Event tickets

It doesn’t matter if they’re rock concerts or Broadway plays, sports events or motivational speakers, the best seats to any shows go to high-profile corporate clients or friends of the performers. What’s an everyday Joe to do? No worries, because there are “secret” ways to get great seats even where the event is sold out.

Secret #1: Invest with friends in a package deal. The choice seats for any show go to subscribers and season ticket holders. Buying a ticket package guarantees the holder an opportunity to buy tickets to special events. You can reduce the cost of buying a ticket package by purchasing a limited ticket package with some friends. Decide ahead of time that you’ll all draw straws or use a lottery system to see who gets the tickets to each special event, and agree to allow an equal number of shows or events per person to avoid disagreements.

Secret #2: Buy tickets at last minute. Even hottest events release tickets on day of performance often in choice seats. Why? These “day of show” tickets were being held for season pass holders, the performers’ friends, VIPs, or people who paid by credit card and whose credit cards ended up being declined. On the day of the show, all of these unclaimed tickets go back into inventory and go directly to the box office. How can you get them? Check 3 hours before the show to see if any tickets were released, then check again 1 hour before the show and then again at show time. Since these tickets are for seats that may not be together, you must be wiling to sit by yourself, but hey, at least you can see the show!

Secret #3: Beat the crowd. When calling to buy tickets over the phone, call during the 1 hour time period before the ticket seller is officially open. If workers are there and are ready to work they’ll answer the phone and get to you first.

Secret #4: Call around. Try calling both the local and the toll free number to see if you can get through on a less busy line first. Also try calling or visiting off-site vendors like the ones inside record, souvenir, and department stores or the ones located just outside of bigger cities. At these less-popular locations, the crowds are likely to be smaller. Often these off-site locations accept only cash which makes for faster transactions and shorter lines.

Secret #5: Do double duty. While waiting in line to buy tickets at a ticket selling vendor, use your cell phone to call all of the buy-by-phone ticket locations who are selling tickets to the same show. If you get through to an operator and can buy your tickets before getting to beginning of line you’re standing in, then you just saved yourself some wait time.

Remember, sold out events are never really sold out until the minute that the performance begins. With some perseverance and a willingness to be flexible, those tickets you crave can be yours to enjoy.