Any tips for using Ticketmaster? Trying to get Paul McCartney tickets at 10:00 ...

[Mary•Poppins]

Paul McCartney is coming to Pittsburgh and tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10:00AM. My youngest has become a Beatles fanatic and we thought this would be a great show to see as a family.

I have used Tickemaster once in my life and it was for a concert that had many extra seats ... so to you pros out there, any advice for tomorrow? I am looking at trying to purchase the "cheap" seats.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[kimblebee]

Only have one window open. I tried it using two and it didn't work at all. Have ticketmaster ready as far as it can be a few minutes before 10:00 and refresh as the time gets closer. There will be several different packages available, make sure you click on the one with the price range you can afford. You will also have to type in the security words. If you don't like the tickets you are given you can give them up and try again, but you may end up with worse seats. Most important tip is to start trying as soon as they are available because no doubt they will go fast. Good Luck

 

[aprilgail2]

Only tip I have for you is to check your bank or credit card statement! I bought Kiss tickets for me and my daughter- next day I checked the balance in my checking account and it was WAY lower than I thought it was- turns out ticketmaster took out for the kiss tickets and then took out the same money again FIVE TIMES! So I was short about 1300.00 in my checking account! I called ticketmaster and they said it was an error and they would have it credited back within 10 business days- took them 10 business seconds to take it but 10 business days to credit it back.
Chase was great about it- I called them and gave them the whole story and they released 3 of the 6 holds ticketmaster had put on so at least I had half the money I should have had back the same day!

 

[CathrynRose]

How far are you from the venue?

I tried getting 'cheap' tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert in Indianapolis. Within seconds those were sold out. Seconds.

I called my g/f who was one of the Buffet go'ers (who lives about 10 minutes from the stadium) and told her "I can't get the cheap ones! What do we do???" She said - I'm going over there, I'll call you back.

She was able to get 3 lawn seats, no problem AT the venue.

This also happened for the Chicago show, but I didn't have anyone near the venue, so I have 3rd row $300-something per ticket, tickets. Great... I'm close, but I didn't *need* those, or want those.

The cheap ones don't seem to last. I think Ticket brokers gobble those up. I'd go to the Venue, and be there at 10am.

 

[Ceila]

I'm not sure if it helped or not, but I set up a Ticketmaster account before I tried for Jimmy Buffett tickets, and I was able to get them. First time in years that I was the one from our group who actually managed to get through.

I second the poster above who said to log in a little while before the tickets go on sale, have everything as ready as you can, and only use one window. However, if you have two computers, you can try on both of them at the same time if they are next to each other.

Good luck!

 

[CathrynRose]

I'm not sure if it helped or not, but I set up a Ticketmaster account before I tried for Jimmy Buffett tickets,

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Be on a computer that is reliable, and has a fast Internet connection. About 15 minutes before hand, make sure whatever clock you are using is the same time as what is listed on http://www.time.gov.

I usually strike out with tickets (but I did get U2 tickets when sales opened earlier this year). Good luck.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Have an account set up, refresh only every few seconds, practice the steps so you know what to click next, know what type of ticket you want to choose ahead of time, etc..

Google it, there are some good tips online.

 

[Gigi22]

Make sure you are logged onto the Ticketmaster site before 10 a.m.--try to be on by 9:45 at the latest. Also, try and figure out what your price range for seats is in advance of ordering. How high will you go?
If you are familiar with the venue, it will be easier for you to select tickets you like.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Pull up an atomic clock on your computer so you'll know the exact time! I know it sounds silly, but it is what the ticket brokers do to get the good tickets! (And...if you can't get tickets and aren't opposed to it, try Stub Hub later in the afternoon. You can find tickets that have the prices totally jacked up, but you also can find some at a reasonable markup. We bought our Phish 4th of July tickets for just 15 bucks over ticket price - we got them the same day they were released, though.)

 

[wvjules]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I had no idea that he was touring again. DBF is a HUGE fan. We went to the show last year in DC and I became a huge fan. It was the best concert EVER. Anyway, thanks to the DIS I am now the proud owner of two very expensive tickets to the Paul McCartney concert in Pittsburgh for Thursday August 19. Now off to find a hotel room. WooHoo!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I had pretty good luck last year when we got tix to see him at Fenway Park in Boston. I bought 14 tickets in 4 batches (for friends, so all of us weren't online at once), and was able to get them without a problem. BTW all of them were the same price, yet the seats that popped out were in very different areas, and I got them in sequence. Turns out there was no rush as tickets were available for both his shows at Fenway until quite late - I don't know if they every sold out completely. FYI, I'd seen him before but this one was one of the best shows I've ever seen!

OTOH, tickets for Aerosmith/JGeils at Fenway this year sold out very fast, and many people were unable to get them at all, including me. For one thing, it was only one show. But also, they let season tix holder and other VIP groups get first shots at them, so by the time the common folk could buy them they were all gone. (We saw Aerosmith last year also at another venue and there was no problem getting tix there.)

Good luck, and enjoy the show!