How To Get Cheap Concert Tickets: 10 Tips for Scoring the Best Seats in the House
Seeing one of your top artists play live at a concert is a special experience, whether you’re singing along to your favorite songs or enjoying being surrounded by people who are just as excited as you are. However, seeing bigger artists in large concert venues is becoming increasingly expensive. The average cost of concert tickets has increased by 38 percent since 2018, from $90 to $120 per ticket. Luckily, there are many ways to get cheap concert tickets to see your favorite artists live.
With AAA Tickets, you can skip the ticket hunt altogether. Unlock exclusive discounts on top events and book everything you need in one place with AAA. Treat yourself to unforgettable experiences without breaking the bank.
1. Use AAA Tickets
While there are numerous ways to purchase discounted tickets, some options offer even greater value in addition to reasonable pricing. AAA members can save up to 40 percent on live events and shows, including concerts. Visit AAA Tickets to navigate to your local AAA club and purchase discounted concert tickets for a fun summer activity.
Don’t miss out on your chance to experience amazing live performances at great prices using your AAA membership.
2. Create a Game Plan
Creating an action plan for obtaining your tickets may save you more money than you think. Begin by researching upcoming tour dates for your favorite artists and upcoming shows at your local venues. Identify how you'll need to obtain these tickets, which will depend on the artist's popularity and the venue.
Registering for presale and setting up notifications can ensure you're first in line for purchasing tickets, giving you the best opportunity to find tickets in your desired price range.
If you plan to use a ticket resale platform, set alarms on your phone to ensure you check the site for available tickets. With a game plan you can maximize your chances of snagging cheap concert tickets.
3. Sign Up for Artist Newsletters
An easy way to stay informed about upcoming artist tours and concert ticket sales is by signing up for newsletters from your favorite artists. Simply navigate to their artist websites, where you'll often find the option to subscribe using your email.
If you don't frequently check your personal email, you can also follow them on social media platforms to see their posts about ticket presales and general sales. This ensures you won't miss any updates or opportunities to purchase tickets for their shows.
4. Sign Up for Presale
If you don’t have an AAA membership, signing up for ticket presales can be the best way to get cheap concert tickets. For bigger artists, several levels of presales usually occur before the general sale. To secure first access, you may need to own a specific credit card granting entry to a particular presale.
However, a secondary presale typically follows, requiring registration with your email address on the artist’s site. This ensures you receive alerts when the presale event starts and grants you access to excellent seats at better prices.
Consider adding the event to your calendar and setting an alarm so you're prepared to purchase tickets once the presale begins. Also, remember that signing up for an “artist presale” should always be free.
5. Purchase Standing Tickets
If you want a more affordable option, consider standing tickets, or general admission tickets. While seated tickets have assigned physical seating, standing tickets are assigned to a general area around the stage.
Standing tickets tend to be cheaper in a smaller theater venue, but they can also be cheaper in a larger venue if it's predominantly a standing room, as this allows the venue organizers to sell a higher volume of tickets.
Standing tickets also offer the freedom of queuing before the concert to secure a spot in front of the stage for a more immersive musical experience. However, keep in mind that more popular artists' concerts may not offer standing-room tickets or may have much more expensive “pit” tickets due to the demand.
6. Use Discounts and Promotions
AAA offers exclusive discounts on entertainment tickets, including concerts. In addition, you can save up to 20% or more on tickets to other live events.
You can also check if the ticket resale site you're purchasing from offers discounts for seniors, students or military personnel. If you qualify for any of these categories, this is an excellent way to secure ticket packages at a discounted price.
Sites offering these discounts usually have an online verification process for ticket purchasers. You’ll likely need a form of identification, such as a student card or military ID, to verify your background and age. You may need to have this identification on hand both when purchasing the ticket and upon entry to the venue.
These discounts save money and expand accessibility for different groups to enjoy live music.
7. Purchase Tickets From a Friend or Family Member
Sometimes, an online resale ticket platform may appear reputable, but buying tickets from a stranger is not always the most trustworthy option. Have you asked your community, such as friends and family members, if they know anyone they trust who is selling tickets to the concert you want to attend?
