Getting cheap concert tickets can be tricky, with prices seeming to go up every year. However, there are some great websites and resources out there that can help you find affordable tickets to see your favorite bands and artists perform live.
Compare Prices Across Sites
One of the best things you can do is compare prices across multiple ticket sites. Prices can vary quite a bit from site to site, so it pays to check a few different options. Some sites to look at include:
- Ticketmaster – One of the biggest ticket retailers, though fees can add quite a bit to costs.
- StubHub – Allows reselling of tickets, so you can find good deals if you buy close to the event date.
- Vivid Seats – Competitive pricing and a rewards program for frequent buyers.
- SeatGeek – Aggregates listings from many sites and sorts them by best deal.
- AXS – Official ticketing partner for many large venues and artists.
- TickPick – A no-fees secondary marketplace, so prices are often cheaper here.
Rather than picking just one site, check several to find the best price on the tickets you want. Prices fluctuate frequently, so check back often as it gets closer to the event date.
Look for Promo Codes and Deals
Many ticket retailers offer special promo codes and other discounts for first-time buyers, email list subscribers, etc. Sign up on sites you want to buy from to get access to the best deals. Some places to find promo codes include:
- The site’s social media pages
- Deal websites like RetailMeNot and Groupon
- Artist fan clubs and email lists
- Credit card rewards programs
- Your employer’s corporate discounts program
A little Googling can also turn up random promo code lists. Just search for “[site name] promo code” and see what you can dig up. Combining a deal code with already low prices is a great way to maximize savings.
Buy General Admission/Lawn Seats
If you don’t care where you sit or stand, general admission and lawn seats are almost always the cheapest concert ticket options. These spots usually go for 50% or more below lower bowl and floor ticket prices. So if you just want to get in the door to see the show, GA and lawn sections are the way to go.
The only caveat is that for very popular shows, lawn tickets can still sell out quickly. So you need to jump on them fast before the cheapest options disappear.
Get Tickets Direct from the Venue
Sometimes you can save a lot by cutting out the middleman and buying tickets directly from the concert venue’s box office. Venues don’t add on all the extra fees and service charges you see on third party sites.
The only issue is that the venue usually only sells tickets in person, over the phone, or via their own basic website. So you miss out on the convenience and broader selection of the big ticket retailers. But if you want the absolute cheapest way in, check what the box office has available.
Wait Until the Last Minute
This risky strategy takes some nerve, but waiting until the very last minute to buy tickets can result in huge savings. As an event date approaches, ticket prices on secondary markets like StubHub tend to drop lower and lower as sellers scramble to unload inventory.
The chance you take is missing out if another eager buyer snaps up the tickets first. But if you can hold off until a few hours before showtime, you can sometimes score half-priced seats that would’ve been full price weeks earlier.
Use price tracking tools to monitor costs and jump on great deals at the last second. You can end up paying a fraction of face value.
Join Fan Clubs
If you’re a huge fan of particular artists, join their official fan clubs to get access to special ticket presales and discounts. Musicians want to reward their biggest supporters, so fan club members routinely get first dibs on buying tickets before the general public.
This gives you early access to the best seats before they sell out or become super expensive on reseller sites. Fan club members might also receive discount codes that take dollars off the ticket price. The only requirement is paying a small annual or one-time fee to join the club.
See Shows on Weeknights
The most in-demand concert nights are Fridays and Saturdays. So you’ll generally find cheaper tickets if you opt for shows midweek instead. Weeknight events are less popular with fans who have school or work the next morning.
There’s also less competition for the discounted seats. You can buy decent tickets on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the price you’d pay for nosebleeds on the weekend. Just something to consider when you have flexibility on which night to attend.
Smaller Venues, Lower Prices
Ticket prices are heavily influenced by the size of the venue and the production. Large stadium shows with flashy effects naturally come at a premium. On the other end, tiny club and theater shows have much cheaper admission.
Seeking out more intimate venues can save you a lot of money. And you usually get a more up-close, personal experience. Definitely look at small venue tours as an affordable way to see big artists in a unique setting.
Buy a Season or Multi-Show Pass
If you plan on going to several concerts across a season or tour, look into season passes or multi-show bundles offered by venues and artists. Locking in tickets for multiple events at once can majorly drive down the per-show cost.
Venues like casinos and amphitheaters advertise season lineups where you can buy access to all events on the schedule. Certain musicians also bundle together tickets for their entire tour. Buying in bulk this way allows you to see more shows for less.
Go For Upper Level or Obstructed View Seats
Fans naturally covet the best seats closest to the action. But moving up and away can save you big on ticket prices. The highest rows in the upper decks are much more affordable than lower and floor sections.
Obstructed view seats with pillars or other distractions are also heavily discounted. As long as you can live with the imperfect viewing angle, you can grab tickets on the cheap this way.
Buy at the Right Time
Timing is everything when shopping for the most affordable concert tickets. Prices fluctuate from the moment tickets go on sale right up to when the event starts. Knowing the best times to buy can help you pounce on deals.
Right as tickets go on sale, prices are usually at their lowest. Be ready and waiting online to claim seats the moment they are released. Prices also tend to dip around 6-8 weeks prior to the event and again in the last few days as sellers offload inventory.
Avoid buying tickets a few months out when prices hit their peak due to initial frenzy dying down but before late discounts hit.
Conclusion
Finding cheap concert tickets is all about being flexible, savvy, and strategic. You want to utilize every resource at your disposal while also playing the long game tracking prices over time. Patience and persistence pay off.
Some final tips are to avoid extra fees by buying directly from venues, stick to weeknights and smaller shows, don’t be picky about seat locations, and be ready to pounce on last-minute deals as they pop up. Follow these guidelines and you’ll secure the best prices.