Concerts

Some bands and artists are able to give away free or discounted tickets through their websites. They often have drawings for backstage passes, front row seats and other goodies. Join your favorite...

Some bands and artists are able to give away free or discounted tickets through their websites. They often have drawings for backstage passes, front row seats and other goodies. Join your favorite artist’s website or fan club and be the first to hear about upcoming concerts and gain first access to ticket sales.

Buying a concert ticket directly through the venue, or at local music stores, will save on both postage and administrative fees charged by Ticketmaster and other big retail outlets. This works...

Buying a concert ticket directly through the venue, or at local music stores, will save on both postage and administrative fees charged by Ticketmaster and other big retail outlets. This works especially well for smaller venues.

Their loss is your gain. If someone can no longer go to the concert and is stuck with tickets, you might be able to pick them up at a nice discount. You can often quickly find a great deal, with a...

Their loss is your gain. If someone can no longer go to the concert and is stuck with tickets, you might be able to pick them up at a nice discount. You can often quickly find a great deal, with a convenient local transaction, through Craigslist.org or your local newspaper classifieds. Check those ticket sections first. Sites like Stubhub.com and Ebay.com enable person-to-person transactions but charge a commission, so on average you will pay a little more this way. Be sure to check seating charts to know where you will be sitting and if there are any obstructed views. Beware that electronic tickets (e.g., PDF files) run the risk of fakes or duplicates, so buyer beware.

Sometimes, concert promoters will drop the price 30 minutes after a concert starts, if numbers are low. They’ll take a cut in their profit margin in order to fill seats. Don’t count on it, but...

Sometimes, concert promoters will drop the price 30 minutes after a concert starts, if numbers are low. They’ll take a cut in their profit margin in order to fill seats. Don’t count on it, but give it a try if you haven’t already bought tickets. Also, try to swap your nosebleed seats for a closer seat on the day of the show – you might get a free upgrade.