Concerts can be some of the most thrilling and memorable events, but snagging tickets at a reasonable price can be a challenge. With many different options for buying tickets, it’s hard to know where to find the best deals. Should you try your luck right when tickets go on sale? Are resellers the way to go for last-minute tickets? Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to get the most affordable concert tickets.
Buy Early Directly from the Venue or Artist
One of the best ways to get cheap concert tickets is to buy early directly from the original source. When tickets first go on sale, whether through the venue’s box office or the artist’s website, prices are usually set at face value. These prices are determined by the artists and promoters to balance affordability for fans with revenue to put on the event.
Buying direct means avoiding fees that get tacked on by resellers. You can expect to pay around $1-$3 per ticket in normal processing fees when buying from the venue or artist. In contrast, reseller sites like StubHub can have 10-25% markups in fees per ticket. As an example, if a face value ticket is $50, reseller fees could add $10 or more to the price.
The key is getting in right when tickets go on sale, which is typically announced ahead of time on the artist or venue’s social media. For very popular shows, tickets may sell out completely during the presale period. Signing up for fan clubs or follower lists can help you get access to presale code tickets before the general public sale.
Use Presale Codes
As mentioned above, presale ticket releases allow you early access to buy tickets before the general public on-sale date. Various presale code promotions are offered based on the event.
Some common options are:
– Artist fan club presales – By joining an artist’s official fan club, you may get a code to buy tickets early. Costs are typically $20-60 per year for basic membership.
– Venue presales – Signing up for a venue’s newsletter can get you advance access. This works for larger concert halls and theaters that host a variety of different events.
– Radio station presales – Local radio partners will often offer presale codes to listeners. Try tuning into the station playing the artist’s music.
– Credit card presales – Certain credit cards run special presales for cardholders, like American Express or Chase.
– VIP package presales – Buying a VIP ticket package can include getting a code for ticket presales. Packages may bundle merchandise, exclusive experiences and more.
– Spotify presales – Spotify sometimes provides presale codes for users who follow certain playlists or artists.
The key is researching presale options leading up to the on-sale date and jumping on them fast. Set calendar reminders for any presales and be ready on your computer to refresh and enter codes right as the presale starts.
Wait for the Day of Show
Contrary to what you may expect, ticket prices sometimes drop drastically on the day of the event. Why does this happen?
As the event nears, resellers lower prices to recoup whatever money they can rather than eating the whole cost of unsold inventory. Empty seats don’t earn money, so they have incentive to offload tickets. Venues also will release extra tickets held back from early sales.
The best deals pop up in the hours leading up to showtime. Of course, waiting this long risks missing out altogether. But checking resale sites like StubHub as well as the box office directly can reveal last-minute bargains if you get lucky.
Buy Upper Level or Obstructed View Seats
Fans naturally crave the most prime spots closest to the stage. However, deals emerge if you don’t insist on front row access. The upper decks and rear sections are typically more affordable than lower and floor seating. The sound is still strong from these areas.
Obstructed view tickets are another option, where pillars or other structural elements can block sight lines. Savvy attendees look for obstructed view deals to get their foot in the door, then try sneaking to better open spots once inside. Just beware of roaming ushers!
Look for Resale Ticket Deals
Resellers and brokers often get a bad rap, but they can offer substantial discounts depending on the show. Sites like StubHub and Vivid Seats let sellers list tickets for whatever price they want, and market forces push prices down for less in-demand events.
Common types of resellers include:
– Ticket brokers – Larger online agencies that buy and sell a high volume of tickets year-round. They earn profit from service and shipping fees.
– Season ticket holders – Sports or theater subscribers selling excess games or shows they can’t attend.
– Fans and other individuals – Average people selling extra tickets they held onto, sometimes at face value.
– Venue and artist resale platforms – Some official box offices now facilitate resale of tickets, like Ticketmaster’s TM+ option.
Sorting by price on resale sites reveals the best ticket deals. Don’t shy away from best offer listings where you can counter with a lower bid. With patience, you can often score tickets under face value this way.
Go For General Admission
General Admission (GA) tickets provide access to a shared open area like the floor, lawn or standing room. They are routinely cheaper than buying an assigned seat. The downside is having to arrive early to stake out a good spot.
GA tickets work best for high-energy shows where people will be dancing and packed together. Stadium concerts, EDM shows and punk gigs suit the GA experience. If the entire floor is GA, that’s always the most affordable way to be in front of the stage.
Join Fan Ticket Groups
Music fans have formed online communities to share tips about obtaining cheap and hard-to-find concert tickets. Popular examples include:
– Ticketmaster Ticket Exchange Groups on Facebook – Members can post ISO (in search of) or FS (for sale) tickets without crazy markups.
– Fan-to-Fan Ticket Groups like Paul MCCartney Tickets and Cher Tickets on Facebook – Buying and selling within a band’s fanbase keeps prices reasonable.
– Subreddits like r/Concerts – The Concerts subreddit has a weekly ticket exchange thread.
