Paul McCartney is one of the most iconic and influential musicians of all time. As a member of The Beatles and through his solo career, McCartney has created some of the most beloved and well-known songs in pop music history. Even now, at 80 years old, McCartney is still actively touring and performing for sold-out crowds around the world.
Seeing Paul McCartney live in concert is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any music fan. However, due to McCartney’s immense popularity and fame, getting tickets to his shows can be extremely difficult. If you want the chance to see a living legend perform live, you need to plan ahead and be strategic about buying tickets. Here is a detailed guide on the best tips and strategies for scoring Paul McCartney concert tickets.
Know When Tickets Go on Sale
The first step is finding out when tickets go on sale for McCartney’s upcoming tour dates. Usually, this information is available on his official website and social media pages several months prior to the actual concerts. Sign up for email alerts and notifications so you get an advance warning about on-sale dates and times. Mark your calendar and be ready to hop online the moment tickets become available for purchase.
Be Ready Right When Tickets Go On Sale
Timing is everything when it comes to buying coveted concert tickets. You need to be ready and waiting the minute seats go on sale. Make sure to have all your information and payment details entered and saved ahead of time on whatever ticket platform will be selling seats (Ticketmaster, AXS, etc). This saves precious seconds during the checkout process. Every second counts when crowds of fans are frantically trying to secure tickets.
Use Pre-Sale Options
Take advantage of pre-sales whenever you can. Fan clubs, credit card companies, and other groups often get first dibs on tickets during pre-sales that occur before the general public on-sale. Join relevant fan clubs or mailing lists to get special pre-sale codes you can use to access tickets early. Sign up for an American Express card, since they typically sponsor pre-sales. Scope out whether the venue or promoter offers their own exclusive pre-sales. Using pre-sales greatly improves your shot at getting tickets.
Shop Around at Multiple Ticket Outlets
Don’t just rely on one place to buy tickets! Paul McCartney concerts will have seats available on multiple ticket platforms. Check them all to see if you can find better seat options or perks. Here are some of the main sites selling tickets for McCartney shows:
- Ticketmaster – The primary ticketing site for many major concerts and shows.
- AXS – An alternative ticket marketplace owned by AEG venues.
- Vivid Seats – A large secondary ticket exchange with reseller marketplace.
- StubHub – Probably the most popular secondary ticket market.
- SeatGeek – A search engine to compare listings across multiple ticket sites.
- VIP Tickets – Sells premium ticket packages with perks like meet & greets.
Rather than getting trapped into just looking at Ticketmaster, cross-reference what seats and prices are available across all these sellers.
Leverage the Secondary Market
If you strike out getting tickets from primary sellers, don’t lose hope! Immediately check sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek where fans resell extra tickets. There will be a steady stream of last minute resale inventory leading up to show dates as plans change or extra tickets become available. Be prepared to pay higher prices, sometimes double or triple face value. But the secondary market might be your only option to score tickets as time runs out.
Use Technology to Enhance Your Search
Technology can make the ticket-buying process more efficient. Here are some tips:
- Use auto-fill browser extensions like Google Autofill or LastPass to quickly complete online order forms.
- Save your payment details and fan club log-ins in your web browser for fast access.
- Download the apps for ticket sellers to search and order on your phone.
- Set up alerts on TickPick or Ticketmaster to get notifications when specific seats become available.
- Use a ticket search engine like SeatGeek to quickly view listings across multiple sites.
Every second counts, so let technology help make your ticket search faster and more comprehensive.
Be Flexible on Dates, Cities and Seats
The more flexible you are, the better your chances of getting tickets! Consider attending multiple tour dates in nearby cities, or even traveling to see an additional show. Expand your search to include solo McCartney concerts as well as festival performances. Allow yourself to consider seats in any location, from front row to upper deck. Take whatever tickets you can get, then you can always resell or trade later if needed.
Follow Stringent Ticket Buying Rules
To avoid problems, always follow these rules when buying tickets:
- Only buy from reputable, authorized ticket sellers.
- Read all policies to avoid hidden fees.
- Double check seat locations to make sure they are together.
- Save and print order confirmation pages.
- Register tickets under your name if possible.
- Never share screenshots of digital tickets publicly.
Following ticket buying best practices prevents many headaches down the road. Don’t take shortcuts that could jeopardize your purchase.
Be Persistent and Don’t Give Up
Scoring elite concert tickets often takes persistence over multiple sales phases. Keep hunting for seats even if initial on-sales sell out fast. New blocks of tickets may be released over the coming weeks or months leading up to the performance. Visit ticket sites regularly or set up alerts to find newly available inventory.
