Some ticket and tour sites allow you to sign up for cell updates whenever your favorite artists add new dates in your area.
Don’t assume it is sold out until you are told so by the venue Talk to people with similar music interests as you. They are likely to know about upcoming shows. Venues often release “hold” tickets a day or two before the show. These are tickets the band or promoter has “held back” and must be offered for sale if not used. Keep checking back. Bands that are growing in popularity may still be playing smaller venues. Although this is a great time to see them you should plan on getting your tickets early as possible.
Start asking around when you hear about the show. Coordinate who will buy the tickets since buying them individually will mean you sit apart. (Unless it is a general admission show. ) Keep in contact with your friends after you’ve decided to go. Make sure no one changes their minds or makes other plans and you buy a ticket for them.
Booking online or in person will offer you the same chance for good tickets. Spending the night outside the venue no longer offers the opportunities for good seats, unless general admission for this venue means standing room close to the stage. In this case, the earlier you get to the venue the higher the likelihood that you will be front and center. Find out the date and time tickets go on sale and try to book at that time. Online sites may offer bad seats for your first search. Unless the show is a guaranteed sell out you can usually refresh the search a few times and find better tickets. If your under 18, have a parent or adult guardian purchase the tickets for you, this doesn’t have to mean they spend their money, you can pay them back. Buying smaller numbers of tickets will usually result in better seats. Trying to buy 10 tickets at once will probably have nosebleed seats. Purchases online require a credit card. Box office purchases can usually use cash or credit.
You can avoid some fees by getting an e-ticket that you can print. These are easy to duplicate and since you don’t know if it’s valid until it is scanned people may shy away from buying your ticket should you need to sell. Most venues offer “Will Call” service. This is when you buy your ticket and have it waiting for you at the venue for pick up. Will Call will require you show a driver’s license and the credit card used to buy the tickets. Most require the names match on the credit card, the driver’s license and the name the tickets are being held. You should avoid waiting until the day of the show to pick up your will call tickets. Lines will be long and you won’t have time to correct a mistake (such as your tickets not being there but your card was charged). Picking up your tickets from Will Call ahead of time also gives you an option should an emergency happen and you must sell your tickets on short notice. Since the buyer can’t pick up your tickets from will call. The Will Call window is usually open during the box office’s regular business hours and extended hours the day of the show. Smaller venues may have later hours and not offer Will Call service. Call and ask before you assume.
Some bands actually go on stage at the time indicated on the ticket. There might be opening acts before the main artist performs, but don’t arrive too late. Country bands, adult contemporary artist and more family oriented events will start closer to the ticket time or at the ticket time.
Some concerts and bands have a fan base which likes to tailgate (huge parking lot party) before the show. The venue can tell you if this is expected for the show you are attending. These festivities can start in the morning and go until show time. Plan to leave early, take food, beverage, toilet paper and a change of clothes. Don’t leave your belongings unattended or your car unlocked.
Plan your wardrobe ahead of time Withdraw a reasonable amount of cash from the ATM. Pack your tickets, ID, money, cell phone, camera (if allowed), parking passes or any other confirmations. Try to eat before you leave since food at concert venues is usually poor quality or very expensive.
Arrange a neutral meeting place, perhaps someone’s house with adequate parking and centrally located. Determine a mutually agreeable time to meet for the carpool. Habitually late friends should be told an earlier time. Larger cities offer mass transit to the venue. Leave early enough to avoid the rush just before show time.
Avoid wearing high heels or sandals. These will feel very uncomfortable as you are standing up for most of the day. High heels will give you a risk you having a twisted ankle. Sandals won’t give you a broken ankle but you will still feel uncomfortable or have your toes trodden on. Trainers or sneakers are the best to wear for the concert. If you bring a jumper or coat these should be stored in the cloakroom facility as it is too hot to wear. If you are female, try not to wear anything that might get sexual attention if you don’t want it, it’s honestly not your fault if you do, just an extremely handy tip. Avoid wearing too much makeup. This won’t look great if you are crying or sweating. Sometimes the place of concert can get very hot. If possible don’t wear it at all. If you don’t feel comfortable without it, then just wear waterproof products and use a little bit. Not all venues have coat checks and the ones that do may be very busy before an after the show. It’s best you bring something manageable.
Hide your camera if you forgot to leave it in the car. Try to carry a bag that is easy to manage while at the show. The less you carry, the better. Bags should be worn over your head or easily fit between feet on the floor. The best bags close completely to avoid being picked as you walk through the crowd.
If you often leave your seats to mosh, dance, cruise the crowd, etc. , store your items in pockets or with a friend and leave your bag at home.
Smoking is prohibited in most venues. Some offer exterior or smoking areas. Be considerate and observe the rules regardless of the behavior of those around you.
The concert will last until late at night and having food in your stomach means that you won’t be likely to feel sick in the middle of the concert. Food at the venue is really expensive so it is ideal you go somewhere to get something to eat.
They may ask you to stop, confiscate your property or detain you for a portion of the show. You may be able to plead ignorance once but don’t abuse the warning. Apologize, put your camera away and don’t let them see it again. Most security or staff would prefer to warn you than throw you out but don’t push your luck by ignoring the warning. Video is usually more frowned upon than pictures and bring about swifter actions by the staff. Photos taken with camera phones are still photos. They may confiscate your phone. If you are able to get it back that night, it may be damaged, missing the sim card, in a box with 20 other phones that look just like yours and not available until an hour or more after the show.
Buying early gives you the best selection of band merchandise for sale.
Plan to arrive early to buy merchandise, especially if a coat check or cloak room is offered. If you buy a t-shirt place it inside a jacket pocket to save having to pay for two cloakroom passes.
You came to the concert to have fun, so be sure to enjoy the music. Make sure that you take lots of photos at the concert, so that you can look back on it in the future!
