Surviving The Headache of Buying Concert Tickets
With numerous tours being announced, the stress of sitting in the queue and hoping you’ll get in to score tickets on Ticketmaster has returned. Buying tickets can be less stressful as long as you plan accordingly. Here’s your guide on how to make this stressful process easier!
Seating Maps Are Your Best Friend
The good thing about tour announcements is that companies release seating maps with prices for each section. If you have an idea of where you want to sit, whether you want to be as close as possible or don’t care how far you are, you can plan how much money you want to spend from the seating maps.
The seating maps also help you gauge what kind of arrangements a venue may have, such as general admission versus all seated. Smaller venues may have general admission on the floor whereas larger ones may be completely seated. This can also be helpful if it’s a venue you’ve never been to before.
Staying Connected
Chances are you already stay highly up-to-date with your favorite groups, especially once a tour is announced. This is super important since their official pages will likely share any and all information regarding the tour, such as days the tickets go on sale, cities they will be visiting, and any updates as the tour goes on. The concert promoters will be the main accounts sharing this information, then the group usually reposts them themselves. Follow promoters such as SubKulture, MyMusicTaste, and POWERHOUSE for direct updates.
Make Plans
Going with a friend? Planning to travel? Going to more than one show? It’s all about having a plan!
Before anything though, it’s important to set up an account where the tickets are being sold. Typically, it will be Ticketmaster, but it may also be AXS. Having the account early will save you time when tickets go on sale. It may also help to save your payment information early so the checkout process goes even faster.
If you’re planning on going with a friend, discuss your plans early! It’s important to get on the same page so when the tickets go on sale, you can make the purchase smoother. This can go for how much money you’re willing to spend, where you want to sit, and if necessary, who’s driving! Getting as much of a plan together will only help you in the long run.
Have A Strong WiFi Connection
One of the most important parts of buying tickets is making sure your WiFi is strong and won’t lose connection. The last thing you want is to make a lot of progress in the queue only for your WiFi to cut out and you lose your spot. If possible, be in a place where it’s less crowded so there’s less people on the WiFi that could slow you down.
The best thing to do once you click on your tickets and hit the purchase button is to WAIT. We all know technology has its issues, so make sure to wait until you have your confirmation number, receipt in your email, and the screen that says “You Got Them!” has popped up. That will 100% confirm the tickets are yours and you can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Don’t Panic If You Don’t Get Tickets Right Away
Sometimes it can take as long as an hour before seats you want pop up and you’re able to score them. Be patient! Many times, tickets will sit in someone’s cart and they end up expiring, which re-releases them to be available on the seat map again.
If it’s been a really long time, there’s always the option of calling the box office to see if they have any tickets held there or trying third party sites such as StubHub. The only risk with third party sites is the prices are usually significantly higher. You can also search tags on Twitter or join Facebook groups that are for a specific tour stop and see if anyone is selling there. Just approach this method carefully, requesting all proof before making any sort of payment.
While ticketing can be stressful, the feeling of relief when you finally have them in your possession is like no other. Celebrate as much as you want when you get them. The hardest part is over. Now go get your lightstick and plan that concert outfit!
Edited by Rashelle B.