Getting concert tickets through Ticketmaster can be a stressful and competitive process, especially for hot shows that sell out quickly. Timing is everything when vying for the chance to buy tickets on Ticketmaster. Being strategic about when you log on to purchase tickets can greatly improve your chances of scoring seats before they sell out.
How Ticketmaster Ticketing Works
Before determining the optimal time to get on Ticketmaster, it helps to understand how their ticketing system works. Ticketmaster utilizes a queue-it virtual waiting room for high demand events. All fans hoping to purchase tickets are randomly assigned a place in the virtual line when they log into Ticketmaster. This helps control traffic surges on the site to prevent crashes.
Each person is then let through the virtual waiting room one by one to access ticket sales. This means timing is critical because you want to be at the front of the line when tickets go on sale. Logging on too early or too late can put you farther back in the queue, lowering your chances of getting tickets.
When Do Tickets Go On Sale?
The first step is knowing when ticket sales officially start. This on-sale date and time is always listed on the Ticketmaster event page. In most cases, tickets go on sale at 10am local venue time on a specified date. Some exceptions include artist or promoter presales which may begin a day or two early.
It’s important to identify the exact on-sale date and time for the general public tickets you want. Focus your efforts on being ready to enter the Ticketmaster queue at this precise moment for the best shot at tickets.
One Hour Before On-Sale Time
Expert concertgoers recommend logging into the Ticketmaster waiting room about an hour before the published on-sale time. This seems to be the prime window for getting near the front of the virtual line.
Some reasons arriving an hour early is ideal include:
- It allows enough time for Ticketmaster to assign you a place in the queue.
- The waiting room is not yet flooded with tons of competitors.
- Other early line waiter’s may lose their place by not completing ticket purchase.
Being queued too far in advance of one hour can actually work against you. There’s more risk of losing your spot for inactivity or getting buried by the throngs entering the waiting room after you.
30 Minutes Before On-Sale Time
Some consumers worry that an hour is too early since other fans are still entering the waiting room after you. They recommend logging on 30 minutes prior to the specified on-sale time instead.
Benefits of the 30 minute strategy:
- More people will have entered the queue before you.
- Less risk of losing your spot from inactivity timeouts.
- May prevent getting stuck behind early entrants who aren’t serious buyers.
Downsides are that popular shows often have waiting rooms max out in the 30 minute window. At that point, you may completely miss getting in the queue at all.
Right At On-Sale Time
Is it best to join the Ticketmaster queue at the exact minute that ticket sales open to the public? In some cases, this tactic can work in your favor but it is extremely risky.
Potential benefits include:
- No losing your place from website timeouts or glitches.
- Avoid early birds who don’t complete purchases.
- Get in ahead of the biggest surge at on-sale time.
The major downside is all the competition likely entering the waiting room at this exact moment. You also need very precise timing and fast internet to get queued before tickets sell out entirely. This is best left to power users.
After On-Sale Time
Is there any chance of scoring tickets if you miss getting in the Ticketmaster queue right at on-sale time? It depends on how in-demand the event is.
For extremely popular concerts that sell-out instantly, queues will close immediately when tickets disappear. But for some shows, there is still an opportunity to snag stray single seats later:
- Fans in queue fail to complete purchases.
- Extra tickets may be released over time.
- Scalpers and brokers cancel orders.
Continue monitoring the Ticketmaster ticketing page for these scraps. Join the waiting room anytime you see the queue reopen to try your chances at leftovers.
Tips for Entering the Waiting Room
Follow these tips when joining the Ticketmaster virtual queue to maximize results:
- Use Google Chrome browser and enable auto-refresh.
- Ensure cookies, Javascript and popups are allowed.
- Disable ad blockers which interfere with queue system.
- Pre-enter your Ticketmaster account details for faster checkout.
- Have payment details saved to your account or browser.
Optimizing technical details helps ensure you don’t lose your place in line and can complete ticket purchases quickly before they sell out.
Have a Backup Plan
Despite your best efforts, you may fail to get tickets directly through Ticketmaster as competition is fierce. Have backup options in case you need to look for tickets on the secondary market later:
- Join artist fan club for presale code access.
- Follow TicketmasterVerified on Twitter for ticket updates.
- Set price alerts at SeatGeek or StubHub for affordable resale seats.
Planning ahead provides alternatives if you can’t buy from Ticketmaster right when sales start. Signing up for presales, Twitter notifications, and price trackers can help score you tickets later on.
Use Queue-It Directly
Ticketmaster’s underlying queuing system Queue-It also works with some other major ticket sellers besides Ticketmaster. You may be able to join the Queue-It waitlist directly when buying tickets for:
- AXS Ticketing
- INTIX Member Events
- PACIOLAN Events
- Some MLB Partner Events
Visit queue-it.net and enter the event URL you want to queue for instead of going through Ticketmaster. This ensures you directly enter the virtual line without dealing with Ticketmaster site traffic.
Conclusion
Getting into the Ticketmaster queue about an hour before published on-sale times seems optimal for many fans. This beats the initial rush but gets you in line before queues fill completely. Have backup plans in place as well since scoring the most in-demand tickets is far from guaranteed. With smart timing and savvy preplanning, you can greatly improve your odds of buying coveted tickets.
