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Original poster

It's impossible to get tickets to gigs these days

85 replies

Oto · 23/09/2023 11:17

DD and I both tried and failed to get tickets for Taylor Swift. Now, Olivia Rodrigo tickets are invite only. How do you even get an invite?

OP posts:
LaviniasBigBloomers · 23/09/2023 11:58

If it's only expensive packages left, they might come down in price. That's what happened with the TS tickets - by the time I got in to the sale the perfectly ordinary seats were on for £600, but over a week or two blocks started being released at a more reasonable price. Catching that meant living on tiktok though, so I didn't! I agree, it's become such a rip off but it's the only way artists make money these days.

SleepingStandingUp · 23/09/2023 12:02

Nonsense, I got tickets for Train this week, and DH got tickets for Withered Hand.

No idea how you get an invite. Fan club??

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 23/09/2023 12:02

Fizbosshoes · 23/09/2023 11:55

DD and I did the same and we're on the wait list.

I have got lucky getting Harry Styles tickets, and Taylor Swift though (probably 2 miles from the stage, but still there)

Show quote history

I was right at the front for Harry, cost me £110 which I thinks fair really, I was still seeing tickets come up on Twickets the day before though.
They're easy to get if you wait, but book any travel/rooms ASAP for the best prices.

Museya15 · 23/09/2023 12:10

Taylor swift eould have to pay me to go see her sing, I wouldn't go iv it were free.😀

lavenderlou · 23/09/2023 12:12

all I had to do was log on at the right time and wait for a chance to buy tickets.

I tried to get tickets to TS. Unfortunately the "right time" to log on was 10am on a Tuesday morning when I was teaching a class of six year olds. Impossible to get anything by the time I was free to log on.

Gizlotsmum · 23/09/2023 12:13

So ticketmaster seem to have created a system where you register with them for which dates you might want and then they either give you access or wait list you. I would say with Olivia I was waitlisted and then the next day got unwaitlisted so they may yet do a general release. I signed up via ticketmaster for the sale which is normally publicised by the artist. Not sure if I like it as a system

tigger1001 · 23/09/2023 12:18

AlexandriasWindmill · 23/09/2023 11:25

It's a bit sanctimonious to tell OP to go to different gigs. That's not her point.
And fwiw even some up-and-coming gigs are difficult to get tickets for ie queues, waiting lists, click throughs and then sold out in a few minutes. Then unsurprisingly the week of the gig there are people trying to sell tickets on social media.
The ticketing system (through the big ticketing agencies) is broken.
Yy I can see my friend's band in the local pub. And I do. But we shouldn't be ignoring that music and culture is being ring-fenced for people who have internet access, are wealthy, are ticket touts or know people.

Totally agree.

Dynamic pricing is such a rip off.

But until people stop paying ££££ for tickets it won't stop. I have a friend who bought Taylor swift tickets in Europe as couldn't get any for uk - and the cost of the vip tickets, flights and hotel is more than many people pay for their main holiday - just nuts,

Artists are now just creating the hype for their own shows and very much bank on parents not wanting to disappoint their kids.

Ticket touts are a problem too

NutellaEllaElla · 23/09/2023 12:18

Agree OP. I tried to play the game with the pre registration stuff and still got nothing. It's not worth trying.

JaneIntheBox · 23/09/2023 12:20

YANBU OP!
I remember getting Halsey tickets pre-Covid just log on and book.
Recently for Glasto , Eurovision, Taylor Swift long queue, only to have nothing left.
Same with the Olympic games but at least I scraped a few tickets not for my sport of choice though,

I'm fed up and only going smaller artistes and classical music from now on.

sm40 · 23/09/2023 12:23

Just be very organised.
Get an o2 sim as some presales done to o2 customers.
Do album presales but do the no purchase necessary option.
Have all the alert emails coming to you. Sign up for codes asap.
Be at your computer at the allotted time or 30 mins early for waiting list. Don't use a phone as too faffy.
Have all your accounts for ticket sites open/passwords to hand.
If no tickets available immediately on release keep trying. Some people obviously have trouble paying so they go back on the system.
Do not opt for best ticket option, do manual search as these bring up the cheap seats.
I've managed to get Harry styles, Taylor swift etc all at normal prices.
Go onto twickets week before. Always people that can't make it last minute.
Avoid viagogo or Facebook for resale.

