11 Insider Tips to Save Big on Concert Tickets:
A standing-room only pit ticket to one of Taylor Swift’s June concerts at Soldier Field in Chicago could cost you $895. Most would say that’s an incredibly high price to pay to see anyone in concert. Adele fans are prepared to pay an average of nearly $395.79 for tickets to see her shows, , based on ticketseller data.
Before you drop a few hundred (or thousand) dollars on concert tickets, here are Eleven ways to money on a live show. While every tip won’t apply to every show, you can use this list to find the strategies that will work for you
1. Check social media.
The secondhand market on sites like Facebook and Craigslist is overwhelmingly better in price than websites dedicated to ticket reselling, for the sheer reason that people on social media aren’t doing it for a profit.
They tend to be fans who wanted to make it to a show themselves, but, for whatever reason, can’t anymore. Running a search on such sites with simple search terms (“selling Drake ticket,” for instance) plus the date you’re looking for is a good way to score a deal, as long as you can verify the authenticity of the offer.
2. Wait until the last minute
I got lucky with the Adele tickets because they became available a few days before the show. This is because the insider seats that are held for record executives, pr people and VIPS’s get released a few days before a show if they are not needed.
Read my post about whether I regret those $600 tickets here.
While concert ticket prices are unpredictable, in many cases prices will drop as the performance approaches, says Chris Leyden, communications manager at SeatGeek.
Because promoters overestimate the number of seats they hold back, a flood of tickets may hit the market during the hours before a gig.
Scalpers also tend to give up in the final stretch, slashing prices on tickets they don’t manage to sell for a profit. (A Jay-Z show in New York City this winter was, in desperation, taken down to as low as $6 a seat.) So if you sleep through the initial on-sale, there’s hope yet; you just have to take the risk of waiting until the last minute.
3. Get cash back on your tickets.
I use Ebates to get cash back on my purchases.
And Ebates does give you cash back for concerts and tickets.
Ebates gets a commission from stores you shop at and they share the commission with you. Average cash back is about 7%, which is great. Right now, they are offering a $10 Gift Card when you join and spend $25.
More about Ebates Here.
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4. Buy from a reseller
Check out resale tickets from verified secondary sellers and ticket resale brokers — which can be offered at a better price and with a guarantee, according to Gary Adler, executive director and counsel of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), a nonprofit trade association.
Adele in Concert
5. Check your credit cards:
A number of credit card companies including
- Citi,
- American Express,
- and Chase
- offer concert perks for cardholders.
Sometimes it’s early access or special VIP offers to shows; other times, as was the case with Mastercard’s “Mastercard House” week this January with artists like SZA and Dua Lipa in New York City, customers can get into exclusive shows entirely for free.
6. Sit near the back
You won’t have the best view, but you’ll still hear the music. Obviously, a seat farther back at a concert costs less than sitting in the first row. Take a look at the price for nosebleed seats before you dish out more for the front sections.
7. Join your band’s E-mail list.
Digital newsletters and subscriptions have made it easier to be in the know about pre-sales and special promotions.
Sign up for your favorite artists’ email lists, and set alerts for the moment tickets are available – before sales open up to the general crowd.
Adele, among others, has tried very hard to prevent resales of tickets from other sites. Her official site caters for original sales not to bots, and fan-to-fan resale for those who genuinely cannot attend, for never more than their original value.
Those picking up tickets, priced at fair levels such as $49.50, may have to show the original confirmation e-mail and further photographic ID proof. Still, hundreds of tickets have appeared on other resale websites for as much as $35,000.
8. Try Smaller Cities
Ticket prices can vary depending on the location of the concert — even for the same artist and the same tour, Leyden says. Compare prices at concert venues to find lower prices.
“Check out the nearby shows,” Leyden says. “You don’t have to take a massive trip where you fly from Miami to St. Louis.
If you live in New York, you can do a quick weekend trip to Philly or a weekend trip to Boston.”
9. Consider Sitting solo
When searching resale options, you’ll generally see better deals on single tickets, says Jessica Erskine, a spokesperson for StubHub.
“Often someone might buy tickets in threes or fours and have one friend who can’t make it, and they’re trying to sell that one ticket,” Erskine says. “It’s so hard to find someone who’s willing to go to a show as a single guest that often you can find single-price tickets at lower prices.”
10. Concerts at the Fair
OK, maybe Adele or Taylor Swift still aren’t in your budget. If you’re not picky about who you want to see live, check the fair circuit. Some county fairs grant free admission to a concert along with paid entry to the fair, which usually costs less than a concert ticket.
11. Buy immediately – or immediately beforehand.
Ticket prices are a steep bell curve, with the cheapest rates offered right at the sale start and right before the show itself. Try to buy on the day tickets go on sale. That’s when ticket scalpers will sell some tickets just to recoup their investment.
Conclusion:
Ticket prices for major concerts don’t have to set your budget back too much. If you plan ahead and use these tips, a great concert at a reasonable price, is achievable for you this summer.