pilots a duo. They signed to Fueled by Ramen and released their third studio album Vessel in 2013. Songs like “Car Radio” and “House of Gold” brought Twenty One Pilots their first mainstream success.
Their fourth album Blurryface was released in 2015 and catapulted Twenty One Pilots to global fame. Blurryface explored Joseph’s battles with depression and insecurity. Singles like “Stressed Out” and “Ride” went multi-platinum, and the album has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. The duo went on multiple world tours over 2015-2017 playing sold out shows for their exponentially growing fanbase.
In 2018, Twenty One Pilots released their fifth studio album Trench which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. In 2021, they released their sixth album Scaled and Icy recorded entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over their decade-plus career, Twenty One Pilots have evolved from a little-known Ohio indie duo to one of the biggest bands in the world. They’ve cultivated an incredibly passionate fanbase drawn to their confessional, genre-bending music.
Reasons Twenty One Pilots Concerts Sell Out
There are several key factors that explain why Twenty One Pilots concerts routinely sell out venues around the world:
Massive popularity
As noted above, Twenty One Pilots have become one of the most popular bands in the world over the past 5 years. They have over 60 million monthly listeners on Spotify which puts them in the top 0.2% globally. When artists reach this level of mainstream fame, demand for concert tickets understandably rises. Casual listeners and die-hard fans alike want to see Twenty One Pilots live.
Dedicated fanbase
The Twenty One Pilots fanbase, known as the “Skeleton Clique”, is extremely passionate. The duo’s confessional lyrics about mental health and existential crises have resonated deeply with many fans. Twenty One Pilots’ fanbase expresses dedication that goes far beyond ordinary pop music followers. For example, many fans get tattoos related to song lyrics and the band’s symbolism. This passionate fanbase is willing to buy tickets the moment sales open and attend multiple shows on a tour. They actively build online communities obsessing over the band’s music and concerts. Twenty One Pilots have described playing shows as feeling like “local support on a global scale” due to their fans’ incredible energy.
One of a kind live shows
Twenty One Pilots are known for theatrical, high-energy concerts with creative costumes, staging, and production. Each tour has a narrative theme and ongoing storyline. The duo performs crowd-pleasing hits but also keeps the setlist flexible to keep fans guessing. Tyler Joseph dashes around the stage singing, rapping, drumming, and constantly interacting with fans. Josh Dun performs outrageous drum stunts like backflips off the piano and playing while crowd-surfing. The band’s unique live show creates an experience that fans are eager to be part of.
Limited touring schedule
Unlike some artists who tour nearly nonstop, Twenty One Pilots generally do limited touring runs concentrated around album releases. They toured heavily in 2015-2017 after Blurryface’s breakthrough then took a year off before the Trench album cycle. Their 2021 Takeøver Tour ran for just 3 months. This scarcity principle increases demand – fans jump at the opportunity when Twenty One Pilots tours come to their city, knowing it may be their only chance for a long time.
Intimate venues
Though capable of filling stadiums, Twenty One Pilots typically play more intimate venues like arenas and amphitheaters in the 10,000 – 20,000 capacity range. Even in major cities, they’ll do multi-night arena runs rather than one huge stadium show. The relatively smaller venue sizes compared to their overall popularity further squeezes the ticket supply.
Production scale
Twenty One Pilots concerts feature an elaborate stage setup with multiple platforms, ramps, and moving parts. This expansive production is difficult to recreate in larger venues. The duo has also chosen to avoid “in the round” 360-degree stadium staging to maintain their narrative-driven show. Again, this limits viable venues and number of seats in each market.
Stats on Sell Outs and Ticket Demand
Looking at Pollstar’s data on Twenty One Pilots tours provides numerical evidence of their huge ticket demand and consistent sell outs:
Blurryface Tour (2015-2016)
| Total Shows: | 144 |
| Total Attendance: | 1.5 million |
| Average Tickets Per Show: | 11,364 |
| % Sellouts: | 89% |
Emøtiønal Røadshøw (2017)
| Total Shows: | 78 |
| Total Attendance: | 946,177 |
| Average Tickets Per Show: | 12,312 |
| % Sellouts: | 96% |
The Banditø Tøur (2018-2019)
| Total Shows: | 101 |
| Total Attendance: | 1.1 million |
| Average Tickets Per Show: | 11,509 |
| % Sellouts: | 82% |
Takeøver Tøur (2021)
| Total Shows: | 39 |
| Total Attendance: | 390,909 |
| Average Tickets Per Show: | 10,011 |
| % Sellouts: | 95% |
This data demonstrates the band’s consistent high ticket sales and sell out percentage across their tours over the past 6 years. Their average arena show has sold 10,000-12,000 tickets, indicating very high demand even at elevated ticket prices. The Takeøver Tøur had a sky-high 95% sell out rate despite being their first tour after a 3-year hiatus.
Ticket Buying Tips
For Twenty One Pilots fans hoping to secure tickets amidst high demand, here are some tips:
Buy early
Be ready right when the tickets first go on pre-sale. Sign up for fan club or venue presales to get early access before the general public. Set calendar alerts so you don’t miss the on-sale dates. Buying within the first few hours gives you the best shot at good seats.
Check presales
Besides the fan club presale, check venue and ticket vendor websites for any other special presales. Promoters often hold presales for American Express cardholders or subscribers to AEG Presents’ or Live Nation’s newsletters. This spreads out some demand before the main sale.
Aim for single seats
If you’re going alone or in a small group, target buying single seat tickets rather than groups of 3+ together. The inventory for singles will last longer as most fans try for pairs and quads first. If needed, you can often swap seats with polite fans once inside.
Don’t rule out the nosebleeds
While lower bowl or floor seats are ideal, Twenty One Pilots still put on an amazing show from the cheap seats. Don’t rule out buying upper level or behind the stage tickets then upgrading later if possible. Getting in the door is the critical first step.
Check resellers, but beware fees
If the primary sale sells out quickly, check trusted resale sites like StubHub which will have tickets at inflated prices. Be prepared to pay fees but it may be your only recourse. Avoid shady resellers with no refund policy or guarantees.
Follow fan accounts
Monitor Twenty One Pilots fan accounts on social media and forums like Reddit which share tips on presales and organizing group buys. Fans will post the second tickets go on sale. Capitalize on their obsessive dedication!
Conclusion
In conclusion, Twenty One Pilots have reached a popularity level matched by very few current bands. Thanks to their diehard fans, intimate venues, and spectacular live production, their concerts routinely sell out in minutes. Fans hoping to buy tickets need persistence, good timing, and a little luck working in their favor. The odds are daunting but the payoff of attending a unique Twenty One Pilots show is well worth the effort.
