So tonight being Pre-Sale Eve, my friends and I have been laying our plan to get the best tickets we can. We like them as close as possible without actually being on the stage (Right up against the stage is good. Nice and close, and you get the extra added bonus of being able to put your purses just under the stage and out of the way.)
People think I have some secret to getting good seats, that's it's because I "know people" or have some secret Ticketmaster phone number I can call before everyone else has a chance, that I get to sit in the front at almost every show. The truth is, I don't. I'll be here in the morning, clicking like a madwoman, trying to remember to breathe, trying to get the tickets I want, just like the rest of you. It helps that I've done this A LOT, but it still gives me a tension headache. (Worth it!)
I've spent the better part of today preparing for the pre-sale and helping others prepare. I thought I'd help you, too. So here you go. Here's what I know that will help you buy tickets for the Make a Difference Tour.
- If you haven't done it already, sign up for the Make a Difference Tour newsletter, and you will be informed of any updates right way. You can also follow the tour on Twitter.
- If you haven't checked out Third Day's fan club Wired, do that now. Wired is your only way to get access to the Third Day on Make A Difference Tour. The band will be doing exclusive Meet & Greets at every show for Wired members only. With a family membership, you can take the whole family to meet Third Day! And you will get a keepsake photo of you with the entire band! As a Wired member, you also have access to streaming recordings of over 250 previous concerts and all future shows, and 20% off of merchandise in Third Day’s online store. New members receive a tee shirt, laminated pass, and sticker in their membership package. Check it out right away, so you can get in on the presales that start today.
- Know the seating chart. Usually, every venue is different, but for this tour, they will all* look similar to this with the T-shaped stage, the first three rows being VIP package tickets, and that green area around the T being general admission pit tickets. (Click the picture to see it bigger.) *The Alpharetta, Georgia, show does not have a GA pit or the T stage. The pit is the first few rows, and they are reserved VIP seating.
- Know the prices. Here's the way the pricing breaks down:
- VIP Package (Yellow): $99.00 - $115.00 (depends on city). Wired members receive a $10 per ticket discount, only $89-$105, on the pre-sale.
- GA (General Admission) Pit A and Pit B (Green around T part of stage): $49.50. Wired members receive a $5 discount per ticket, only $45.50 on the pre-sale.
- Price Level 1 (Green): $49.50 Wired members receive a $5 discount per ticket, only $45.50 on the pre-sale.
- Price Level 2 (Purple): $24.50 - Wired members receive a $2.50 discount per ticket, only $22 on the pre-sale.
- Know where you want to sit. If you want to be close to the stage, you've got two options. You can buy the VIP package and sit in the first three rows in a reserved seat, or you can buy general admission Pit tickets and stand near the stage.
There are advantages to both the VIP and the Pit tickets. The pros and cons of both are discussed on this post.
- Know ahead of time who's going. The morning of the sale is no time to be calling friends to see if they are going with you. Planning ahead is key.
- Be ready! Log into your TicketMaster.com account well before the tickets go on sale. In the midst of buying tickets is no time to try to remember your password. Also, log onto your Wired account, go to the Ticketing page to get the pre-sale password ahead of time. Have a page open to the Third Day Touring page, so you can click the link to the ticketing site of your show. Most of them are Ticketmaster, but not all. The links for ticketing will go up right before pre-sale time on the tour page. Once 10:00 AM get here, refresh the page until the link is there. And have your credit or debit card handy.
- Plan for you and your friends to be at the computer at 15 minutes till sale time. Call each other while you are buying tickets. Do it together. This is especially important if you are buying reserved seats. Put the phone on speaker if you have that option, so you can have both hands free. Talk your way through it. Tell each other what tickets you are finding, so you can decide what to grab and what to let go.
- If your computer or internet connection is slow, open two or more windows to the ticketing site, so that while one is loading, you can be working on another one.
- DO NOT BUY the first tickets they give you if you don't like them. If you want better, click the button near the bottom to let them go and search again. You might have to try a couple dozen times to get what you want, but don't give up! And if you don't find what you want in the pre-sale, try again at the public sale! Don't settle for seats you don't want until you've done all you can to get better seats.
- Don't forget there is a four ticket limit on the pre-sale.
- Don't forget there will be hefty charges from the ticketing vendors. This can drive the total cost of your ticket up by $7-$15 per ticket.
- If you are worried something might come up and you won't be able to go to the show and you'll lose what you put into the tickets, take advantage of Ticketmaster's ticket insurance. A few more dollars now is worth the peace of mind.
- After you buy your tickets, breathe a sign of relief and thank God for the awesome night you are going to have at the show!
Thanks Corrine for the insight. I think I'm going to go with VIP. Too old and broken to wait in line all day. Of course those of us in seats are standing during the show too but we have a designated "space" to stand in and if we get tired, we can sit down! LOL
Posted by: Carol L (TDfan Gomer) | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 07:11 AM