When it comes to buying tickets for popular concerts and events through Ticketmaster, timing is everything. With high demand shows selling out quickly, fans are often wondering what time they can start lining up virtually to get their hands on precious tickets. Here is a comprehensive guide to Ticketmaster’s queue system and tips for giving yourself the best shot at scoring seats.
What is Ticketmaster’s Waiting Room?
For major on-sales, Ticketmaster utilizes a virtual “waiting room” system to handle the rush of traffic to the website all vying for tickets at the same time. This is in place of the old method where customers would be randomly thrown into the ticket-buying screen, with whoever happened to get through the fastest snagging the best tickets.
The waiting room allows customers to get in a virtual line ahead of the on-sale time. Ticketmaster staggers entry into the ticket-buying screen based on order of arrival in the waiting room. Early arrivals in the waiting room get priority access to tickets when they go on sale. This aims to reward fans who arrive early to get in line.
When does the waiting room open?
The waiting room typically opens 30-60 minutes prior to the scheduled on-sale time, but this can vary. Check the event page for specific waiting room open times. The waiting room may open earlier for extremely high demand shows where all tickets are expected to sell out instantly.
Getting into the waiting room as early as possible is advised, even if it means arriving an hour or more prior to on-sale. Every little advantage helps when hundreds of thousands of fans are vying for the same exclusive tickets.
Does the order I enter the waiting room matter?
Yes, the earlier you enter the waiting room after it opens, the better position you will have in line for tickets. Entering the waiting room late or right at on-sale time diminishes your chances.
Upon the waiting room opening, customers are randomly assigned a place in line. However, the order becomes based on time of arrival after the initial rush. This means joining 15 minutes after it opens is better than joining 5 minutes before on-sale.
Is it first come, first served?
Basically yes, the waiting room line works on a first come, first served basis. The earlier fans join the waiting room queue after it opens, the higher priority they will have in accessing tickets when sales begin. However…
Are there any random elements?
While the waiting room is largely first come, first served, there seems to be some degree of randomness still built into the system. Some report getting ahead of or behind people they know joined at the same time as them. So your specific place in line among people who join at the same time may be randomized to a degree.
Does having multiple browser tabs help?
Having multiple browser tabs open to the waiting room is discouraged and likely does not improve your chances. Ticketmaster works to detect and invalidate duplicate waiting room entries. The system recognizes attempts to queue in multiple tabs and clients and prioritize accordingly.
Should you keep refreshing the waiting room screen?
There is no need to manually refresh the waiting room entry screen. The system works automatically, and constant refreshing can work against you by overloading the servers. It’s best to enter the waiting room upon open and leave the screen alone aside from the occasional refresh.
What happens after you enter the waiting room?
After entering the waiting room, fans will see a screen with text and a spinner graphic letting them know they are in a virtual line. The estimated wait time shown is often inaccurate initially but becomes more precise closer to on-sale.
As the sale time nears, Ticketmaster will slowly begin advancing people from the waiting room into the ticket-buying screen based on time of arrival and order. The best strategy is being patient and keeping the waiting room tab active.
When will you get access to buy tickets?
There is no set time for when those in the waiting room will gain access to the ticket-buying screen. In general, users who joined the waiting room within the first few minutes of opening tend to get priority access before on-sale time. Those who joined after on-sale will get access later, depending on how many are still ahead in line.
For super hot shows, those arriving just a minute or two after waiting room opening may still end up waiting 15-20+ minutes after on-sale to reach the front. The more demand, the longer even early arrivals may wait post-on-sale.
Is there an advantage to using mobile vs. desktop?
There are mixed reports on whether mobile or desktop offers an advantage. In the past, some found mobile apps faster, but Ticketmaster has worked to optimize across platforms. Now most find consistency between device formats.
The safest bet is using whichever device and browser you are most familiar with navigating for ticket buying. Being comfortable with the device can help avoid wasting precious seconds due to unfamiliarity.
Does internet speed affect queue priority?
Having a strong, fast internet connection on WiFi or wired ethernet will ensure timely loading of the waiting room and ticket queues. Slow internet could get you stuck waiting on loads and jeopardize your place in line.
