Live Nation is one of the largest concert and event promoters in the world, responsible for producing over 40,000 shows per year. With ticket prices regularly going for $50 or more, seeing your favorite artist live can get expensive. However, there are ways to get discounted Live Nation tickets for just $25 or even less if you know where to look.
Check Live Nation’s Weekly Promotions
Live Nation often offers special weekly promotions that include $25 all-in tickets (fees included) to select shows each week. These deals tend to be for shows that haven’t sold out and need a boost in sales. The available shows vary week to week, but you can often find major artists and bands at major venues available through these offers if you get lucky.
To find the current week’s $25 all-in ticket deals, go to the Live Nation website and look for the “Concert Week” ad. Click “See the Shows” to view all available $25 tickets for that week. This offer is only available online, so you’ll need to purchase through the Live Nation site or app.
Look for Presales and Fan Club Offers
Many bigger concert tours will offer special presales and fan club sales in the weeks leading up to the public on-sale date. During presales, you can get tickets before they are available to the general public. Tickets are sometimes priced lower and there is less competition to get good seats during presales.
Check an artist’s website and sign up for their fan club mailing list to get access to presale codes and offers. Joining an artist’s official fan club often gives you first dibs on tickets and fan club members sometimes get special coupon codes for discounts. Signing up for Live Nation’s free mailing list can also give you access to presale code offers.
Enter Local Radio Contests
Radio stations will often give away tickets to major concerts and shows in contests and promotions. By entering contests with your local rock, pop, country, or other genre radio stations, you may be able to win free or heavily discounted tickets.
Keep an ear out for any mention of contests or follow station social media accounts for contest announcements. Make sure to enter as many as you can. The odds may be low for each specific contest, but persistence can pay off.
Get Discount Codes on Groupon
While Live Nation tickets are not directly sold on Groupon, the site does offer Live Nation concert ticket discount codes redeemable on the Live Nation website. These can sometimes offer $20 off or more on eligible tickets.
Search for “Live Nation” on Groupon to find available concert ticket codes. Read the fine print carefully to check details on which shows the codes apply for. Redeem your code during checkout on Live Nation when purchasing eligible tickets to save.
Discount Code | Discount Amount | Eligible Shows |
---|---|---|
LIVENATION20 | $20 off | Rock and Pop shows |
COUNTRY15 | $15 off | Country shows |
COMEDY10 | $10 off | Comedy shows |
Get Refundable Tickets
If you buy refundable tickets through Live Nation, you can potentially return them for cheaper tickets if prices drop. Buy the most expensive tickets you can afford when they first go on sale. Then keep checking ticket prices leading up to the show.
If ticket prices drop, return your original tickets for a full refund within 14 days of the event. Then you can buy the newly discounted tickets. This allows you to lock in seats when tickets first go on sale but still get lower pricing if prices drop.
Wait Until the Last Minute
As the event date approaches, unsold ticket prices will often drop as venues look to fill remaining seats. Waiting until the last minute means you risk missing out and may be stuck with bad seats. But for less popular shows, you could score cheap tickets.
Check ticket prices the day of the event or even hours before showtime. Use apps like Gametime that specialize in last minute tickets. You can sometimes find great deals on decent seats that would have otherwise gone unsold.
Buy Single Tickets
If going solo or don’t mind being split up from your group, buying single tickets instead of pairs can save you money. Venues with mostly two-seat pairs will discount single odd tickets.
Search for “single tickets” on the Live Nation website or Ticketmaster. You can often buy single tickets for up to 30% off. You won’t get to sit with your whole group, but you will sit with a new friend and save money.
Buy Upper Level or Obstructed View Seats
Tickets prices are based on seat location. By choosing less desirable seats in the upper levels or with obstructed views, you can pay far below face value.
While these seats are not ideal, you can still see and hear the show for cheap. Obstructed views mean a pillar or speaker may block part of the stage. But often you can still see 70-80% of the stage. Upper level seats may be far away but give you the full view.
Go on Weeknights Instead of Weekends
The most in-demand and expensive tickets are on Friday and Saturday nights. Opting for shows scheduled Sundays through Thursdays can save you money.
Weeknight shows tend to be cheaper because most people have school or work the next morning. There is less demand, so you have a better chance at deals. If you don’t mind staying up late before a workday, weeknights can offer big savings.
Be Flexible on Cities and Dates
Popular tours visit multiple cities, so check prices in nearby metro areas in addition to your own city. If the band is playing shows in cities within driving distance, look for any cheaper ticket prices in other cities.
