Is This True About Ticketmaster/Playing The Ticket Game

[Musicman408]

I know the topic of tickets gets talked about all of the time, but seeing as how I'm the biggest Chiffonhead in my family, I have to make this concert happen. So, I'm the official get tickets guy, as always.

I recently heard that when tickets first go on sale through Ticketmaster, the best seats aren't released until a little later. Is this true? And if so, how soon? I remember when we saw FM in Nashville in 2004, we (family of 4) purchased tickets right when they went on sale and we got around the 8th row stage right. Anyone use or heard of LiveNation?I just want the best seats possible for the fam so that we, or at least dad and I can work our way up to the stage. So if any of you all can post some advice, that would be so greatly appreciated. I know I start a lot of threads, but this really is the only thing that I plan on starting for quite some time. I just need to figure this whole ticket thing out so that we can have a ball seeing Stevie for the first time solo. It's a dream come true for me. The prospects are Definately making my recovery go a little better.

And I guess since I have already started a thread, do any of you all have methods on how to work your way up to the stage, either for the whole show or for the edge walk. Befriend security or what? I know this topic has been talked about before, but I figured it would be nice to have all concert questions in one place so that I don't have to start 5 threads or whatever.

Much Love,
Ethan

[trackaghost]

But Ethan, is it wise for you to be rushing up to the stage and getting in a crush with other fans after your surgery and all?

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

But Ethan, is it wise for you to be rushing up to the stage and getting in a crush with other fans after your surgery and all?

Well, by then it will be about 3.5 months. I think I can make it. Or should I say hope. It is totally worth it.

[MirrorInTheSky]

Originally Posted by Musicman408

I know the topic of tickets gets talked about all of the time, but seeing as how I'm the biggest Chiffonhead in my family, I have to make this concert happen. So, I'm the official get tickets guy, as always.

I recently heard that when tickets first go on sale through Ticketmaster, the best seats aren't released until a little later. Is this true? And if so, how soon? I remember when we saw FM in Nashville in 2004, we (family of 4) purchased tickets right when they went on sale and we got around the 8th row stage right. Anyone use or heard of LiveNation?I just want the best seats possible for the fam so that we, or at least dad and I can work our way up to the stage. So if any of you all can post some advice, that would be so greatly appreciated. I know I start a lot of threads, but this really is the only thing that I plan on starting for quite some time. I just need to figure this whole ticket thing out so that we can have a ball seeing Stevie for the first time solo. It's a dream come true for me. The prospects are Definately making my recovery go a little better.

And I guess since I have already started a thread, do any of you all have methods on how to work your way up to the stage, either for the whole show or for the edge walk. Befriend security or what? I know this topic has been talked about before, but I figured it would be nice to have all concert questions in one place so that I don't have to start 5 threads or whatever.

Much Love,
Ethan

I know it's nerve racking, but for the Vegas shows, I pulled up front and center about 4 days before the concert. If you want to pay a little more and get a guarantee, hit up stubhub.com.

[jkmaletic]

The ticketmaster game is a hard one to figure out, and there is no real concrete solution. However, I do recommend logging on the time tickets go on sale and trying the first day. I also recommend you decide beforehand WHERE you want to sit, or at least decide how far back you are willing to sit. That way, when you are on ticketmaster you can make your decision quickly as to whether to buy or not. Don't give up after the first few tries either. During this recent on-sale for my show I was pulling seats first in the very last sections, then in rows 13, 15, etc., then after about 12 times I pulled front row! Granted, that's never happened to me before, but I have gotten seats just as good in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th rows the same way. There have been other times, however that good seats didn't come up and I played the waiting game. Good seats do come up closer to the date, but you're never sure exactly when. A good rule of thumb would be to check often a week before the show, every day. I have seen them come up. I however am always too nervous to take that chance and usually get them through stubhub or a broker if it's that late in the game. Prices are usually lower by then anyway.

As far as the Edge rush goes, every venue is different. Some are more lax than others. I would check with security before the show and make sure they even know the Edge rush is happening, and see if they have rules as to how many rows they let up.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

~jamie

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by jkmaletic

The ticketmaster game is a hard one to figure out, and there is no real concrete solution. However, I do recommend logging on the time tickets go on sale and trying the first day. I also recommend you decide beforehand WHERE you want to sit, or at least decide how far back you are willing to sit. That way, when you are on ticketmaster you can make your decision quickly as to whether to buy or not. Don't give up after the first few tries either. During this recent on-sale for my show I was pulling seats first in the very last sections, then in rows 13, 15, etc., then after about 12 times I pulled front row! Granted, that's never happened to me before, but I have gotten seats just as good in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th rows the same way. There have been other times, however that good seats didn't come up and I played the waiting game. Good seats do come up closer to the date, but you're never sure exactly when. A good rule of thumb would be to check often a week before the show, every day. I have seen them come up. I however am always too nervous to take that chance and usually get them through stubhub or a broker if it's that late in the game. Prices are usually lower by then anyway.

