The short answer is yes, the time you get into the Ticketmaster waiting room can matter for your chances of getting good tickets to popular shows and events. Ticketmaster uses a virtual waiting room system for high demand events where all fans join a queue and are randomly assigned a spot in line once tickets go on sale. Getting into the waiting room earlier does not guarantee you will be at the front of the line, but it can help increase your odds if you join before it fills up.
How the Ticketmaster Waiting Room Works
The Ticketmaster waiting room is essentially a digital queue that fans join prior to tickets going on sale. Here is an overview of how it works:
- Fans can join the waiting room anytime during the specified window before tickets go on sale, often 1-2 hours ahead of time.
- The waiting room has a limited capacity. Once it hits capacity, no one else can join.
- Everyone in the waiting room is randomly assigned a spot in line once tickets go live.
- Being in the waiting room earlier does not guarantee you will be first, but it can help improve your odds before it fills up.
- Once in line, you wait for your turn to access tickets and make your purchases.
- The waiting room is first-come, first-served in terms of filling up the capacity.
This system aims to level the playing field and prevent bots from buying up all the tickets immediately. However, joining earlier still has some advantages if you can get into the waiting room before it reaches capacity.
Does Joining Earlier Help Your Chances?
Joining the Ticketmaster waiting room earlier can potentially improve your chances at getting tickets, though it does not guarantee it. Here are some key factors to consider:
Limited Capacity
Since the waiting room has a set capacity, getting in before it fills up ensures you secure a spot in line. If you join late, you may not get in at all and miss out on the chance for tickets. This gives an advantage to early joiners.
Random Line Order
Your actual place in line is randomly assigned once tickets go on sale. So someone who joins 5 minutes before tickets go on sale could be placed ahead of someone who joined an hour earlier. There is a degree of luck involved.
Better Odds
However, joining earlier can still improve your odds statistically. If you join when the waiting room is 80% full versus 5 minutes before tickets go on sale when it’s nearly full, your chances to be placed nearer the front of the line are better in the emptier room. But no guarantees.
Server Load
During high demand sales, Ticketmaster’s servers can get overloaded and kick people out of the waiting room. Joining earlier gives more margin for error in case this occurs, so you don’t lose your place in line.
So while joining the waiting room earlier is not an absolute guarantee of better tickets, statistics and practical factors are in your favor to improve your odds the earlier you can access the waiting room.
Tips for Joining the Waiting Room Early
Here are some tips to help maximize your chances of joining the Ticketmaster waiting room early and secure a place in line:
- Mark your calendar – Make sure you know exactly when the waiting room opens. This can be 1-3 hours before onsales.
- Reminder alerts – Set phone alerts leading up to waiting room opening so you remember and are ready.
- Use correct link – Ensure you are using the exact waiting room link for that event. Generic Ticketmaster links won’t work.
- Don’t refresh – Once in the waiting room, don’t refresh or you may lose your spot.
- Plan ahead – Allow extra time in your schedule in case waiting room opens earlier than posted.
- Check fan presales – Oftentimes there are presales days before the public onsale where waits may be less.
- Have accounts ready – Make sure your Ticketmaster account is set up ahead of time if needed.
- Beat the rush – The earlier you join once waiting room opens, the better before masses of people join.
Joining at the last minute is always a gamble. Give yourself the best shot by getting in the virtual line early.
Does Time of Day Matter?
In most cases, the time of day the waiting room opens does not impact your placement in line or chances at getting tickets. However, there are some cases where timing can provide a small advantage:
- Server loads may be lighter at off-peak hours, reducing errors.
- Fan presales sometimes occur earlier in the mornings before general public onsales.
- West Coast onsales are 3 hours behind East Coast, so less competing fans.
Beyond these niche scenarios, the time of day the waiting room opens does not typically sway your odds. The key factors are joining before it fills up and luck of the line order draw once tickets go on sale.
How Early Should You Join?
There is no set rule for exactly how early you should join the waiting room. Every fan and event will differ. However, some general guidelines are:
- At least 1 hour prior – This ensures you get in before masses of fans join at the last minute.
- 2-3 hours if high demand – Extend your lead time for very hot events where waiting room will fill fast.
