Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, with legions of dedicated fans who call themselves “Swifties.” Whenever she announces a new tour or residency, demand for tickets is off the charts. Trying to get tickets can feel like an impossible task, with tickets selling out in seconds to scalpers and bots. However, with some planning and dedication, you can greatly improve your chances of securing seats to see Taylor live.
Register for Pre-Sales
The best way to access Taylor Swift tickets is through pre-sales. Pre-sales give Swifties early access to purchase tickets before the general public. There are usually multiple pre-sales leading up to the general on-sale date. Signing up for pre-sale opportunities is free and gives you the highest likelihood of getting tickets.
Start by registering for an account on TaylorSwift.com. This is her official website that frequently offers ticket pre-sales for fan club members. You can also join mailing lists or fan clubs through her record label, radio stations, Spotify, and tour sponsors. Follow Taylor Nation and verified Taylor fan accounts on social media for pre-sale code announcements. Enable notifications so you don’t miss any pre-sale alerts.
Once you receive a pre-sale code, log in to the ticket merchant’s website and enter the code when prompted. This will unlock the pre-sale inventory. Have your payment details saved so you can check out seamlessly. Be ready to go through the purchase process as soon as the pre-sale starts. The majority of pre-sale tickets will likely sell out very quickly, even before the general on-sale.
Prepare for the General On-Sale
While pre-sales offer the best chance at tickets, you may still have an opportunity during the general on-sale. Mark your calendar for the exact date and time tickets go on sale to the general public. The seller could be Ticketmaster, AXS, SeatGeek or another authorized ticketing platform.
Make sure you have an account already set up with the ticketing platform. Enter your payment details ahead of time to check out faster. Log in to the website at least 15 minutes early and refresh constantly until the countdown clock reaches zero. Treat it like a race to get the tickets in your cart and complete checkout.
Have a back-up device like another computer or phone ready in case one device has a glitch. The website may freeze or crash from high traffic volume. Using multiple devices gives you the best shot at getting through.
Only buy from official sellers – resellers like StubHub or Vivid Seats can be risky. Avoid shady sellers or listings well above face value. Fake tickets could prevent you from getting into the concert.
Aim for Multiple Shows
The demand for Taylor Swift tickets is always astronomical – especially for the first shows announced. Expand your options by looking at multiple tour stops in nearby cities. Even if you have to travel a bit farther, securing tickets to any show will be an accomplishment.
Don’t limit yourself to one sale date either. If you miss out on the first on-sale, keep trying again when additional tour dates are announced. Persistence is key to getting in the door. The more on-sales you strategically try for, the greater your odds become over time.
Get Verified Fan Status
Some artists like Taylor Swift use Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system for ticket sales. Fans must first register as Verified Fans and get a code to access the on-sale. This helps filter out bots and scalpers to make it more fair for genuine fans.
Pay attention to notices from Taylor Nation on when to register as a Verified Fan. Sign up using your Ticketmaster account during the specified window. Ticketmaster will notify accepted Verified Fans via email before the on-sale. Codes are only valid for a specific window so make sure to schedule time to log on right at the sale start time.
Be Flexible on Seating
The number of people vying for Taylor Swift tickets will far exceed the seats available at any given venue. Have reasonable expectations when it comes to getting floor seats or front rows. Be flexible on seating sections if you get stalled on a preferred option.
It’s advised to click any available seating just to get tickets in your cart first. You can keep trying for better seats before checkout. Getting some tickets, even if the seats are higher up or farther back, is better than the concert selling out.
Use Presale Passwords Strategically
Presale passwords give you a big advantage as one of the first groups allowed to buy tickets. But sometimes presales can overlap. For example, you may have a fan club code, Spotify code, and Ticketmaster code all at the same time.
Research when each presale starts and plan accordingly. The fan club presale is usually first. Then you may want to try the Ticketmaster code next since it’s a larger inventory. Finally, you could use the Spotify password later since it will likely have high demand from lots of users.
By strategically using different presale codes during different phases, you can increase your overall odds vs using them all at once. Just make sure to use passwords before they expire.
Team Up with Other Fans
Try to coordinate with other Swifties to help each other get tickets. Get different devices signed in under different accounts. Share presale codes so you all have multiple opportunities. If one person gets stalled, maybe someone else will get through.
You can take shifts monitoring on-sales so there’s always someone ready to pounce if a waiting room opens. Post group alerts if you see an opportunity pop up. The more fans you have working together, the greater your collective chances are.
Keep Trying During the Sale
Persistence is vital when you’re competing against millions of fans plus bots. Don’t hesitate or pause during the ticket drop. But also don’t lose hope if you aren’t successful right away.
Tickets will get grabbed up instantly by early birds. But inventory can open up over the on-sale period from cancellations, holds timing out, or additional seats being released.
Keep rapidly refreshing and re-searching if tickets disappear from your cart. New seats can pop up without warning. Stay glued to the site beyond the initial rush in case late openings occur.
Leverage Fan Club Benefits
Official Taylor Swift fan clubs like Taylor Nation offer special benefits when it comes to merch, meet and greets, advance content, and of course – tickets! Join Taylor’s go-to fan club Taylor Nation for first dibs on everything Taylor related.
Taylor Nation subscribers can get early ticket window announcements, special member presales, VIP package offers, and more. Superfans must join Taylor Nation to unlock the best ticket perks. Subscribing signals your dedication and gives you the inside track.
Some fan clubs also let you earn points, badges, and levels to increase your status. Higher levels then qualify for you for top tier privileges. So become an active member of Taylor Nation to maximize your ticket access above the general public.
Check Resale Sites Strategically
We recommend buying from authorized primary sellers whenever possible. But when tours instantly sell out, resale sites like StubHub or seatgeek can be an option.
Initially wait to buy resale tickets. Speculators will list tickets at inflated rates due to frenzy. But as it gets closer to the show date, prices can come down as sellers get more desperate to unload inventory.
Set price drop alerts so you’re notified if seats become more reasonably priced. Sort by “Best Value” to find the cheapest seats available at any given time. Act fast when you see a good deal.
Make sure the site has buyer guarantees to protect from fraud. Avoid sellers with no ratings or reviews. Meet in-person somewhere public to exchange paper tickets, if possible, rather than electronic transfers.
Follow Social Media Announcements
Follow Taylor Swift’s official social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to stay on top of new tour announcements. Enabling notifications will alert you as soon as new tour dates or ticket sale info is posted.
Also follow reputable Taylor Swift fan accounts and update pages. News will spread rapidly through fan communities once it drops. Let them do the work of monitoring and surfacing breaking updates in real-time.
Join Taylor Swift fan groups on Facebook, Reddit, Discord and Slack to engage in community discussions. Superfans may share tips or ticket access. Coordinate with fan group members to help each other strategize.
Conclusion
Getting Taylor Swift tickets is competitive, but absolutely possible with preparation, dedication, and persistence. Take advantage of pre-sales, team up with other fans, use social media to stay alert to new on-sales, and keep trying even if initial attempts fail. Swifties who put in the effort can secure the golden tickets to finally see Taylor live.