How to Save Money on Concert Tickets

Concert tickets have seen a significant increase in price over recent years, making it challenging for fans to experience live music events. The escalating costs are influenced by factors such as inflation, increased production expenses, and dynamic pricing models. This article provides practical strategies to help individuals save money when purchasing concert tickets.

Securing Tickets Early

Being proactive is a primary strategy for obtaining concert tickets at their original face value, to avoid inflated secondary market prices. Signing up for artist fan club newsletters and official venue or promoter mailing lists often provides early access or presale codes.

Credit card companies frequently offer exclusive presales, allowing cardholders to purchase tickets before they are widely available. Major providers like American Express, Citi, Capital One, and Mastercard often have dedicated entertainment programs or benefits portals for their cardholders. Access to these presales may require using the specific credit card for the purchase or entering a portion of the card number as a code. Setting up alerts for specific artists or venues can also notify prospective buyers when tickets are about to go on sale, enabling swift action.

Exploring the Resale Market

The secondary ticket market operates on principles of supply and demand, leading to fluctuating prices that can sometimes offer opportunities for savings. Reputable platforms such as Ticketmaster’s verified resale, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, TickPick, and TicketSwap facilitate these transactions. When using these sites, prioritize platforms that offer buyer protection policies to safeguard against fraudulent tickets.

Timing is a significant factor when navigating the resale market; prices often change as the event date approaches. For some shows, tickets may become cheaper in the final week or even on the day of the concert as sellers try to offload unsold inventory. However, for highly popular events, prices might continue to rise, so this strategy carries some risk. Some primary ticketing platforms, like Ticketmaster, also offer “Face Value Exchange” programs, allowing individuals to sell or buy tickets at their original price. Always avoid unofficial sellers or websites, as these can be sources of scams and invalid tickets.

Minimizing Overall Costs

Beyond the base ticket price, several additional expenses contribute to the total cost of concert attendance. Common ticketing fees include service fees, processing fees, delivery fees, and facility charges, which can add substantially to the ticket’s face value. While often unavoidable for online purchases, buying tickets directly from a venue’s physical box office can sometimes eliminate certain online service and processing fees. Some platforms may also implement “all-in” pricing, where all fees are included in the displayed price, providing transparency.

Transportation and parking costs can also add up, so consider carpooling with friends, using public transportation, or opting for ride-sharing services. These alternatives can reduce fuel expenses and expensive parking fees associated with large venues. To save on food and beverages, which are overpriced at concert venues, eating a meal before the event is advisable. Bringing permissible snacks and sealed water bottles, if allowed by the venue’s policies, can further reduce concession spending.

Leveraging credit card rewards or cash back programs can offset ticket purchases. Some credit cards offer points or cash back for entertainment spending, which can be redeemed to reduce the cost. Finally, choosing different seating sections, such as “nosebleed” seats, or attending shows at smaller, more intimate venues can result in lower ticket prices and a more budget-friendly experience.