Ticketmaster offers a fan verification program that allows fans to get early access to purchase tickets for in-demand events before the general public sale. This program helps ensure that more tickets get into the hands of “real fans” and not scalpers or bots looking to resell tickets. Here’s everything you need to know about verifying yourself as a fan on Ticketmaster.
How does Ticketmaster fan verification work?
Here’s the basic process for Ticketmaster fan verification:
- A tour or event will announce it is using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program for its presale.
- Fans register for the Verified Fan presale during the registration period, usually about 1 week before the presale.
- Ticketmaster uses its proprietary algorithm to verify fans and weed out potential scalpers or bots.
- Verified fans receive a unique code to access the presale and purchase tickets before the general public.
- Tickets then go on sale to the general public following the fan presale.
The fan verification helps level the playing field so that all fans have a fair chance at great tickets for popular events. It aims to get more tickets directly into the hands of the artists’ core fans.
Why verify myself as a fan?
There are a few key benefits to verifying yourself as a fan on Ticketmaster:
- Get exclusive presale ticket access: Verified fans get access to presales before tickets go on sale to the general public. So you have first pick of tickets.
- Better tickets: In many presales, the best inventory is reserved for verified fans. So you have a shot at the best seats before anyone else.
- Avoid sell-outs: Big concerts and events often sell out right away. Verifying yourself helps avoid missing out.
- Save time: You won’t have to scramble and panic when tickets officially go on sale. Presales are more organized.
- Beat the bots and scalpers: The verification process helps prevent bots and scalpers from gobbling up all the tickets.
The bottom line is that verified fan presales give you the best chance at scoring great seats to see your favorite artists and bands in concert before the masses buy tickets.
What are the requirements to verify myself as a fan?
Ticketmaster looks at a few key factors to determine if fans should get verified for presales. Here are some of the requirements:
- You must have a Ticketmaster account that you created with a valid email address and password. Fake or dummy accounts will not work.
- Your Ticketmaster account must have a history of purchasing tickets in the past with that same account.
- For major touring artists, you’ll likely need a history of attending that artist’s concerts specifically.
- Your social media accounts may also be cross-referenced to see if you follow or engage with the artist online.
- If the event requires registration, you have to register during the specific registration period.
So Ticketmaster looks at your full history as a fan – on their platform and social media – when determining who gets verified and who doesn’t. Longtime, loyal fans active on social media have the best shot.
How does Ticketmaster verify fans?
Ticketmaster has not publicly revealed all the specifics of how it verifies fans, in order to protect the integrity of the process. But here is an overview of how it works:
- Account history analysis: As mentioned above, they closely review your full Ticketmaster account history and activity to look for patterns that match real fan behavior.
- Registration data: When you register for a presale, you may have to provide additional info like phone number, birthday, last shows attended, etc. This can help verify identity.
- Social media screening: Cross-referencing social media activity like who you follow and engage with on Twitter and Facebook. These must demonstrate real fandom.
- Cross-referencing data: Your info gets cross-checked across Ticketmaster’s databases and other sources to look for suspicious patterns. Things like matching addresses, payment info, etc.
- Scalper screening: They screen for known scalpers who create fake accounts andregistrations.
- Bot detection: Bots are blocked from registering and purchasing tickets throughout the process.
Ticketmaster has put major investments into their verification technology over the years to continue improving it. The key for fans is proving your identity, history as a genuine fan consistently across both Ticketmaster and social media.
Are there any guarantees?
Unfortunately Ticketmaster does not guarantee that registering for a presale means you will 100% get verified. Their statement says:
Registering does not guarantee you’ll receive a code good for the presale.
So even if you meet all the suggested requirements – longtime Ticketmaster account, social media activity as a fan, etc. – there is no guarantee. Ticketmaster’s system looks at huge volumes of data across millions of accounts and uses algorithms to try and determine the truest fans.
Some reasons you may not get verified, even if you feel you qualify:
- Too many other fans registered with stronger data showing fandom.
- Suspicious patterns were detected in your Ticketmaster history.
- Not enough varied events attended in the past on Ticketmaster.
- Lack of recent social media interactions demonstrating fandom.
- Scalpers or bots are getting smarter at avoiding detection.
At the end of the day, the verification is not an exact science, as Ticketmaster is trying to quickly sort through millions of accounts. So nothing is ever guaranteed. The best fans can do is be sure your accounts look as authentic as possible.
What if I don’t get verified?
If you register for a presale but do not get verified, here are a few things you can try:
- Double check your inbox for any emails from Ticketmaster with instructions. Sometimes the verification emails wind up in spam folders.
- Reach out to Ticketmaster Fan Support via live chat online or on social media to inquire about status.
- Review the reasons you may not have been verified above and try to correct any issues.
- Keep registering and improving your accounts for future presales.
- As a last resort, wait for the general public on sale.
Gaining long-term Ticketmaster purchase history and having more varied social media interactions as a fan will increase your chances for future presales. But unfortunately if you didn’t get verified for a particular onsale, there are limited options to try and get tickets during the presale period itself.
Tips for improving chances of verification
Here are some top tips for fans to get verified for Ticketmaster presales:
- Create your Ticketmaster account early – Give yourself a robust purchase history by creating your account years in advance.
- Attend as many events as possible – Go to as many concerts, games, theater shows, etc. to build up your overall Ticketmaster event history.
- Focus on the artist – If it’s a concert presale, specifically attend as many past shows for that artist as possible.
- Engage on social media – Follow the artist and actively like, share, comment, and interact with their posts.
- Cross-link accounts – Be sure your social media and Ticketmaster accounts use matching names, handles, and profile pics.
- Provide accurate info – When registering, give factual info about past shows, locations, and real identification.
Gaming the system is risky and can get your accounts banned. The best approach is authentic, long-term fandom both on Ticketmaster and social media. That will maximize your shot at getting verified and those coveted presale tickets.
Conclusion
Getting verified as a fan on Ticketmaster is the key to unlocking presale ticket access before the general public. Make sure your Ticketmaster account has an extensive purchase history, especially for the artist you want to see. Cross-reference with social media accounts that demonstrate real fandom. While there are no guarantees, following Ticketmaster’s criteria as closely as possible will maximize your chances of getting that coveted verification. That then lets you beat the masses and snag amazing seats as a true fan.