If they're selling tickets, you might be able to get them at a fairer price, especially if they're trying to get rid of them because they can't make it to the show.
8. Check Out Alternative Ticket Sources
While ticket resale platforms are popular for finding cheap tickets, you may be surprised to know about other available sources for tickets. Check to see if any of the following are available:
- Local ticket exchanges: Check out any active ticket exchanges in your area. These are more common in cities and often cater to a community of music enthusiasts. You can find ticket exchanges online or on your venue’s website. Sellers may offer discounted tickets or be open to negotiation.
- Venue box office: Although less common for larger concert venues, smaller venues may sell tickets directly, potentially at a cheaper price than those sold online. Since resale sites often charge fees upon purchase, box offices may have fewer fees attached to the tickets.
Alternative ticket sources are a great tool for finding cheaper tickets and connecting with more people in the music community in your area.
9. Go to a Concert Solo
Sometimes, it's more challenging to find a cheap pair of tickets than to purchase a single one. You might come across single tickets being sold by groups of people who have someone unable to attend the concert.
These tickets may be cheaper because it's more difficult to sell an individual ticket compared to a group of them. Going to a concert solo can be just as enjoyable an experience and a great way to meet new people who share similar musical interests.
10. Sign Up for Free Ticket Competitions and Raffles
The cheapest way to buy concert tickets is to not buy them at all but win them! It's quite common for radio stations to host free ticket competitions for concerts taking place in their local area. Additionally, keep an eye on the social media accounts of both the artist and the venue where they're performing, as they might run ticket competitions around the time the concert is happening.
However, you should ensure the legitimacy of the radio stations and social media pages hosting these competitions. If the competition requires payment to enter, it's likely fraudulent. Never provide your financial information to an unknown recipient.
If you're uncertain about a page’s legitimacy, it's best to contact them directly to verify competition details and requirements.
What Precautions Should I Take When Buying Tickets From Third-Party Sellers?
When buying tickets from third-party sellers, consider the following to avoid being scammed:
- Only use reputable websites: To avoid purchasing fraudulent tickets, only use verified ticket resale platforms. These sites should have verification processes in place to protect the buyer and ensure ticket authenticity.
- Check out seller reviews: Read independent seller reviews beforehand to ensure they're legitimate. For example, if a seller is advertising concert tickets on Facebook Marketplace, you can see if reviews exist from previous transactions. Negative reviews may indicate that the seller is untrustworthy, and therefore, you shouldn’t purchase your tickets from them.
- Be wary of extremely low prices: If a seller is selling tickets at a very low price that seems unrealistic for the artist and/or venue, the tickets may be counterfeit. Tickets are usually priced according to market demand, so significantly lower prices may be a scam.
In general, you need to trust your instincts when it comes to third-party sellers. If something doesn’t feel right about the seller and the tickets, it's best to move on to another ticket source or website.
FAQ
Below are commonly asked questions about how to find cheap concert tickets.
When Is the Best Time To Buy Cheap Concert Tickets?
The best time to buy cheap concert tickets depends on several factors, including artist popularity, ticket demand and the venue. However, the best times to buy cheap concert tickets are typically during artist presales, as these tickets are usually set at a lower price than they would be during the general sale.
Additionally, concerts that occur during weekdays rather than on weekends may also offer cheaper tickets. If you have a flexible schedule, you may consider attending weekday concerts to save on ticket costs.
Are Tickets Cheaper on the Day of the Concert?
Tickets may be cheaper on the day of a concert if there are still unsold tickets. Additionally, sellers may lower prices during the week of the event to sell the remaining tickets. However, waiting until the day of the concert to purchase tickets is a gamble, especially if it's for a popular artist, and you risk missing out on the concert entirely.
Purchase Your Concert Tickets With AAA
Your AAA Membership can set you up for the perfect concert experience, like purchasing discounted concert tickets, rental cars and preferred hotels.
Check out more AAA discounted ticket options below:
Explore the endless discounts and savings awaiting you with your AAA membership today!