Ticket costs have gone up sooner than the price of different shopper items during the last 20 years.
If you have been ready to see your favourite artist carry out reside, you may possible must shell out some critical money. In 2025, that may imply spending tons of, even 1000’s, of {dollars} for one ticket. For occasion, the common worth for a secondhand ticket to Taylor Swift’s three Eras tour reveals in Miami in October 2024 was $3,472, in line with a examine performed by SeatPick.
While Taylor Swift is actually one of many largest artists on the planet, demonstrated by the Ticketmaster fiasco surrounding tickets her Eras tour, she’s not alone. Artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, who headlined the yr’s prime 100 concert events, have common ticket costs effectively above $100.
Trust me, I perceive the psychological debate of deciding between both seeing your favourite artist or spending upwards of $500 on a ticket. But this is the factor: you do not all the time need to spend that a lot. I prioritize seeing reside music twice every week at native venues, however I additionally go to a minimum of three greater concert events (at stadiums or amphitheaters) every month. For occasion, I’m going to Jin’s tour right here in Tampa this July, and was in a position to rating an inexpensive ticket despite the fact that he is without doubt one of the greatest Ok-pop artists on the planet.
I will not gatekeep my tips of the commerce. So whereas live performance tickets for greater musicians could by no means be low cost, there are efficient methods to avoid wasting. Below, I break down how a lot live performance ticket costs have risen over time and environment friendly suggestions for saving cash.
Read extra: Buying Concert Tickets Online Is a Mess. 10 Tips for Grabbing the Seats You Want
Are live performance tickets getting dearer?
Concert tickets might be outrageously costly. I’m not making that assertion based mostly on the anecdotal proof of hundreds of thousands of people that recount the nightmare expertise of preventing for presale codes after which being bombarded with taxes and costs after deciding on their seats. I’m basing it on a long time of information on the rising ticket prices.
According to Pollstar, the common ticket worth knowledge from the highest 100 excursions during the last 4 years is as follows:
2018 |
$85.03 |
2019 |
$91.18 |
2022 |
$102.7 |
2023 |
$122.84 |
Based on knowledge supplied by Pollstar, ticket costs have gone up sooner than the price of different shopper items during the last 20 years and have outpaced inflation.
My 7 go-to suggestions for saving cash on live performance tickets
Here are time-honored suggestions — plus my very own private classes from live performance ticket debacles over time — to discovering the bottom ticket costs.
Buy tickets early
Buy tickets as quickly as they go on sale. Early-bird tickets are sometimes cheaper than ready till nearer to the live performance date.
Being strategic about shopping for tickets early and utilizing a presale code may also help you discover the lowest-cost tickets obtainable.
Sign up for ticket presales
Join artist fan golf equipment, subscribe to newsletters or comply with your favourite artists on social media to entry presale gives, which normally have discounted costs. Many live performance ticket-distributors, akin to Ticketmaster, Live Nation and AXS, supply presale alternatives, so it is best follow to join notifications to by no means miss out on low ticket costs.
Attend weekday reveals
Concert tickets are normally cheaper on weekdays than on weekends, as demand is usually decrease. Over the years, I’ve saved tons of of {dollars} opting to see my favourite artists on weekday nights and even Sunday nights slightly than on Fridays and Saturdays.
Use scholar or navy reductions
Many venues or ticketing platforms within the US supply discounted tickets for school college students, navy personnel and seniors. Double-check for those who qualify for any particular reductions.
Use a bank card with leisure rewards
You may save as much as 4% on live performance tickets with an leisure rewards bank card. Some bank cards could even have partnerships with ticket-distribution corporations and can supply card holders unique offers, reductions and entry to presale tickets.
Volunteer at music festivals or venues
Volunteering at a multiday music pageant or music venue might be an environment friendly approach to get free or discounted live performance tickets. For many festivals, you’ll be able to volunteer for a several-hour shift after which attend the remainder of the day totally free. Volunteers at music venues, symphonies or theaters typically obtain discounted or free tickets to performances as a thanks for his or her work.
By volunteering at music venues or festivals, you might obtain free or discounted tickets in return to your work.
Purchase throughout Concert Week
Live Nation hosts a Concert Week in early May every year through which the ticket-distribution firm gives reductions as much as 75% off for over 5,000 reveals. In 2025, discounted tickets have been obtainable for tons of of artists, which suggests there’s one thing for everybody, throughout all genres.
Live Nation additionally introduced the launch of a $30 live performance ticket initiative for this upcoming summer time. This providing began May twenty first and can permit followers to entry greater than 1,000 reveals at choose amphitheaters throughout the US and Canada all through the summer time for simply $30. This initiative applies to artists akin to The Offspring, Halsey, Avril Lavigne, Kesha, Dierks Bentley, Rod Stewart and extra.
For extra money saving suggestions, this is suggestions for saving cash on airfare.