Getting access to presale concert tickets through Ticketmaster can be a frustrating experience for music fans. Popular shows often sell out in minutes, leaving many fans empty-handed. Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program aims to make the presale process more fair by giving dedicated fans early access to tickets.
What is Ticketmaster Verified Fan?
Ticketmaster Verified Fan is a registration system that music fans can use to get special presale codes for upcoming concerts on Ticketmaster. It works by having fans register ahead of the onsale date. Ticketmaster then verifies these registrants are real fans who intend to buy tickets, not scalpers or bots trying to scoop up tickets.
Verified fans who are selected get special presale codes via text message that give them early access to buy tickets. This helps get more tickets directly into the hands of true fans.
Why does Ticketmaster use Verified Fan?
Ticketmaster created Verified Fan to make buying concert tickets less frustrating. Some of the problems it aims to solve include:
- Bots and scalpers scooping up tons of tickets: Bots allow scalpers to buy up thousands of tickets instantly.
- Tickets immediately appearing on resale sites: Scalpers then resell the tickets, often for inflated prices.
- Sell outs in seconds: Real fans are left ticketless because shows sell out instantly.
Verified Fan identifies real fans so more tickets go directly to them instead of scalpers. It helps spread out demand so fans have a better shot at getting seats.
How does the Ticketmaster Verified Fan system work?
Here is an overview of how Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan presale system works:
- Registration: Fans register for the Verified Fan presale on Ticketmaster. This is free but requires providing contact info and signing in with your Ticketmaster account.
- Verification: Ticketmaster uses various methods to verify registrants are real fans, not bots or scalpers. This may involve looking at your Ticketmaster purchase history.
- Selection: Verified registrants are randomly selected to participate in the presale. Not everyone who registers will be selected.
- Presale Codes: Selected Verified Fans are texted a unique code to use during the presale. This grants early access to purchase tickets.
- Ticket Buying: On the presale date, Verified Fans use their codes to access and buy tickets before the general public.
In summary, registering, getting verified, and being selected is required to get a special presale code. This code unlocks the chance to buy tickets early before they sell out.
What are the benefits of Verified Fan?
Here are some of the key benefits that Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system provides:
- Better access to tickets: By spreading out demand over verified fans, it improves your chances of scoring seats.
- Earlier ticket buying: Presale code holders get to purchase tickets days or weeks before the general public onsale.
- Fewer scalpers: The verification steps aim to limit scalpers from gobbling up tickets through bots and fake accounts.
- More fairness: Randomly selecting from verified fans makes the process more equitable.
- Buying peace of mind: Ticketmaster covers you if a show is canceled and provides other buyer guarantees.
Overall, Verified Fan gives fans a better shot at buying tickets fairly and directly from the source.
What are the downsides of Verified Fan?
Despite its benefits, Ticketmaster Verified Fan also has some drawbacks:
- No guarantee: Registering does not guarantee you will be selected for a code or be able to buy tickets.
- Registration hassles: Requiring sign ins and personal info turns some fans off of registering.
- Randomness: Getting chosen feels “random,” when loyal fans may feel they deserve presale access.
- Extra steps: The registration process takes extra time versus buying during a normal onsale.
- Scalping still happens: Some scalped tickets still end up on resale sites afterwards.
While not perfect, Verified Fan gives regular fans much better odds of scoring seats than dealing with scalpers and bots.
Tips for getting Ticketmaster Verified Fan presale codes
Here are some top tips for trying to get Verified Fan presale codes and buying tickets:
- Sign up for an account – This is required to register for presales.
- Register early – Sign up as soon as the Verified Fan registration opens.
- Link past purchases – Your Ticketmaster purchase history helps verify you as a real fan.
- Use your main account – Don’t make fake accounts which can get flagged.
- Be patient – There is an element of randomness in getting selected.
- Follow instructions – Carefully enter codes and checkout fast to finish buying tickets.
- Have backups – Register family for better odds and backup payment methods.
While not a guarantee, these tips can help maximize your chances of getting picked for presale codes and securing seats.
How are Verified Fans selected?
Ticketmaster uses a few methods to select Verified Fans who will receive presale codes:
- Random selection: Once registrants are verified, some are randomly selected to participate.
- Activity weighting: Your Ticketmaster account history impacts selection chances.
- Timing: Signing up earlier during the registration period can help.
- Artist fan clubs: Members sometimes get priority access to presales.
While randomness makes selection opaque, being an active Ticketmaster user seems to help. Fan club members also have an advantage accessing presales.
Can you increase your chances of being selected?
There are a few tips that may help boost your odds of being chosen as a Verified Fan:
- Registering right when registration opens, not waiting.
- Using an active Ticketmaster account with past purchases.
- Only registering for events you truly plan to attend.
- Ensuring your personal info with Ticketmaster is up to date.
- Not registering multiple times from different accounts.
However, since randomness does play a role, there are no guarantees. Your best bet is following the tips above and hoping for the best!
What happens if you are selected as a Verified Fan?
If you are selected as a Verified Fan, here is what happens next:
- You will receive a text message containing your single-use Verified Fan presale code.
- This code can only be used once and only by you during the specified presale time.
- During the presale, enter the code at checkout to access tickets before the general public.
- You will typically have an allotted time window, such as 2 hours, to shop for tickets.
- Make sure to checkout quickly once you’ve selected your tickets.
Your presale code gives you exclusive access to buy tickets. Just make sure to use it within the expiration time window provided.
What if you are not selected for a presale code?
If you registered for a Verified Fan presale but were not selected, you unfortunately won’t be able to participate. However, you still have options, including:
- Trying again if the artist has future presales.
- Buying during the general public onsale, though tickets will be more limited.
- Purchasing tickets from official resale sites once the show sells out.
- Considering other sellers like StubHub if you absolutely need tickets.
While disappointing if you don’t get picked, all hope isn’t lost. With persistence and flexibility, you can still score tickets through other means.
Can you increase your Verified Fan chances for future presales?
If you weren’t selected as a Verified Fan, here are some ways to try to increase your chances for future presales:
- Make at least one Ticketmaster purchase to boost your account’s activity.
- Double check your contact info is updated so you receive texts if chosen.
- Be sure to register again as soon as the next presale registration opens.
- Use your Ticketmaster account login consistently so it remains active.
- Consider joining the artist’s official fan club for member presale access.
Presale selection seems to prioritize active accounts, so taking steps to improve your Ticketmaster history can really help.
Conclusion
Getting access to coveted concert tickets through Ticketmaster presales requires navigating the company’s Verified Fan system. This lottery-style process aims to get more tickets directly into the hands of a show’s true fans. So while not perfect, it does reward passion and persistence. With smart strategies, dedication, and a little luck, fans can successfully use Verified Fan to score seats to their dream events.