Also consider attending shows earlier or later in the tour schedule when prices are lower. Opening acts often won’t be announced yet for these shows, but the savings may be worth it.
Buy at the Box Office
Tickets bought through the box office or venue directly avoid online and phone booking fees charged by Ticketmaster and other vendors. These fees can add $10-$20 per ticket to your order.
Visit the box office location in person on the first day tickets go on sale for the best selection. Line up early as tickets sell out fast in person. Going in person on a weekday morning typically has smaller crowds than weekends too.
Get Student and Military Discounts
Students can get discounted concert tickets by signing up for Student Advantage or showing a valid student ID at the box office. ID may need to be shown again upon entry, but the savings are worth it.
Active military members and veterans can get concert ticket discounts by joining VetTix.org. Discounts and free tickets are offered to community events and concerts of all sizes through this program.
Volunteer at the Venue or Festival
Volunteering is a unique way to get free or discounted concert tickets. Venues and concert promoters often need volunteers to staff events. Duties could include taking tickets, assisting guests, serving vendors, or cleaning up during and after the show.
In exchange for working a 4-6 hour shift, volunteers earn a free ticket to the concert and sometimes prime viewing areas. Outdoor concert festivals have the most need for volunteers and provide a fun way to see multiple bands for free.
Buy Season Ticket Packages
Venues like theaters and clubs will sell discounted ticket packages for their full season schedule. Buying a season package gets you reserved seats for all shows at a discount of 15-30% typically.
While you have to commit to multiple shows upfront, the per-show savings really add up. You also get better seat selection before individual shows go on sale to the general public.
Enter Ticket Lotteries and Raffles
For very popular shows, radio stations will often run ticket lotteries to give away seats. Fans can enter by texting a code, calling a hotline, or submitting online entries during a small enrollment window.
Winners are then chosen at random and awarded free or heavily discounted tickets. While timing and luck are required, it costs nothing to enter as many lotteries as you can.
Follow Venues on Social Media
Venues promote contests and offers through their social media pages as a low-cost marketing tactic. Following venue accounts on Twitter and Facebook can give you insider access to deals.
Turn on notifications from a venue’s social media account so you never miss a contest announcement or limited-time promo code offer. Responding early to social media deals gives you the best chance at scoring the coveted discount.
Go to Free Shows
Live Nation and individual venues promote free concerts throughout the year as a way to give back. Free shows won’t have huge headliners, but you can discover up-and-coming acts without spending anything.
Free shows are offered at outdoor festivals like the Chicago Blues Festival, at dedicated music parks like Levitt Pavilion, and at venues hoping to attract new customers. Following venues and Live Nation on social media will keep you aware of any free concert opportunities.
Go Solo for Cheaper Fees
Scoring the $25 concert ticket deals still requires paying the inevitable service fees that can nearly double costs. But purchasing tickets one at a time reduces fees dramatically versus buying four tickets in one order.
Buy tickets individually to avoid bundled “convenience fees.” Four separate orders of one ticket each costs less than a single order for four tickets. Doing separate transactions tricks the system into thinking you’re a solo attendee each time.
Watch for Rescheduled or Postponed Shows
Keep an eye out for any shows that get rescheduled or postponed along a tour. Tickets already purchased for postponed shows typically get honored at the new date.
But some fans may seek refunds and re-release their tickets. Prices often get slashed as the rescheduled date approaches. You can find great deals scooping up these last-minute seats as promoters try to fill them again.
Original Date | New Date | Venue |
---|---|---|
June 1st | July 15th | MetLife Stadium |
July 5th | August 13th | Soldier Field |
May 15th | June 10th | Rogers Arena |
Gatecrash with Confidence
A time-tested method for getting into sold-out shows is “gatecrashing” – showing up outside the venue and buying a scalped ticket. While technically illegal, concertgoers quietly do this regularly through mutually beneficial exchanges.
Wait outside the entrance shortly before showtime and politely ask passing fans with tickets if they have a spare. Offer $20-$30 cash for an extra ticket – enough to profit but still far below face value. Don’t be pushy and take “no” for an answer.
Conclusion
Seeing live music doesn’t have to break the bank. With some creative thinking and effort, you can find $25 concert tickets from Live Nation for even the biggest touring acts. Try the tips above and keep hunting for deals, and you’ll be rocking out on a budget in no time.