How to win at Ticketmaster
September 15, 2011 1:32 PM Subscribe
What's the best way to win at Ticketmaster - 2011 update
The last time we asked this was back in 2005. But maybe thing have changed in the the 6 years since.
I need get tickets for the Bridge School Benefit Concert at the Shoreline on Oct 22/23. They go on sale tomorrow at 10am on Ticketmaster. So what are the new best practices to win at this game and make sure we score some good tickets?
The last time we asked this was back in 2005. But maybe thing have changed in the the 6 years since.
I need get tickets for the Bridge School Benefit Concert at the Shoreline on Oct 22/23. They go on sale tomorrow at 10am on Ticketmaster. So what are the new best practices to win at this game and make sure we score some good tickets?
Best answer: I think that once TM is searching for tickets and you've been waiting for minutes on end, resist the urge to refresh your browser or open a new window. I stupidly both that when bidding on US Open tickets a few months ago, and I definitely got bumped to the back of the line. AFAIK, TM puts you into a queue and comes to you in turn.
posted by BobbyVan at 1:51 PM on September 15, 2011
posted by BobbyVan at 1:51 PM on September 15, 2011
Last time I tried, multiple browsers still worked, so you could try to request a 2nd set of seats if the first weren't to your liking, without giving up the first set.
posted by smackfu at 1:57 PM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by smackfu at 1:57 PM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
As noted above, have your account and payment choice already set up.
I always end up with indecipherable captchas when using ticketmaster. You should be aware if you get one that is impossible to decode, you can use the little refresh captcha button to get a new one. This can be quicker than trying to figure a goofy captcha.
posted by travis08 at 2:04 PM on September 15, 2011
I always end up with indecipherable captchas when using ticketmaster. You should be aware if you get one that is impossible to decode, you can use the little refresh captcha button to get a new one. This can be quicker than trying to figure a goofy captcha.
posted by travis08 at 2:04 PM on September 15, 2011
I have always taken it as a given that the really good tickets are diverted to Ticketmaster Marketplace before the sale starts, so you will need to play over and above the listprice+fees for any ticket that could be described as good. At least that was my experience with the two Leonard Cohen concerts that I have gone to (I would only subject myself to Ticketmaster for him).
So my take is that there is no way to "win," and that you need to accept that you will pay much more than list for the tickets you want.
posted by Danf at 2:35 PM on September 15, 2011
So my take is that there is no way to "win," and that you need to accept that you will pay much more than list for the tickets you want.
posted by Danf at 2:35 PM on September 15, 2011
I discovered last year that it's ok to "throw back" tickets I didn't like. I had always assumed the best tickets go in order, but that is not the case! I did this last summer when trying for John Mayer tickets. My friend and I both went on at the same time, and stayed on the phone while trying at the same time. We each threw back tickets a few times until we came to a pair of seats we liked. We did get better seats on subsequent tries.
posted by yawper at 2:56 PM on September 15, 2011
posted by yawper at 2:56 PM on September 15, 2011
Also, don't necessarily trust TM's definition of "best tickets." Be sure to check for a drop down menu that can allow you to pick price level and section.
posted by The Deej at 3:00 PM on September 15, 2011
posted by The Deej at 3:00 PM on September 15, 2011
If you're using Firefox, be aware that you can have multiple distinct browsers open at the same time. This is how I got 3rd row seats for Tom Waits at the Fox in Atlanta.
See here for details: http://www.callum-macdonald.com/about/faq/multiple-firefox-instances/
posted by donpardo at 5:45 PM on September 15, 2011
See here for details: http://www.callum-macdonald.com/about/faq/multiple-firefox-instances/
posted by donpardo at 5:45 PM on September 15, 2011
Using a smart phone to access the mobile site uses less data, and in my experience loads much faster than the full site on a computer.
posted by cholly at 6:36 PM on September 15, 2011
posted by cholly at 6:36 PM on September 15, 2011
I don't work for TM, but I do sell tickets over the counter for a similar company.
If you're standing in front of me at 2 minutes to 10 I'll put in all the details of what you want and keep my finger on the enter key. That way as soon as it ticks over to 10:00:00 I get the best seats. (Meanwhile the people at home on the internet as still waiting for their page to load... then selecting from drop down boxes... then entering verification codes... you get the point). I often get customers front row seats.
Also, seconding yawper about trying multiple times. Maybe my customer decides they want something a bit cheaper, so my front row seats will become available again.
Bonus info - if you can't get any seats you like, keep checking, especially in the week of the show. Sometimes promoters etc won't use their full allocation and will hand over some tickets to the general public.
posted by peppermintfreddo at 10:37 PM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you're standing in front of me at 2 minutes to 10 I'll put in all the details of what you want and keep my finger on the enter key. That way as soon as it ticks over to 10:00:00 I get the best seats. (Meanwhile the people at home on the internet as still waiting for their page to load... then selecting from drop down boxes... then entering verification codes... you get the point). I often get customers front row seats.
Also, seconding yawper about trying multiple times. Maybe my customer decides they want something a bit cheaper, so my front row seats will become available again.
Bonus info - if you can't get any seats you like, keep checking, especially in the week of the show. Sometimes promoters etc won't use their full allocation and will hand over some tickets to the general public.
posted by peppermintfreddo at 10:37 PM on September 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Well thanks everyone. We got tickets, unfortunately only for the general admission/lawn area rather than the reserved seats. I've tried back a few time and it looks like that's still available even 30min after they went on sale. So the good seats went super fast (or were already gone). At least we'll be at the show.
posted by Long Way To Go at 10:38 AM on September 16, 2011
posted by Long Way To Go at 10:38 AM on September 16, 2011
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I last did this determinedly for a concert last fall, and ended getting tickets second-row center. They were the best seats I ever had. Concert was a few thousand seats, and mostly sold out. It was an incredible high.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:37 PM on September 15, 2011