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Home > Smart Spending > Archives > 2008 > October > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNo ticket? No problem
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If I had a dollar for every time friends tell me they are not attending a major concert or sports event because they lack a ticket, well, I’d have enough buy a marked-up, front-row seat from one of those online ticket brokers.
The point is, you don’t need them. Go to the arena and you’ll get in, usually at below cost. My advice often is met with a look of disbelief. But, hey, they’re my pals. I wouldn’t steer them wrong.
See, when tickets are first placed on sale, many folks purchase the maximum, thinking they will distribute them among relatives, co-workers or acquaintances. Invariably, some buyers get stuck with unclaimed seats.
Even at a high-demand event, most of them don’t care about profiting from a resale. They just want to unload the leftovers, recoup some of their money and get inside. For you, the key is distinguishing these sellers from the onsite scalpers, there to make a buck — or several. It’s easy to tell the difference.
Make sure you avoid conducting the transaction too close to the site if laws forbidding such sales within a certain distance are enforced. (Years ago, a cop snatched an SEC Football Championship Game ticket I was trying to dump cheaply and confiscated it.)
Dress and behave as if you desire to blend in with the pricey-seat patrons. The seller knows whoever takes his extras might wind up next to him.
Your pockets should contain various denominations of bills — twenties, tens, fives and ones — so you don’t have to fool with change after a price is agreed upon.
If you want to enjoy the event dirt-cheap and don’t mind missing the first few songs or plays, wait until it’s showtime. By then, it’s truly a buyer’s market.
Those are my tips. How about yours?
In the past year, I’ve snared a second-row, side-stage ticket at half-off for my favorite band, two deeply reduced Hawks ducats and a $20 seventh-row spot at a Chastain Park performance.
Out of hundreds of sold-old events I’ve attended for work or play, only twice have I not noticed a ticket that wasn’t exorbitantly priced. One was an NCAA Final Four championship when it was held in smaller buildings than now. The other was a Super Bowl at the Dome. These are the exceptions.
So, I don’t want to hear that you are bypassing the big show or game because you are ticket-less. Shoot, I prefer the onsite approach, anyway, to avoid the outrageous fees of TicketMaster, et al. There’s also Atlanta Performs, where tickets are half-price on selected theater shows on the day of the performance (available beginning at noon).
Expect additional deals may be in the future. Tough economic times are perhaps partly to blame for the availability of discounted tickets to what should be considered a hot concert. Fellow blogger, Sonia Murray, writes about half-price ticket sales for Mary J. Blige and Robin Thicke concert tickets.
Let’s hear your experiences, good or bad, from buying tickets outside an event.
And, if you want to read more about saving and other Smart Spending tips check out Your Money.
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Comments
By Taylor
October 9, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
I almost invariably buy Braves tickets from the scalpers on the streets a block or so away from the Stadium. One time I got two all-you-can-eat seats for $25 when they were $40 face value each, good deal…of course the game was already in the 3rd inning when I got in. I ate my money’s worth, though…one hot dog and a soda makes $25 worthwhile fast at Turner Field…
By Stewie
October 9, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
Another thing…always know the arena well. I frequently take a printed map of it so that when someone claims seats are better than they really are.
If dealing with scalpers, don’t hesitate to walk away if they’re not offering the price you want. Stay firm…many times they’ll come back to you and begrudgingly accept your price.
Oh, and make sure you thoroughly discuss plans with anyone else in your party before you spend time wandering around the arena. I have a buddy who hates to miss the anthem and the start of the action. So if I’m with him, I know we’ll have to pay more than if we hang around later.
Finally, web sites such as StubHub rarely have values in my opinion. In fact, they’re usually well above the market. I’ve had better luck finding deals at Craigslist if I choose to chop online.
By Ticketman
October 9, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
A few other tips:
Pick a price you are willing to pay and stick with it. Only bring that much money with you with you and it forces you to be a better negotiator.
My set price is generally face value and I usually get it. For something like the Stones or Streisand even the face value is too expensive (in both cases in the $800 range) and you should set your price much lower. In both cases I got in for $100 for $800 tickets by simply waiting to buy about the time the concert was to begin.
Scalpers get very nervous at show time and the prices of tickets drop faster than the recent stock market.
The Super bowl can be excluded from all scalping rules. Unless you really know someone, you won’t get in for less than $2000 for the worst seats the day of the game and you really don’t want to risk getting a counterfeit ticket or carrying that kind of cash at that price range. The superbowl brings out ticket criminals from around the US.
For events at the tabernacle go to the side doors. For the last 5 events I went to (including the sold out kid rock show) a random security guard has let me in the side door for $20. Hey, they work there and made the offer so I guess it is legal.
By DirtyHippy
October 9, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Stand outside the venue and say “I need a miracle.”
By michelle
October 9, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
ebay or craigslist work for me when buying, and i normally always will sell an extra ticket (if i have one) for a concert at face value….i don’t look to make money off of people because more times than not, i am the person trying to get in myself. i dont’ want to rip people off because i dont’ want the same done to me.
i haven’t had a bad experience yet with buying or selling, in fact, i got 2 tix to a thrashers/rangers game a couple years ago on ebay for half of face value simply because someone couldn’t go last minute.
also last year, when the nickelback concert got postponed a week because of the lead singer becoming ill and vocal cords damaged, i jumped right on ebay to buy tix that people couldn’t use because the date of the event got moved. got excellent seats for a great, lower than face value price, and had a blast.
would not recommend ebay for major sporting events like super bowl, final four, BIG rivalry football games, etc. you will pay more than necessary.
By NoTickyNoSeaty
October 9, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
I heard that if you go across the railroad gulch next to the Dome across from the ground level dirt parking lot, there is a roll-up garage door that will let you into the Dome’s sub-basement - no one’s ever there and you can go up the freight elevator which takes you to a quiet hallway at the end of which is a door that opens right onto the main level between a restroom and a food concession area.
By Fred Salas
October 9, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
No Ticket, No Problem. Save thousands on all your ticket purchases. www.thepoormansticket.com
By DG
October 9, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
Yes. I have never paid over face value for a ticket. I always go to the event & worry about it when I get there. Normally, if you keep your eyes & ears open you can find what you’re looking for. Or just slip the security guard a 20 or 40 depending on the event & you’re in!
By mr. cheapskatin'
October 9, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Excellent point by Stewie. I forgot to mention that I always take a seating chart of the stadium or arena so I can locate twhere I’ll be. It comes in especially handy if you buy from a scalper because the “great seat” they’re selling is actually might be behind the stage.
By Texas Pete
October 9, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
I go to the Atlanta Dream games. Where else can you pay two dollars to see all of those talented ladies play basketball. I bet they each make at least $3000 - $4000 a year.
By Latonia
October 10, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this
What MJB is doing really do show that she really care about her fans. No other person has ever done this that I can remember. I am very proud of her that is why I am her biggest fan. I already have my ticket but I think this is GREAT and other people should follow suite…
By Warning
October 22, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Just a warning for buying tickets on the street. In Georgia it is illegal to buy or sell tickets for any price above or even below face value within about 1/2 mile from a stadium that seats over 15,000 people and 1/4 of a mile from a venue that seats less than 15,000 people.
Also, it is illegal to re-sell tickets for above face value unless you are a ticket broker licensed by the State of Georgia. As for the broker’s license or license number when buying so that you are protected if something goes wrong.