Whether it’s cheaper to buy concert tickets early or late is a common question for music fans. The answer depends on various factors, including the artist’s popularity, the size of the venue, and timing of the concert. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of buying tickets early versus late.
Buying Tickets Early
There are some potential advantages to buying concert tickets early:
- Access to presales – Artists and venues often hold presales for fans and customers to buy tickets before the general public. Presales usually offer tickets at face value before dynamic pricing and sell outs occur.
- Better seat selection – Buying early gives you access to the full seating chart, before the best seats are snatched up. You’re more likely to get your desired seats or general admission positioning.
- Peace of mind – You won’t have to stress about the concert selling out if you secure tickets months in advance.
Potential Disadvantages of Buying Early
However, there are also some downsides to buying too far in advance:
- Less flexibility – Your plans could change between buying tickets and the event date. Late-release personal tickets have transfer and resale restrictions.
- Higher fees – Booking fees are sometimes higher on early ticket releases. Fees may be marked down closer to the event.
- Overpaying – Artists often use dynamic pricing, with tickets starting lower and rising. Early buyers may pay more than late ones.
Buying Tickets Late
On the other hand, waiting until late in the game to buy tickets has some advantages:
- Potentially cheaper tickets – As events get closer, artists may release discounted tickets to fill seats.
- Avoid sell outs – Long sold-out events will sometimes release last-minute tickets.
- Fewer booking fees – Fees are sometimes lower with last-minute buys.
Potential Disadvantages of Buying Late
Yet buying late also comes with risks, such as:
- Limited availability – The most popular concerts will sell out quickly. Last-minute tickets may not be released.
- Worse seats – The best spots are usually snapped up early. Late buyers often get distant seats or obstructed views.
- Counterfeits – Scammers sell more fake tickets close to event dates.
- No time to transfer – Late purchasers have little time to resell or transfer tickets if plans change.
When to Buy Concert Tickets
So when is the best time to buy concert tickets? Here are some tips:
- Popular artists: Buy early – Fans snap up tickets quickly for big names. Presales and early ticket releases are best.
- Smaller venues: Buy early – Intimate club shows and theaters have limited tickets. They may sell out months in advance.
- Major tours: Buy 3-4 months out – This balances selection and potential discounts for big tours. Prices usually start to drop a few months before.
- One-off concerts: Buy 1-2 months out – Special one-time shows often have good availability lasting closer to the event.
- Weekday shows: Buy late – Less demand makes last-minute deals more likely for weekday performances.
Check the artist’s history in the region when considering timing. Have their past concerts sold out instantly? Or were tickets available even the week of? Gauge demand before deciding when to buy.
Tips for Saving Money on Concert Tickets
Besides timing your purchase, there are other ways to get cheap concert tickets:
- Find presale codes – Sign up for fan clubs and follow social media to get special presale ticketing info.
- Be flexible – Going on off-nights like Tuesdays can mean better deals.
- Buy upper level or single seats – You’ll have more options if you don’t need groups of seats together.
- Check venue release calendars – Some theaters and clubs gradually release seats over time as the event nears.
- Consider restricted view – Limited visibility seats are discounted but still let you get in the door.
- Wait until the last minute – Try your luck on game day discounts.
Use Reputable Sellers
Always use trusted major ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster or StubHub over unofficial third parties. This helps avoid counterfeit tickets.
Should You Buy Concert Tickets Early or Late? The Verdict
So what’s the final verdict? In most cases, the earlier you buy concert tickets, the better – especially for major shows at small venues. The biggest factor is demand. If a show is likely to sell out quickly, early is the way to go to secure tickets. Buying late can pay off for smaller artists or last-minute concerts with availability. Time your purchase using the artist’s track record and venue size as your guide.
While buying too early can sometimes mean overpaying, you’re more likely to end up with great seats at face value if you buy presale or shortly after the general on-sale. Late buyers may luck into good deals but also risk missing out altogether. To maximize savings while still getting tickets, target buying around 1-3 months pre-concert depending on the event size.
Should You Buy Concert Tickets on the Secondary Market?
