Getting tickets to see Taylor Swift live in concert is notoriously difficult, with huge demand that far outweighs the available supply of seats at her shows. Swift’s popularity has only continued to skyrocket over the years, as she has cultivated an extremely passionate fanbase of “Swifties” who are eager to see their favorite performer live. This leads to intense competition when ticket sales begin, with tickets immediately selling out in minutes or even seconds.
So what can dedicated fans do to try to secure the coveted tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert? While there is no foolproof method to guarantee you’ll get tickets, there are some tips and tricks that may improve your chances. Here is a guide to some of the best practices for giving yourself the best shot at getting Taylor Swift tickets.
Register for Pre-Sales
One of the most important things you can do is sign up for pre-sales that give fans early access to purchase tickets before the general public on-sale. There are typically various pre-sales before each tour, including artist presales, venue/promoter presales, and presales for members of fan clubs or credit card holders. Registering for these in advance is key, as it gets your foot in the door ahead of the hugely popular general on-sale.
Join the Fan Club
Joining Taylor Swift’s official fan club, Taylor Nation, is a great way to access special presales and other opportunities to get tickets. On past tours, members have had exclusive pre-sale windows to purchase tickets as well as access to VIP packages with premium seats. The fan club membership usually costs around $5-10 for a year and also gives you access to lots of other cool Taylor content and merch.
Follow Taylor’s Social Accounts
Stay on top of Taylor’s social media accounts, especially Instagram and Twitter. She will often announce presales and other ticketing information through posts there so it’s important to be following along in real time. Turn on notifications so you don’t miss any big announcements that may be time-sensitive!
Sign Up for Verified Fan
Many big tours now use Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system, which Taylor has utilized for pre-sales in the past. This requires fans to register ahead of time and get a unique code to access the presale. Keep an eye out for these opportunities when new tour dates are announced and make sure to register as early as possible.
Prepare Your Devices
When it’s time for the actual on-sale, having multiple devices ready to go will give you the best odds at scoring tickets. Set up accounts with the ticketing provider ahead of time and be logged in on as many laptops, phones and tablets as you can. Use different internet connections too if possible. This allows you to click through on different devices/networks, since venue traffic often overloads and crashes.
Be Ready to Act Fast When On-Sale Starts
Once the clock strikes on-sale time, speed is absolutely crucial. Have the ticket queue already pulled up and be ready to refresh right at the listed start time. Don’t hesitate or get stuck entering info – get through as quickly as possible! For big shows like Taylor’s, tickets sell out literally within seconds or minutes. You have to be ready to act instantly to claim tickets.
Use Presale Codes
If you were lucky enough to get special presale codes through any of the above methods, make sure to have those ready to enter during the presale window. This will give you access before the general public. Presale codes are typically emailed out ahead of time.
Consider VIP Packages
If regular tickets immediately sell out, don’t lose hope! There are usually more expensive VIP ticket packages offered that include extra perks like premium seating, exclusive merch, and more. These cost more but can greatly improve your chances of scoring tickets.
Keep Trying If You Don’t Succeed at First
Persistence is key when trying to get popular concert tickets. If you don’t succeed in grabbing tickets at first, keep checking back for any releases of holds or extra tickets. Sign up for waitlists that venues may offer. Follow fan exchange boards and secure any tickets being resold at face value. Don’t give up hope!
Use Reputable Resellers – But Beware Major Markups
If you simply can’t get any tickets through official channels, using a verified ticket reseller is an option – but you will pay very inflated prices. StubHub is an example of a large secondary marketplace. There are risks involved with resellers, so carefully check reviews and buyer guarantees offered before purchasing. Avoid shady sellers and exorbitant markups. Make sure to compare prices across platforms.
Here’s a look at average prices for Taylor Swift tickets on the secondary market:
| Tour | Year | Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation Tour | 2018 | $500 |
| 1989 Tour | 2015 | $325 |
| Red Tour | 2013 | $150 |
As you can see, Taylor Swift tickets on resale sites cost a premium, frequently 2-10x face value. The huge demand allows resellers to drive up prices.
Be Wary of Scams
There are a lot of ticket scams out there, so buyers need to be very cautious when considering resellers. Never pay with unusual methods like gift cards or wire transfers. Fake ticket scams are common online. Only use trusted companies with buyer guarantees.
Compare All the Ticket Sites
Don’t limit your search to just one ticket reselling platform. Check Vivid Seats, StubHub, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster and more to find the best ticket deals. Prices can vary between sites so it pays to shop around. See who has the lowest prices or best seats for your budget.
Consider Last Minute Buys
Ticket prices often drop leading up to the event as resellers slash prices to unload inventory. Keep checking back for deals, even waiting until the last minute. Just don’t wait too long or you risk there not being any tickets left! It’s a gamble.
Attend Multiple Shows or Cities if Possible
Another tactic is to try getting tickets to several shows on the tour, or even in different cities if you can travel to see Taylor. The more shows you’re open to attending, the more chances you have to score tickets. Aim for smaller markets and weeknight shows with lower demand.
See Which Cities Get Added Later
Often additional tour dates are announced after the initial on-sale. Pay attention to which new cities get added and target those for less competition. The most in-demand cities sell out quickest.
Make a Taylor Weekend Out of It
Plan a whole weekend around seeing Taylor Swift! Make a fun trip out of traveling to another city for a show. See the local sights and turn the concert into a bigger experience. Plus this increases your odds by adding more shows to choose from.
Split Up and Try for Different Cities
Get creative by having friends or family try for tickets in other cities while you focus on your nearest show. Cover more ground and combine forces! You can always meet up later. This “divide and conquer” approach improves your chances.
Be Willing to Make Sacrifices
At the end of the day, you may need to make some sacrifices if you’re dead set on getting Taylor Swift tickets. That could mean paying more than face value, traveling for shows, taking time off work to wait in queues, or waiting hours in bad weather. Only you can decide what the right amount of effort or money is for you. For some fans, no price is too high to see their favorite artist.
Save and Budget Accordingly
Don’t take the costs lightly. between travel, lodging, ticket prices and more, seeing Taylor Swift live gets expensive! Make sure to budget appropriately so you don’t go broke trying to make the concert happen. Be responsible with your finances.
Line Up Early If Needed
Some artists still sell tickets at box offices, so check ahead of time if Taylor is utilizing this. Fans line up extremely early, sometimes camping overnight to get tickets! Come prepared with warm clothes, food, water, chairs etc. Arrive early to improve your spot in line.
Take Time Off Work If Possible
Many big on-sales happen on weekdays at 10am local venue time. If your work schedule conflicts with this, see if you can take time off or work remotely to access the on-sale. Having the flexibility to be online at that exact moment when tickets go live can be make-or-break.
Travel to See More Shows
Look at the full tour routing to see if hitting multiple tour stops is feasible. Some fans follow tours for weeks! But even traveling to a couple nearby cities can seriously increase your ticket chances compared to just your own market.
Conclusion
Scoring Taylor Swift concert tickets is no easy feat, but with preparation, persistence and flexibility, it’s possible. Utilize all presales, act lightning fast at on-sale time, and be open to paying more or traveling if needed. While nothing can guarantee tickets, following these tips will maximize your chances of success in the intense competition that is Taylor Swift ticketing. So get ready Swifties, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
