If Ticketmaster crashes or goes down when you are trying to buy tickets for a concert or event, it can be incredibly frustrating. However, there are a few things you can try to get tickets even if the Ticketmaster website or app is having problems. Here are some quick answers to common questions about what to do if Ticketmaster crashes:
What causes Ticketmaster to crash?
Ticketmaster crashes are usually caused by too much traffic overload on their servers. Big onsales with millions of fans trying to get tickets at the same time will frequently overload the system and cause it to crash or have issues. Software problems or other technical glitches can also lead to outages.
Does Ticketmaster crash often?
While major crashes don’t happen every day, Ticketmaster has gone down during several high-profile onsales over the years. Their systems seem to have the most trouble when there is extremely high demand all at once, like for big concert tours going on sale.
What should I do if Ticketmaster crashes while I’m trying to buy tickets?
Don’t panic! Just try refreshing the page after a few minutes to see if the site starts working again. If it’s still down, check Ticketmaster’s social media pages – they will often post updates on any known issues. You can also try clearing your browser cache and cookies and restarting your device.
Should I keep refreshing the page if Ticketmaster crashes?
Yes, keep trying! Refreshing the page to reload is one of the best things you can do if Ticketmaster goes down. The site could come back up after a few minutes. Repeatedly refreshing gives you a chance to get tickets as soon as the site is back online.
What other options are there if Ticketmaster is down?
If Ticketmaster is still having problems after 15-20 minutes, try some other ticket buying options:
– The box office at the venue you’re trying to buy tickets for. You can go in person or call.
– The artist’s fan club or VIP presales – these are usually on a different ticket buying site.
– Reseller sites like StubHub or VividSeats may have tickets available even if Ticketmaster is down. Prices will likely be higher.
– Social media – some people resell tickets on Twitter and Facebook during crashes.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here is a step-by-step guide to getting tickets if Ticketmaster crashes or has issues:
1. Keep trying Ticketmaster – Refresh the page every few minutes to see if the site starts working again. The outage could be temporary. Check Ticketmaster’s social accounts for updates on any known problems.
2. Try clearing your browser – Clear your browser history, cookies, and cache then reload the page. Sometimes this can resolve issues if you’re getting error messages.
3. Use a different device – Try accessing Ticketmaster from another computer or mobile device if possible. This could let you bypass any device-specific errors.
4. Hop on Ticketmaster right when it comes back online – Don’t wait too long to re-try if you know Ticketmaster had crashed. You need to be ready to get tickets the minute the site is up again to beat other buyers.
5. Check other presales – Log into any presales you have access to through fan clubs or credit card deals. These tickets might still be available.
6. Try the box office – Call the box office number or go there in person to buy from a representative. This is one of the best options.
7. Use reseller sites – Sites like VividSeats and StubHub often have listings even when Ticketmaster is down. Prices will likely be higher.
8. Look on social media – Some people will resell extra tickets on Twitter and Facebook. Search social platforms.
9. If all else fails, don’t buy from scalpers – Never buy from shady ticket scalpers outside the venue. Only use reputable resale sites and exchanges online.
Tips to Avoid Ticketmaster Crashes
Here are some tips to avoid dealing with Ticketmaster crashes in the first place:
– Do presales – Get presale code access through fan clubs or credit card deals like Citi Card. Presales have less traffic.
– Use Ticketmaster Verified Fan – For very popular events, Ticketmaster runs Verified Fan presales. This helps manage demand.
– Buy right at onsale time – Be on Ticketmaster the minute tickets go on sale to beat traffic surges. Set an alarm if needed.
– Use the app – For high demand shows, the Ticketmaster app can work better than the desktop site. Download it ahead of time.
– Pay with Apple Pay – Apple Pay can checkout much faster than credit cards or PayPal on Ticketmaster.
– Don’t keep refreshing if it’s down – Too much refreshing can overwhelm the servers even more. Wait for updates.
– Avoid reseller sites at first – Sites like StubHub may lack inventory during crashes when sellers can’t buy either. Check them after Ticketmaster recovers.
What to Do If You Can’t Get Tickets
If Ticketmaster crashes and you still weren’t able to get tickets, don’t panic. Here are some options to try next:
– Set up alerts on resale sites – You’ll get notified as soon as tickets become available again.
– Wait until the last minute – More tickets are often released close to event times.
– Check other locations – Look for nearby shows in other cities if you can travel. Less competition.
– Negotiate with scalpers – Try getting scalpers to lower prices since they paid higher fees.
– Enter ticket contests – Radio stations and blogs may do ticket giveaways.
– Consider other events – If it just isn’t meant to be, look for similar events that may have tickets.
How Can Ticketmaster Prevent Crashes
Ticketmaster crashing is a headache for fans and the company. Here are some ways Ticketmaster could likely prevent crashes and technical issues:
– Upgrade server capacity – More servers and bandwidth could handle big traffic surges better.
Action | Expected Improvement |
---|---|
Upgrade server capacity | Handle big traffic surges better |
Use queue system | Control flow of users accessing sales |
Limit ticket availability | Reduce initial demand with more presales |
– Use queue system – Let users wait in a digital line instead of all rushing in at once.
– Limit ticket availability – Reduce some of the initial demand by offering more presales.
– Upgrade app and site – A modern, well-coded website and app could handle load better.
– Stress test before onsales – Simulate traffic for upcoming big events to find weak points.
Making upgrades like these would require significant engineering and development resources. But fewer crashes means happier customers, so it would be a smart long-term investment.
Should Ticketmaster Switch to Another Ticketing Service?
Some people believe Ticketmaster should drop their own ticketing platform and switch to a dedicated third-party service instead. Would using an outside ticketing service like AXS or eTix help? Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros of Using Third-Party Ticketing:
– May be more advanced technology built specifically for ticketing
– Can handle heavy traffic surges if scaled properly
– Engineers can focus fully on ticket sales rather than other TM products
– Could improve reliability and uptime metrics
Cons of Using Third-Party Ticketing:
– Loss of control and visibility into sales data
– May lack important Ticketmaster features fans expect
– Still a risk of outages if third-party isn’t scaled properly
– No guarantee of improvement over current system
There are solid arguments on both sides. Ultimately, Ticketmaster is likely sticking with their own platform because the pros of control and integration outweigh the potential upside of switching. But they should still learn from ticketing-focused companies on how to create more reliable systems.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips to remember about dealing with Ticketmaster outages:
– Refresh constantly – This gives you a chance to hop on as soon as service resumes.
– Use presales – These typically have less traffic and crashing issues.
– Try other devices – A different computer or phone could let you bypass device-specific problems.
– Have backups ready – Check box offices, fan clubs, and resale sites if Ticketmaster fails.
– Set up alerts – Get notified the minute more tickets become available on resale sites.
– Don’t buy from scalpers – Only use reputable resale exchanges to avoid scams.
– Provide feedback – Fill out feedback surveys and social posts to let Ticketmaster know the impacts of crashes.
While Ticketmaster has improved over the years, crashes still happen. Having backup plans can help you get tickets even in the face of website issues. With smart preparation, you can score seats even when problems arise.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster website and app crashes can derail your plans to get tickets to your favorite concerts and events. But even when the unpredictable happens, there are ways to increase your chances at getting seats. Refreshing repeatedly when issues hit, utilizing presales and box offices, and pouncing as soon as service resumes can help you secure spots. For extremely popular events, you may just need persistence, preparation, and a little bit of luck. Understand why crashes happen, have backup plans ready, and don’t panic. With the right strategy, you can still get the tickets you want even when Ticketmaster struggles. The show will go on.