Buying presale tickets to concerts, shows, and other events can offer several advantages compared to waiting and buying tickets when they go on sale to the general public. Presale tickets give fans early access to purchase tickets before the general public.
What are presale tickets?
Presale tickets are event tickets that go on sale before the general public on-sale date. Presales provide early access to tickets for select groups of people including fan club members, credit card holders, streaming service subscribers, or members of particular organizations. Each presale has specific qualifications fans must meet to gain access to the presale offer.
Presales take place ahead of the public on-sale, sometimes days or weeks in advance. This gives presale participants the chance to buy tickets before the general public. When tickets go on sale to the general public, inventory is more limited since presale fans already purchased many of the available tickets.
Why do events offer presale tickets?
There are a few key reasons why presale tickets are offered:
- To reward loyal fan club members who are committed fans of that artist or team.
- To drive business objectives, like acquiring new credit card customers or subscribers.
- To allow select high-value groups like VIP clients early access.
- To create urgency and buzz leading up to the on-sale date.
Presales allow artists and event promoters to leverage ticket sales to achieve business goals beyond just selling tickets. Presales also help manage high demand shows by staggering when groups of fans can buy, preventing websites from crashing and creating a fairer on-sale process.
How do you get access to presales?
There are a few main ways fans gain access to presales:
- Fan club membership – Most music artists offer exclusive presales for official fan club members who pay a membership fee. This rewards loyal supporters with early ticketing access.
- Credit card presales – Certain credit cards run presales for cardholders as a perk. Card issuers have deals with promoters to presale tickets.
- Spotify Presale – Spotify Premium subscribers get first access to buy tickets for select concerts and events.
- Venue or promoter presales – Venues and concert promoters sometimes hold presales for their mailing list subscribers.
- Radio station presales – Local radio stations will presale tickets to listeners who have registered on their websites.
To get access, fans have to proactively sign up for accounts, join mailing lists, or purchase a membership/subscription to be eligible. Presales are exclusive and rewards fans who actively follow artists, venues, and ticketing companies.
What are the benefits of buying presale tickets?
There are several key advantages to buying tickets in a presale:
Better ticket availability
The biggest benefit is that presales give you access to tickets before the general public. For very popular events, presale inventory gives you the best chance at getting tickets. Tickets sell out incredibly fast these days. Buying during an artist presale for example is the best way to get floor seats or front row tickets.
Wider seat selection
With presale access, you can take more time to browse all available seats and sections and select the precise seats you want. Good seats go fast, so presales allow you to carefully choose seats before the mad rush of the public on-sale.
Less competition from scalpers
Ticket resale sites put massive effort into snatching up tickets during the public on-sale to resell. Presale access means less competition from scalpers during the purchasing process. There’s also less risk of buying fake or scam tickets, since you’re buying directly from the official source.
Buying peace of mind
By securing tickets in advance during a presale, you avoid the stress of having to buy tickets during the stressful public on-sale. Presales give you peace of mind knowing you already have tickets locked down.
Tips for buying presale tickets
Here are some handy tips for making the most of presale opportunities:
- Join fan clubs and mailing lists – Sign up ahead of time for access to artist and venue presales. This gives you the credentials needed to unlock presale codes.
- Follow artists on social media – Turn on notifications so you don’t miss any presale announcements or access codes that get posted.
- Create accounts ahead of time – Have your Ticketing accounts created and payment info saved so you can breeze through checkout.
- Be ready when the presale starts – Log in 10-15 minutes early so you’re ready right at the start time.
- Shop early for best selection – Buy as early in the presale window as possible for the widest choice of seats.
- Be flexible if you can – If your goal is just getting tickets, consider less ideal days (like weekdays or matinees) that are less in demand.
Downsides of presales
While presales provide significant advantages, there are some potential downsides:
- You pay costs associated with fan club memberships or subscription fees to unlock presale access.
- Popular presales sometimes overload ticketing sites due to high traffic volume.
- Presale code registration can sometimes be buggy or difficult to navigate.
- Some presales have very limited ticket allotments that sell out nearly instantly.
While presales are not flawless, they still offer fans the best shot at getting good tickets compared to solely buying during general public on-sales. The pros tend to outweigh the cons for most avid concert and event goers looking to see high demand events and artists.
Should you buy presale tickets?
Buying presale tickets can require more planning and effort up front. However, doing so can really pay off by allowing fans early access to some of the best seats that sell out quickly. If your priority is buying the best tickets you can, taking advantage of presale opportunities is highly recommended.
For casual fans that just want general admission or are flexible on seat location, waiting for the public on-sale may suffice. But for devoted fans that want great seats, especially for very popular artists and at smaller venues, vying for presale ticket access is definitely worth it.
Conclusion
Access to presale tickets creates substantial advantages for buying the best seats for high demand concerts and events. Presales allow you to buy tickets before the general public, giving you more choice, less competition from scalpers, and peace of mind knowing you already have tickets lined up.
By joining fan clubs, following artist mailing lists, and understanding the presale process, you can greatly increase your chances of getting the tickets you want compared to just buying during the stressful general on-sale. Presales require more planning, but the benefits are well worth the extra effort.