As far as the Edge rush goes, every venue is different. Some are more lax than others. I would check with security before the show and make sure they even know the Edge rush is happening, and see if they have rules as to how many rows they let up.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

~jamie

Thank you so much. Goodness, a week before the show.... That is NERVE RACKING!!!! I've heard though that if you get the the venue early the day of the show, you could potentially trade out your tickets if they have better ones.

For the walk, should we just call the venue before hand to talk with security???

[NoSpeedLimit]

Originally Posted by MirrorInTheSky

I know it's nerve racking, but for the Vegas shows, I pulled up front and center about 4 days before the concert. If you want to pay a little more and get a guarantee, hit up stubhub.com.

^^^Hey did you get my message??!! lol i was right next to you!! hehe
My dad and I have pulled up front row sometimes a few days before the show and sometimes a few hours before the show.
--Los Angeles at the Staples Center 12pm the day of the show(FM)
--Fresno at the Save Mart Center 10am morning of the show (FM)
--Oakland (forgot the venue) 30 minutes before the show my Dad checked the box office and got front row(FM)
--Las Vegas 4 days before the show around 3pm(Stevie Nicks)

If we get a bad feeling then we try to go through stubhub or razorgator...we have gotten great deals on front row tickets days before the show.

You jst have to keep checking and checking...

[NoSpeedLimit]

Originally Posted by Musicman408

Thank you so much. Goodness, a week before the show.... That is NERVE RACKING!!!! I've heard though that if you get the the venue early the day of the show, you could potentially trade out your tickets if they have better ones.

For the walk, should we just call the venue before hand to talk with security???

I would let sercurity know when you get there...hopefully they control the situation...even at the Vegas show people were behind me smashing me. And all I could say when I saw Stevie was "help!" lol

[Josh2003]

If you wait closer to the date of the show to buy your tickets, it might be harder to get four seats together. You might have better luck if you try for two close seats, if you're OK with separating.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by Musicman408

For the walk, should we just call the venue before hand to talk with security???

Absolutely. You should call the venue the day before the show and ask to speak to head of security about all of this. Say that you would like to get to the front of the stage regardless of where your ticket is and how could they help you do that.

[danax6]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Absolutely. You should call the venue the day before the show and ask to speak to head of security about all of this. Say that you would like to get to the front of the stage regardless of where your ticket is and how could they help you do that.

And don't forget to mention that you plan on barging to the stage front, no matter what. I'm sure they'll welcome you with open arms.

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by danax6

And don't forget to mention that you plan on barging to the stage front, no matter what. I'm sure they'll welcome you with open arms.

Oh absolutely.

We'll talk to security when we're at the venue. Ask if they know about the walk.

[UnwindedDreams]

Definitely don't talk to the security about the walk because iif you're not in the first 3 or whatever rows...they'll remember u and not let u up. u'd be stupid to ask them. get up there urself! u don't need to ask anybody...ur a stevie fan

[Musicman408]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Definitely don't talk to the security about the walk because iif you're not in the first 3 or whatever rows...they'll remember u and not let u up. u'd be stupid to ask them. get up there urself! u don't need to ask anybody...ur a stevie fan

Ok, gotcha. This ticket game is just soooo hard. ARGHHH!!! I need a nap.

[carol7lynn]

LiveNation is running special premium seating for a couple of shows and they are pretty good. Do check them out at livenation.com Just register for a free account and you can then order them. I've been registered with them for years and they're great. They are not selling the premium seats through TM at all so you have to go to their web site.

Not to burst your bubble or anything but I seriously doubt that you'll get 4 really close seats at the last minute no matter what strategy you adopt.

I too have gotten 1st and 2nd row tickets at the last minute for face value even from ticket agencies but getting 4 will be a stretch. As another poster earlier advised go for 1 or 2 tickets if you want to try the last minute thing.

As for the getting to the stage, if there is a Pit and you aren't in it (and sometime even if you are), you aren't getting through-period. You can talk to them all you want to but they won't let you through. If there isn't a Pit, like another poster said, it depends on the venue.

True story. I was at Stevie's last Gibson Amphitheater show here in L.A., I think it was 2005, and I was in the 3rd row of the Pit and security wouldn't let anyone to the stage for the walk or any part of the show unless they were in the front row. I thought they were going to throw me out they got so manic. During the TISL tour I had 7th row Pit tickets at the same venue and they let me and anyone else who was in the Pit, no matter where they were sitting, come to the stage without any problem all throughout the show not just during the Edge walk.

If you really want to guarantee the front row with stage access your going to have to bite the bullet and buy at least two seats at the top price. It hurts but then the worry factor is removed and you can totally enjoy the show. I've done it for Lindsey and the Eagles and it was worth it.


Luck!
CarolC