– Artist-specific forums like Grateful Dead’s Shakedown Street – Diehard fans will help each other out paying fair prices.
After joining these groups, search for the event you want and ask experienced members for guidance. Building relationships leads to access and mutual trust.
Take Advantage of Presales and Discounts
Beyond presale codes already discussed, certain groups are eligible for special concert ticket discounts:
– AARP members – Persons over 50 years old can get up to 10% off some tickets through AARP’s Movies for Grownups program.
– Military members – Retired and active duty military can receive discounted tickets with valid ID, generally 5-25% lower. Student military IDs work in some cases.
– College Students – Many venues offer student rush ticket programs. Show a current student ID and get seats on the day of the event, sometimes as low as $10-25.
– Fan club members – Belonging to an artist’s official fan club (like Backstreet Boys’ BSB Army) can provide access to special ticket allotments and promotions.
– Chase cardholders – Chase runs concert ticket offers like early entrance, discounts, and BOGO deals through Chase Experiences. Must use Chase card.
– Verizon Up members – Verizon provides pre-sales and discounts to Verizon wireless customers through its loyalty program.
Checking all the discounts you may qualify for maximizes potential savings on live shows.
Volunteer at the Venue
One unorthodox way to get into concerts cheaply or for free is to volunteer or work at the venue. Roles like ushers, ticket takers and concession vendors are often part-time and get free admission as a job perk.
Local theaters and stadiums tend to post open positions online leading up to busy seasons. The time commitment is typically a few hours per event. You need to go through training but then can pick cool events to work.
It’s a win-win – venues fill necessary staffing needs and you see shows at no cost beyond your time. Just don’t let working distract you from enjoying the music!
Enter Contests and Giveaways
Radio stations, music blogs, band fan sites, and concert promoters frequently run ticket giveaways and contests. Especially for high-demand sold out shows, contests represent a chance to win free tickets when all else fails.
Common promotions include:
– Call in giveaways – Be a certain caller and win a pair of tickets. Timing and persistence help.
– Social media contests – Follow or share a page and get entered into a drawing.
– Email newsletter contests – Read and enter from email lists like Bandsintown.
– Instagram contests – Tag friends and follow instructions to enter drawings.
– Music quizzes and games – Answer artist trivia or play a game to win.
– Creative contests – Make a video, write a song, draw art, etc. to win on skill.
– Sweepstakes entries – Simply fill out a form or vote in a poll to submit entries. Random winners chosen.
– Scavenger hunts – Search cities for clues leading to the final tickets.
Contests provide free exposure for promoters while rewarding fans’ time and creativity. Follow bands and venues on all socials and turn on notifications to never miss a giveaway opportunity.
Split Costs by Renting a Box
Private box suites and party suites are premium experiences at many larger venues. Groups can share the cost while enjoying exclusive amenities, but boxes are definitely pricey.
A more affordable spin is to split a box with other fans or groups to slash the per-person price. Most venues with boxes allow this type of shared rental. Each person still gets a comfortable reserved seat, private bathroom, waiter service, and VIP extras.
Search sites like Premium Box Office that facilitate box rentals and box sharing. Or inquire directly with the venue about availability for your event. This works well for treating clients, impressing a date, or gathering a group for a special occasion.
Buy Direct from the Box Office
While online ticketing dominates today, buying tickets in person at the venue box office still has advantages:
– No online fees – Online sales build in per ticket fees. Box office purchases traditionally avoid these.
– Establish a relationship – Getting to know box office staff can reveal insider tips.
– Last-minute deals – Unsold tickets may be released for discount at showtime.
– Avoid scams – No risk of fake online tickets; purchase directly onsite.
– Extra trust on resale – Tickets bought in person verify authenticity for future transfers.
Before driving to the box office, always call ahead to ask if tickets remain for the event you want. Note that major tours still route all sales through Ticketmaster or AXS regardless of where you buy. For smaller local shows, heading down in person to the venue works well.
Buy Early and Resell if Needed
While reselling shouldn’t be used solely as a money-making scheme, it can make sense buying early if you anticipate needing to resell your tickets.
As mentioned, prices usually start cheaper and rise over time moving closer to the event. Buying a pair of tickets during presale, then reselling one or both later at face value or with minimal markup can offset the other ticket cost.
Just beware of maximum resale limits that cap the price at which you can resell a given ticket. Sports teams and others implement these rules to discourage scalping. Be reasonable when reselling extras and disclose details honestly to buyers.
Conclusion
Great concert experiences create memories that last a lifetime. Finding affordable tickets simply takes knowing all the various sales channels and techniques. With persistence, flexibility and clever thinking, you can secure amazing seats without overspending.
The next time your favorite artist announces a tour, put these strategies to work mapping out a plan of attack. Refresh presales the moment they pop online, track contests, and don’t rule out long shots like volunteering. This comprehensive approach helps music fans on any budget fully enjoy the live performances they love.