Additionally, check back frequently as show dates approach for last minute cancellations that free up seats. With persistence and regularly checking, you can sometimes find amazing tickets even when shows are technically “sold out.” Never give up hope!
Use Caution Buying from Scalpers
When desperate, you may consider buying from an in-person scalper outside the venue. This is extremely risky, as their tickets could be fraudulent or reported stolen. Fake paper tickets are common. However, if you must use a scalper, follow these precautions:
- Meet them in a safe, public place in daylight.
- Inspect tickets carefully for tampering, misspellings or missing details.
- Pay only in cash – never digitally.
- Get physical tickets in hand, not just ticket references.
- Scan tickets before paying using a legitimate app like Ticketmaster.
- Check purchase limits (4-6 tickets per person typically).
Leverage Fan-to-Fan Ticket Exchanges
Instead of scalpers, use safer fan ticket exchanges like CashorTrade or Ticketmaster Fan Exchange. Here, fans buy/sell mostly face value tickets through monitored platforms. Strict rules protect buyers. These exchanges offer last-minute face value tickets in a secure way.
Prepare for Virtual Queues, Lotteries and Verified Fan Programs
For ultra-hot shows, traditional online sales are sometimes replaced with new ticket buying options:
Virtual Queuing: Ticketmaster and AXS sometimes use non-transferrable virtual queues instead of first-come sales. You reserve a spot in line ahead of time for a later chance to take turns buying tickets when your number is called.
Lotteries/Verified Fan Programs: Fans register in advance for a chance to get randomly selected for the opportunity to buy tickets. This helps filter out bots/scalpers and reward genuine fans.
Unique Presale Codes: Each fan receives a personalized presale code required to purchase tickets, weeding out bulk buyers.
Be ready to jump through additional hoops beyond the normal steps to get into these special programs well in advance of the shows. It’s extra work, but gives average fans an honest shot at tickets before scalpers take over.
Join the Fan Club
Some artists like Paul McCartney operate official paid fan clubs that offer ticket presale privileges, exclusive merchandise and more. This is the #1 way to get early access to tickets and preferred seating areas. Becoming an official fan club member requires planning ahead but provides invaluable benefits.
Be Ready for Quick Verifications
When ticket demand is super high, you may have to do quick extra verifications during the purchasing process:
- CAPTCHA challenges – Type in letters/numbers shown in distorted image.
- Text verifications – Enter unique codes texted to your mobile number.
- Video verifications – Record yourself or scan your face.
These verifications confirm you are human and combat bots, but cost precious time. Prepare mobile devices in advance to breeze through these steps. Don’t let extra security measures shut you out!
Use Strategies to Access More Tickets
Venues often impose ticket limits per person. But using certain strategies, you can sometimes work around caps and acquire extra tickets:
- Use different credit cards/accounts when ordering.
- Make sure family members try for tickets concurrently.
- For digital tickets, distribute across different mobile wallets.
- Buy single seats instead of all together if needed.
Think outside the box to expand your ticket purchasing capabilities. A little creativity can help land those hard-to-get extra seats!
Look into VIP or Travel Packages
If regular tickets don’t pan out, consider elite options:
- VIP Packages – Include extras like premium seating, exclusive merchandise, pre-show receptions, and photos.
- Travel Packages – Bundle tickets with local hotel stays, ground transport, and concierge services.
These luxury upgrades are pricey but guarantee great seats and exclusive perks regular tickets won’t get you. They sell out fast, so decide if elite packages are worth the splurge!
Use Payment Plans If Needed
Good seats to see Paul McCartney often don’t come cheap these days. If paying outright is unaffordable, consider financing tickets by:
- Putting the charges on a new credit card with a 0% introductory APR.
- Signing up for payment plans that break up charges over months offered directly through ticket sellers.
- Using services like Affirm that let you make installment payments on large online purchases.
Breaking payments into smaller chunks over time can make getting McCartney tickets more digestible. Just be sure you can truly afford the full costs!
Conclusion
Paul McCartney tickets will likely be in extremely high demand this year for his marathon tour. Getting tickets will undoubtedly be very difficult, but hopefully that makes scoring seats all the sweeter. Through carefully planning ahead, paying close attention to on-sale times, using as many buying methods as possible, and not giving up, dedicated fans can beat the odds and get into McCartney’s latest run of shows. Just stay patient, flexible and proactive in your search. With some dedication and luck, you’ll get to witness the living legend Paul McCartney performing live!