Help me Get Lucky with Mark Knopfler tickets at ACL Moody Theater
February 1, 2015 6:16 PM Subscribe
Mrs Tough Love - who does not share my gentle, sensitive demeanor - wants to see Mark Knopfler when he comes to Austin in September.
Mark Knopfler is coming to play at the Austin City Limits Moody Theater on September 25th. Mrs Tough Love has expressed an interest in seeing him. I dutifully attempted to acquire tickets via their ticket website the instant they went on sale (10am CST on 30 January) but - literally - within seconds the only tickets left were in the nosebleed section. It didn't take long before the event was completely sold out.
Frankly, I've never understood how the ticketing of these events works. But I'm fairly sure that some of you MeFites are professionals at this: can someone give me some practical advice on how I might score a pair of good (ie, Mezzanine or Mezzanine Table or other good) tickets to this event? And not get ripped off? Is there something more elegant than setting an alert on CraigsList, crossing my fingers, and waiting?
I'd also be interested in hearing the low-down on the ticket business in general, which has long impressed me as being not far removed from waste disposal, concrete, and other 'shady' enterprises.
I won't say that "cost is not an issue", but keeping Mrs Tough Love happy on this point is of paramount importance.
Mark Knopfler is coming to play at the Austin City Limits Moody Theater on September 25th. Mrs Tough Love has expressed an interest in seeing him. I dutifully attempted to acquire tickets via their ticket website the instant they went on sale (10am CST on 30 January) but - literally - within seconds the only tickets left were in the nosebleed section. It didn't take long before the event was completely sold out.
Frankly, I've never understood how the ticketing of these events works. But I'm fairly sure that some of you MeFites are professionals at this: can someone give me some practical advice on how I might score a pair of good (ie, Mezzanine or Mezzanine Table or other good) tickets to this event? And not get ripped off? Is there something more elegant than setting an alert on CraigsList, crossing my fingers, and waiting?
I'd also be interested in hearing the low-down on the ticket business in general, which has long impressed me as being not far removed from waste disposal, concrete, and other 'shady' enterprises.
I won't say that "cost is not an issue", but keeping Mrs Tough Love happy on this point is of paramount importance.
Check with your local radio stations to see if there will be any ticket giveaways. It may be a long shot but I've gotten lucky a few times in the past. (And if it's a be-number-X-caller type contest, find yourself a land line. Cell phones suck for that purpose.)
posted by Beti at 8:11 PM on February 1, 2015
posted by Beti at 8:11 PM on February 1, 2015
My experience with getting tickets at ACL is all being on the list for presales or punching in at 10 AM on sale day, but I've been to probably a couple of dozen shows there. I can tell you there aren't really any bad seats other than the ones that show on the venue chart as obstructed. Even the nosebleed seats are good compared to similar seats in large arenas (e.g., Erwin Center).
In terms of actions you can take: get on their email list in case they release more tickets.
posted by immlass at 8:32 PM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
In terms of actions you can take: get on their email list in case they release more tickets.
posted by immlass at 8:32 PM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Add your email address to the Mark Knopfler fan database (assuming there is one). Other option would be to add your email address to the promoters email list - any 'production holds' as they call them will be announced through these means (or at least that's how it works in the UK).
posted by stevedawg at 2:21 AM on February 2, 2015
posted by stevedawg at 2:21 AM on February 2, 2015
Best answer: 100% StubHub at this point - there are tickets there for your show, and they ARE really expensive. You can set alerts for them to email you when tickets hit under a certain price.
For next time - when I heard Stevie Wonder was doing another swing 'round with his "Songs In The Key of Life" tour, I "liked" and "followed" everything I could so I'd get the code for the pre-sale, and we got really great seats in Baltimore. It definitely begs staying on top of "who is coming where, and when".
posted by ersatzkat at 6:57 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
For next time - when I heard Stevie Wonder was doing another swing 'round with his "Songs In The Key of Life" tour, I "liked" and "followed" everything I could so I'd get the code for the pre-sale, and we got really great seats in Baltimore. It definitely begs staying on top of "who is coming where, and when".
posted by ersatzkat at 6:57 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: First, I would jump on signing up for any email lists available from the venue & Knopfler, and follow them on whatever available social media, as it's entirely possible that if shows are selling out this quickly they'll extend the tour and swing back around to make a second run at some cities. So you might get another chance.
Otherwise, yeah, setting up alerts for StubHub & Craigslist, and seconding the idea that prices will drop as you get closer to the date. Right now everyone selling tickets is hoping to get big bucks from people desperate to see Knopfler no matter what; closer to the show date they'll be willing to make less (or no) profit, the scalpers/resellers will just not want to eat the entire cost of the tickets. Plus there will almost certainly be some regular ol' people who bought tickets but had something come up in the nine months between now and the show which means they can't make the show, and are willing to sell tickets for pretty much what they paid for them.
And not get ripped off?
At the least, you should be able to print a paper ticket, don't believe the seller if they say you can just give your (or someone else's) name at the box office on the day of the show - this is known as "Will Call", and the ACL Live FAQ page says they need to see valid ID that matches the purchase name for Will Call tickets.
posted by soundguy99 at 7:04 AM on February 3, 2015
Otherwise, yeah, setting up alerts for StubHub & Craigslist, and seconding the idea that prices will drop as you get closer to the date. Right now everyone selling tickets is hoping to get big bucks from people desperate to see Knopfler no matter what; closer to the show date they'll be willing to make less (or no) profit, the scalpers/resellers will just not want to eat the entire cost of the tickets. Plus there will almost certainly be some regular ol' people who bought tickets but had something come up in the nine months between now and the show which means they can't make the show, and are willing to sell tickets for pretty much what they paid for them.
And not get ripped off?
At the least, you should be able to print a paper ticket, don't believe the seller if they say you can just give your (or someone else's) name at the box office on the day of the show - this is known as "Will Call", and the ACL Live FAQ page says they need to see valid ID that matches the purchase name for Will Call tickets.
posted by soundguy99 at 7:04 AM on February 3, 2015
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posted by donpardo at 6:40 PM on February 1, 2015 [2 favorites]