- Earlier in the window – Join closer to when waiting room first opens versus near the onsale time.
- During less busy times – Joining at 5am versus 9am may have less competition.
Again, the key is getting in before it hits capacity so an early arrival time is recommended. Allow enough lead time based on the popularity of the event.
Does Device Type Matter?
The device you use to access the Ticketmaster waiting room does not impact your place in line or chances at getting tickets. You can join on desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device.
However, some devices may provide a better user experience:
- Desktop – Larger screens make navigating the site and purchasing easier.
- Mobile – Waiting room access is handy on the go. But small screens can make final ticket buying tricky.
- Laptop – Provides portability with a larger screen that mobile.
- Tablet – Also portable with more screen space than phones.
So while any internet-connected device works, choosing the right device for your personal comfort is recommended. Use what allows you to access and navigate Ticketmaster best.
Should You Use Multiple Devices?
It is possible to join the Ticketmaster waiting room on multiple devices simultaneously to try and increase your odds. However, there are downsides:
- No duplicate entries allowed – Ticketmaster’s system will detect and remove duplicated users.
- Devices may get out of sync – Updates on one device won’t reflect on others.
- Harder to coordinate – Using multiple devices adds complexity you have to manage.
- Split focus – You’ll have less focus trying to monitor multiple screens.
The preferred approach is to use a single device you are most comfortable with. Staying focused on one spot in line avoids duplication risks and splitting your attention across devices.
Should You Use Multiple Browsers?
Similarly, you can try joining the waiting room in multiple browser tabs or windows. There are pros and cons to this approach:
Pros:
- No duplicate user issues – You can use multiple browsers on one device.
- Assess backups – If one browser fails, you have backups ready.
Cons:
- Harder to monitor – More browsers means more windows to watch.
- May confusing ordering – Browser line order may not be clear.
- Split attention – Focus is divided trying to manage multiple browsers.
Using one reliable browser tab is best. But opening a spare browser window as a backup option can provide an advantage if needed. Just be mindful of splitting your focus too much.
Should Friends Try Together?
Having friends or family all try for tickets together can improve your chances in some ways:
Pros:
- More spots in line – Each person gets their own place, multiplying your odds.
- Coordinate together – You can communicate and buy desired tickets.
- Split up targets – Each person can focus on buying certain tickets.
Cons:
- Less overall coordination – Harder to coordinate all buyers.
- Duplicate purchases – May end up with extra unwanted tickets.
- Splintered focus – Group is stressed trying to work together.
Teaming up with others can get more spots in line. But make sure you coordinate well – assign tasks and communicate clearly. Too many unorganized buyers can backfire and split focus.
Is Rejoining Effective?
If you get booted from the waiting room, you may try rejoining. But this is usually not effective:
- Lose your place – You go to the back of the waiting room line.
- Look like duplicate – Ticketmaster may flag you as duplicate user.
- Miss buying window – By time you rejoin, tickets may be sold out.
- No guarantees – You could get booted again and have to rejoin.
Rather than rejoining, your best bet is to use backup browsers or devices ready in case of any waiting room failures or timeouts. Trying to rejoin is risky and often ineffective.
Key Takeaways
While joining Ticketmaster’s waiting room earlier doesn’t guarantee better tickets, it can provide some key advantages:
- Access before limited capacity is reached
- Statistically better odds for early line placement
- Buffer room for potential errors and timeouts
- Less competing fans trying at the same time
Aim to join 1-2 hours before onsale when possible. Use a single browser on your most comfortable device and eliminate distractions to focus. While luck is involved, early access helps stack the odds in your favor.
Conclusion
Getting into the Ticketmaster waiting room earlier provides favourable odds of getting a better spot in line and securing better event tickets. Joining right when it opens gives you the best chances versus waiting until the last minutes. While the line order is ultimately random, early entry helps ensure you clear the first-come, first-served hurdle and provides a statistical advantage over fans who straggle in at the end. Using preparation tips, coordination with friends, and savvy technology choices can further help maximize your opportunities. Ultimately, good timing is critical for winning access to coveted live event seats in today’s competitive online ticketing landscape.