Getting your hands on hot concert tickets can be a frustrating and even emotionally draining experience. If you’re not among the first to line up (virtually), you’ll need to deal with the resale market to find good seats, often at jacked-up prices.
That is unless you’re willing to be patient. Really patient.
That’s the advice from KTLA entertainment anchor Doug Kolk, who shares his tried and tested strategy for scoring tickets below face value for just about any concert.
“As someone who goes to a lot of big events, I recommend waiting until the last minute to buy tickets,” Doug suggests. “In most cases, it will pay off.”
While online scalpers (in addition to die-hard fans) often nab the best seats immediately when a show goes on sale, this doesn’t necessarily mean they will find paying customers for all of them in the months, weeks and days before a show.
Kolk says the law of supply and demand can work in your favor as prices will fall if there is an abundance of unsold tickets and the showtime is approaching.
“A bit of advice is to look at the primary market and see if tickets are available. And if there are tickets available, then inevitably, the secondary market is going to drop,” he notes.
In some cases, this will involve actually driving to the venue before showtime while constantly checking the resale market apps, typically Vivid Seats and StubHub.
“I always say ‘Go in your head’ as if you already have tickets. Go out to dinner, do whatever you plan, and then go to the event and see what’s available,” Doug recommends. “I know it’s nerve-racking because people want the piece of mind of having the tickets in hand, but the longer you’re willing to wait, the better.”
Sometimes, Doug suggests, this will involve waiting until the show starts and the opening act -if there is one- hits the stage. At that point, anyone who is still selling tickets will be desperate to find a buyer.
For massive venues like the Hollywood Bowl or SoFi Stadium, you might be surprised to find tickets in the single digits around showtime – before junk fees.
Both Vivid Seats and Stub Hub list the number of tickets available in real time, including the most recent sales and sale prices. Again, prices will fluctuate based on supply and demand.
While Doug says his strategy usually works, it’s not a guarantee.
“If this is Taylor Swift or some other major event, and tickets are going for thousands of dollars on the secondary market, there’s no way they’ll be cheaper. You’ll probably end up paying more by waiting,” Doug warns.