In addition to buying tickets directly when they are first released for sale, you can also get tickets later on the secondary market from resellers and ticket exchanges. Here are some things to consider when buying concert tickets on the secondary market:
- Prices may be above face value – Popular shows will command premium pricing on secondary markets.
- More options for sold out events – Secondary markets may be the only way to get tickets if a show initially sells out.
- Less chance of fakes – Reputable resellers help avoid counterfeits.
- Transaction fees – Expect to pay above list price due to reseller fees.
Overall, buying on secondary markets expands your options but usually comes at a higher total cost. Weigh paying more against the convenience and security of getting tickets through an established platform.
When to Buy on Secondary Markets
Here are some best practices for scoring deals on secondary concert ticket marketplaces:
- Following presales – Fans sometimes resell at a premium right after securing presale access.
- Right at general on-sale – Seasoned resellers snag tickets early to flip.
- 1-2 weeks before the event – Prices tend to dip as sellers scramble to offload inventory.
- Day before or day of – Last minute excess can mean great deals.
Timing your secondary market purchase right can score you tickets below average resale prices. Keep a close watch on listings leading up to the event.
How Dynamic Pricing Affects Concert Ticket Prices
In recent years, dynamic pricing has become more prevalent in the live event ticketing industry. With dynamic pricing, ticket prices fluctuate over time according to demand. As a concert gains popularity or sells out quickly, prices rise. When interest is low, prices drop to incentivize purchases. Both primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and secondary resellers use forms of dynamic pricing.
Impacts of Dynamic Pricing on Consumers
Dynamic pricing has some key impacts on concert ticket shoppers:
- Higher prices for high-demand events – Popular shows will have prices increased to capture more profit.
- Incentives to buy early – The lowest prices are usually available right at the initial on-sale.
- Constant fluctuations – Prices change continually based on supply, demand and competitor listings.
- Uncertainty on “best” time to buy – Prices are less predictable versus fixed pricing models.
Savvy fans need to factor in dynamic pricing swings when timing their ticket purchase. Buying early often avoids the biggest markups.
Tips for Beating Dynamic Pricing
You’re less likely to fall victim to extreme dynamic pricing by doing the following:
- Buy early during presales and general on-sales – This locks in tickets before spikes.
- Comparison shop all sellers – Check both primary and secondary marketplaces.
- Set price drop alerts – Resellers let you get notified if prices decrease.
- Buy just before the event – At the last minute, prices can drop.
Keeping tabs on multiple sellers gives you price transparency. Move quickly if you spot a good deal before it disappears.
How Ticket Resale Restrictions Affect Concert Prices
Ticket resale restrictions are policies that limit the ways consumers can resell event tickets. Things like non-transferrable tickets and maximum resale pricing are becoming more common. Restrictions aim to discourage scalping so more fans can get affordable access.
Types of Ticket Resale Restrictions
Some of the most common concert ticket resale restrictions include:
- Limits on transfers – Tickets can only be used by the original purchaser.
- Caps on resale prices – Resellers can’t exceed a certain percentage over face value.
- Limits on resale platforms – Tickets must be resold only on approved marketplace exchanges.
- Canceling unfairly priced listings – Sellers get tickets pulled down if priced egregiously high.
Impacts on Prices
In general, industry insiders agree that ticket resale restrictions tend to achieve the goal of keeping more tickets at fair, affordable prices. Yet the policies aren’t perfect. Potential side effects include:
- Difficulty transferring tickets – Buyers have less flexibility if plans change.
- Reduced supply on secondary markets – There are fewer tickets in circulation for comparison shopping.
- Arbitrarily low price caps – Limits below true market value incentivize unfair practices like bundling.
While increased regulation aims to protect consumers, fans lose some choice. As with any policy, there are trade-offs to consider.
Conclusion
Finding concert ticket deals requires factoring in many variables. Timing your purchase right based on demand indicators and restrictions is key. While buying late can occasionally score deals, the biggest savings are often found buying presale and general on-sale tickets. Beyond timing, leveraging presale codes, flexibility, and price drop alerts help consumers gain an advantage. With dynamic pricing and regulations in flux, staying savvy is crucial for fans to keep enjoying live events.