However, internet speed does not give any inherent advantage in terms of priority. Two people joining at the same time will get the same initial queue placement regardless of internet speed differences.
Can you share waiting room links with friends?
Every waiting room spot is tied to a specific Ticketmaster account, so sharing waiting room links or queue codes does not enable cutting the line or boosting priority. Friends must join their own waiting rooms independently.
That said, organizing a group so all enter the waiting room at the same optimal early time can improve your collective chances if you plan to buy tickets together.
Does location affect priority?
Your geographic location does not give you priority advantage in Ticketmaster waiting rooms and queues. Two fans joining from different cities at the same time will have equal waiting room placements.
The only location that might matter is if you plan to be at the venue on the day of the show. Some venue box offices hold back tickets for in-person sales.
Can you game the system?
Attempts to “game” the waiting room system, such as opening multiple browsers or devices, clear cookies, using VPNs, or other tricks tend not to help. Ticketmaster aims to detect and nullify most of these duplicate entry efforts.
Your best bet is to play by the rules. Join one waiting room from one device with one browser tab at the earliest convenient time for the fairest place in line.
Should you keep trying if tickets sell out?
If a show immediately sells out at on-sale, do not lose hope! Tickets held for presales, fan club members, VIPs, etc often get released to the general public in the hours or days after initial sellouts. The waiting room prioritizes those who joined earliest.
Remaining active in the waiting room gives you priority for these ticket releases over fans who join later or gave up. Persistence pays off!
Is Ticketmaster the only way to get tickets?
Ticketmaster has exclusive deals with many venues and artists. But it is not necessarily the only way. Here are some other options for getting tickets:
Fan club presales
Many artists run presales through their official fan clubs days before the general on-sale. Joining the fan club gives early access before the masses.
Artist & venue presales
Venues and artists often hold presales for newsletter subscribers, credit card holders, social media followers, etc. Sign up on their sites for presale code access.
Resale sites
Tickets can potentially be found on trusted resale marketplaces like StubHub after initial sellouts, sometimes even below face value.
Social media
Fans sometimes post about extra tickets they cannot use. Search fan groups on Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, etc around event dates.
Venue box office
A portion of tickets may be sold directly through the box office on the day of show. Line up early for the best shot.
Can you get good seats in the waiting room?
Getting good seats from Ticketmaster waiting rooms takes equal parts luck and strategy. Here are some tips to up your chances for scoring prime spots:
- Join immediately at waiting room open time to get ahead in line.
- Do not get distracted or step away as your time comes up or you’ll lose priority.
- Click for seats the instant you have access – prime seats go fast!
- Have the venue seating chart open so you know sections/rows to target.
- Avoid getting stuck comparing multiple seat options and slowing your checkout.
- Aim for best seats you can quickly click rather than getting picky.
While not guaranteed, properly using the waiting room system and having a strategy gives you a strong shot at getting closer to the stage and action.
Can you beat the waiting room?
The waiting room exists to level the playing field, making it unlikely to beat without going around it. Options like fan club presales or resale sites later on may offer alternative paths to tickets that circumvent the mainstream waiting room process.
Otherwise, your best course of action is embracing the waiting room system and using it properly by joining as early as possible. Gaming the system rarely works in fans’ favor.
Is the waiting room a fair system?
The introduction of organized waiting rooms has widely been praised for making buying competitive tickets more fair. Prior systems rewarded whoever randomly got through fastest while late joiners had no chance. Now everyone can line up early for an equal shot.
However, there is still some randomness and complaints abound from unlucky fans who joined right away but got stuck behind thousands still. So while fairer, waiting rooms are not a perfect solution.
Conclusion
Mastering the Ticketmaster waiting room is crucial for fans desperate for the hottest concert and event tickets. While tricky to navigate, properly using the virtual queue system can greatly improve your odds over the old chaotic methods.
Show up the moment the waiting room opens, stay patient and active in line, have your ticket buying strategy planned, and keep trying if you miss out initially. With smart tactics, fans can beat the competition and get in the room where it happens!