Fatpigsinblankets · 23/09/2023 12:23

All these people saying ‘go and see withered hand’ (who?!) - stop being facetious. You know full well the OP means big acts filling out stadiums. You are are no way more special because you have ‘niche’ tastes.

i agree OP. Spent nearly £1000 on 3 Taylor tickets 😭 Was very stressful getting them but less stressful than 2 teens who would have been devastated not to go.

sm40 · 23/09/2023 12:28

But prices have gone up. I don't think you can walk into Wembley for less than £80!
Very excited to get barenaked ladies tickets for £45 each the other day.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 23/09/2023 13:15

sm40 · 23/09/2023 12:23

Just be very organised.
Get an o2 sim as some presales done to o2 customers.
Do album presales but do the no purchase necessary option.
Have all the alert emails coming to you. Sign up for codes asap.
Be at your computer at the allotted time or 30 mins early for waiting list. Don't use a phone as too faffy.
Have all your accounts for ticket sites open/passwords to hand.
If no tickets available immediately on release keep trying. Some people obviously have trouble paying so they go back on the system.
Do not opt for best ticket option, do manual search as these bring up the cheap seats.
I've managed to get Harry styles, Taylor swift etc all at normal prices.
Go onto twickets week before. Always people that can't make it last minute.
Avoid viagogo or Facebook for resale.

I do exactly this and haven't paid more than £110, which was Harry Styles at the front, and Billy Joel, and I went to 17 shows last year, this year is 19, all household names.

VisionsOfSplendour · 23/09/2023 13:25

gogomoto · 23/09/2023 11:54

I've seen 30+ gigs this year and many I just walked up and paid on the door

How many were stadium tours of world famous acts?

Unicorn2022 · 23/09/2023 13:33

It's horrendous. I can't even hazard a guess at the amount of time I have spent online in the last year or two trying to book tickets. I was lucky to get Harry Styles, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. I tried and failed to get many others. I didn't even get a code for Olivia Rodrigo, although my DD isn't too bothered. Trying to get resale Laufey but refuse to pay hundreds. Im fed up with it now.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 23/09/2023 13:41

sm40 · 23/09/2023 12:28

But prices have gone up. I don't think you can walk into Wembley for less than £80!
Very excited to get barenaked ladies tickets for £45 each the other day.

Ooo thanks for heads up! Just gone mine :) love a bit of BNL

Back to tickets..its a pain. I get the whole idea of signing up is to stop touts or crazy resale prices but it doesn't.. that still goes on. Used to be so much easier or maybe less demand

kitsuneghost · 23/09/2023 16:54

gogomoto · 23/09/2023 11:54

I've seen 30+ gigs this year and many I just walked up and paid on the door

You know fine well that's not the level of gigs OP is talking about
Have you just came on to brag about being down the pub 30 times this year?

Theblacksheepandme · 23/09/2023 18:38

SleepingStandingUp · 23/09/2023 12:02

Nonsense, I got tickets for Train this week, and DH got tickets for Withered Hand.

No idea how you get an invite. Fan club??

That's nice.

sm40 · 23/09/2023 18:48

I got Train tickets this week. Somehow missed all the presale stuff so had to buy them Friday. That was stressful, and they went quickly, and prob paid more than usual but one of our favourite bands.
This time of year is really expensive!
Now warming up for Take That next week! I've done the album presale link.

Mydogisamentalist · 23/09/2023 18:57

Tell me about it. Trying to get tickets for Taylor Swift was pretty much a military operation. I got some. There side stage… and in Edinburgh. I’m in South Wales. I really would have preferred Cardiff but I’m trying to see the luck in having got any in the first place. I couldn’t even bring myself to try for Olivia!

Also it’s not either or! Im going to see Holding Absence in November. Far easier ticket buying experience and I’m very excited. You can enjoy both!

LivLongAndProsper · 23/09/2023 19:11

Don't despair OP! Both DH and I were waitlisted for ORodrigo tix (I was thinking here we go again) and then got codes on the day and missed the fact that we had until many hours later, and still git in and bought cheapish ie 100 quid tickets! I was amazed! So happy for my DD after the taylor swift fiasco! Was easy!

Drews · 23/09/2023 19:18

It's the stadium tours that demand the high prices and waiting list links. Artists are trying to deliver a high production show for the massive crowds.

Your average band or artist at normal venues just turning up to play music are much more accessible both in demand and price.

Oblomov23 · 23/09/2023 19:28

I don't see the complaint. TS You could have bought the album, got the code, and booked a half day holiday off work for tickets buying for the day of release. Even then you might not have got them, because demand was mad, but at least you'd know you'd done everything for your dd.

Most artists if it's that important to you. You plan. I queued for killers tickets and the Weeknd. Was pleased to get them. For killers I was queuing on both my phone and 2 laptops!

NutellaEllaElla · 23/09/2023 19:37

Oblomov23 · 23/09/2023 19:28

I don't see the complaint. TS You could have bought the album, got the code, and booked a half day holiday off work for tickets buying for the day of release. Even then you might not have got them, because demand was mad, but at least you'd know you'd done everything for your dd.

Most artists if it's that important to you. You plan. I queued for killers tickets and the Weeknd. Was pleased to get them. For killers I was queuing on both my phone and 2 laptops!

This is sarcasm right? 😂

Strawberrypicnic · 23/09/2023 20:56

sm40 · 23/09/2023 12:28

But prices have gone up. I don't think you can walk into Wembley for less than £80!
Very excited to get barenaked ladies tickets for £45 each the other day.

Ooh that'll be a great gig!!