Getting tickets to popular concerts, shows, and sporting events through Ticketmaster can be a stressful and competitive process. With high demand events often selling out in minutes, fans need to strategically time when they go online to have the best shot at scoring seats. So how early should you get on Ticketmaster to beat the rush and purchase tickets? Here are some tips and best practices for timing your Ticketmaster visits.
Check When Tickets Go On Sale
The first step is to find out exactly when the tickets you want go on sale. Generally, tickets for high profile events go on sale around 10AM local venue time. However, onsale times can vary, so check the event page on Ticketmaster or sign up for alerts from the artist/team to get an email notification about the exact onsale date and time.
Onsale times are usually announced 1-2 weeks ahead of the date, so be proactive in looking for this information instead of waiting until the last minute. Planning ahead gives you time to prepare and increases your odds of getting through.
Get Ready Early On Onsale Day
You’ll want to be ready and waiting online at least an hour before the published onsale time. While you can’t purchase tickets before the official onsale time, you can get in the digital “waiting room” queue early. Ticketmaster will begin directing people into the queue anywhere from 30 mins to 1 hour before onsale, so you don’t want to miss the window.
Being early allows you to get ahead of the last-minute crowd. Spots in the queue are assigned randomly, but joining early improves your chances of getting one of the first spots in line.
Log In To Your Ticketmaster Account
Make sure to have your Ticketmaster account created and logged in well before tickets go on sale. Purchasing while logged in allows your information to pre-populate at checkout for faster processing. It also saves your ticket purchase history, which helps you access presales for returning customers.
If you don’t already have an account, create one for free. Verify your account is working properly by logging in ahead of the onsale rush. The last thing you want is login issues when you only have minutes to complete your transaction.
Use Multiple Devices
Your best bet is to have multiple devices (laptop, desktop, tablet, phone) logged into your Ticketmaster account 10-15 minutes before tickets go on sale. Pull up the event page on each device and get ready to click “Find Tickets” right at the sale start time.
Using multiple devices essentially gives you multiple places in the virtual line, multiplying your chances. If you get stuck, frozen, or error messages on one device, you have backups ready to go. Make sure each device is connected to strong WiFi and try clearing cookies/caches for a speed boost.
Only Buy What You Need
To avoid getting locked out of the system, only shop for the number of tickets you truly need. Don’t purchase extras with the intent to sell above face value later. Ticketmaster’s system tracks the number of tickets you’ve purchased within a certain window and across associated accounts. Buying excessive amounts can get your orders cancelled and your account restricted.
Only purchase a reasonable number for personal use to avoid issues. You can always check for more later if needed.
Have Payment Info Handy
Double check that the payment details saved in your Ticketmaster account – and across any other devices you’re using – are up to date. The last thing you want is your payment declined when you finally get through after waiting in the queue.
Make sure your credit card won’t expire before the event. If you purchased a new card recently, update the details. Test cards are authorized ahead of the onsale to reduce errors.
Payment forms that are quickest are major credit cards and PayPal. Have the information close by so you can copy it over quickly.
Look Out For Presales
Many events have special presales for groups like fan club members, credit card holders, Spotify listeners, and past ticket buyers. These typically happen 1-3 days before the public onsale. Presales are less competitive, so take advantage if you qualify.
Presale codes are usually announced via email or social media. Fan clubs, venue newsletters, and artist mailing lists are good ways to try to get presale offers.
Use an Onsale Countdown
Timing is everything when trying to purchase hot tickets. An onsale countdown tracks the seconds leading up to the start time, eliminating guesswork. Copy and paste a countdown for your specific event into your search bar to monitor when tickets go live.
Countdowns sync to the local venue time zone and are available through various ticket sites. With a countdown you can start trying exactly at the onsale instant without getting trigger happy and hitting too early.
Don’t Give Up Right Away
If tickets sell out instantly don’t abandon hope yet. Oftentimes additional seats open up over the next few minutes as holds expire and carts time out.
Keep refreshing and retrying your searches if you had tickets in your cart that disappeared. Newly freed up seats can pop back into availability randomly in the minutes after initial sellout.
Persistent fans who stick it out frequently end up landing tickets even if initially shut out.
Leverage Ticketmaster Tools
Ticketmaster offers some useful tools to enhance your purchasing experience. Take advantage of these to step up your onsale game.
Verified Fan presale rewards loyal fans by giving them early access. You must register ahead of time and get verified to participate.
Official Platinum seats are premium tickets in prime locations that Ticketmaster makes available for in-demand events. The tradeoff is higher “market value” pricing.
Have a Budget in Mind
Ticket sticker shock is real. With high demand shows, you’ll often have to act fast to purchase tickets with minimal time to consider pricing. Have a realistic budget in mind ahead of time so you can filter to affordable options quickly.
Figure out what you can reasonably afford to pay, including fees. Don’t overspend in the heat of the moment and derail your finances.
Use Caution Buying Resale
If you strike out getting tickets from the initial onsales, your only option may be the secondary resale market. Sites like StubHub let users resell event tickets, often at inflated prices.
Resale sites are risky. Scams and counterfeits abound. Buy from authorized resellers only and be very wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
Conclusion
Competing for tickets on Ticketmaster is a high stakes game that rewards the prepared. Have your account, devices, and payment ready to roll exactly at the starting time. Persist beyond initial sell outs and leverage fan presales. With the right strategy, you can land seats even for the hottest events.
Time Before Onsale | Action |
---|---|
1-2 weeks before | Look for exact onsale date and time |
1 hour before | Get in the Ticketmaster queue |
30 minutes before | Log into your Ticketmaster account |
15 minutes before | Have payment info ready |
Right at onsale time | Click “Find Tickets” on all devices |
Right after onsale | Keep trying if tickets disappear |
Key Ticketmaster Tips
- Get in the queue early
- Use multiple devices
- Have payment info handy
- Try presales first
- Keep refreshing if tickets initially sell out