Written by Jon Stojan
Last summer I camped outside my laptop for Coachella presale alerts—and still missed out. Frustrating, right? But after a few face‐plants (and one sunburn), I finally cracked the code. Here are some tips to snag festival tickets without losing it.
1. Learn the Ticket Phases (And Why They Matter)
Festivals typically drop tickets in waves:- Presale: Early access for fan‐club members, mailing‐list subscribers, or certain credit‐card holders.
- Early Bird: Discounted batch at a set time—blink and you’ll miss it.
- General Sale: The open floodgates.
- Last‐Minute Release: A tiny trickle days before the event.
According to Ticketmaster’s Festival Shopping Behavior Study, up to 60% of festival tickets sell during presales and early‐bird windows, while less than 3% move in the week leading up to showtime. Unsold or returned tickets can sometimes pop up as “additional releases” just before the gates open, but that stash is unpredictable.
2. Sign Up (Seriously) for Every Presale
Why gamble on the general sale when presales give you a head start? I once snagged a Weekend Pass for Lollapalooza via a random credit‐card promo—total luck, but it taught me to:- Join the official festival mailing list.
- Enrol in artist or festival fan clubs for exclusive codes.
- Check if my credit‐card issuer offers presale perks.
- Follow venues and promoters on social media—sometimes they drop hidden links in stories.
Pro tip: Set calendar alerts for each presale date. If your phone buzzes, drop everything and click. For more tips, check this blog from Lottoland; it share great advice to get festival tickets.
3. Get Your Account Battle‐Ready
Seconds count when the clock hits zero. Before tickets ever go live:- Create an account on Ticketmaster, See Tickets, or your festival’s platform.
- Save your payment info—including billing address.
- Double‐check that your email and phone number are current.
I once used an expired card and had to scramble mid‐checkout. Never again.
4. Multitask with Multiple Devices (Carefully)
Ever watched one device go “sold out” while another still lets you in? That’s why:- Use a laptop or desktop as your main window.
- Keep your phone or tablet hot as a backup.
- Try different browsers—Chrome, Firefox, Safari—but don’t open five tabs on the same browser.
- If you go multi‐device, log into separate accounts on each to avoid getting locked out.
Sure, doing this makes you feel like you’ve become a ticketing cyborg, but hey—whatever works.
5. Choose the Right Ticket—No FOMO
Festivals offer all sorts of passes:- Day Passes: Perfect if you have a busy weekend.
- Weekend Passes: Go big or go home.
- Camping Packages: Save on hotels, embrace the “tent life.”
- VIP Tickets: Fast lanes, shaded lounges, maybe even complimentary snacks (worth it if you hate lines).
Ask yourself: Am I really going all three days? If not, save cash on a single‐day ticket.
6. Dodge Scams Like a Pro
Scrolling through sketchy ads on social media? Just don’t. Stick to:- Official festival or promoter sites.
- Verified resale platforms like TicketSwap or StubHub.
- Ticketmaster’s own resale section—they authenticate tickets before listing.
If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Walk away. Seriously.
There’s no magic trick—just planning, prep, and a bit of grit. Next time the countdown starts, you’ll be sipping coffee, not panicking. Ready to lock in your spot? Let’s go!
