7 Tips for Saving Money on Concert Tickets

If you’ve been waiting to see your favorite artist perform live, you’ll likely need to shell out some serious cash. In 2024, that can mean hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for one ticket. For instance, the average price for a secondhand ticket to Taylor Swift’s three Eras tour shows in Miami in October was $3,472, according to a study conducted by SeatPick.

While Taylor Swift is certainly one of the largest artists in the world — proven by the Ticketmaster fiasco to get tickets to her current tour — but she’s not alone. Artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, all headlining the year’s top 100 concerts, have average ticket prices well above $100 each. 

The mental debate of either seeing your favorite artist or spending as much as you would on rent for a single ticket can be unnerving. While concert ticket costs for bigger musicians may never be cheap, there are effective ways to save. Below, I break down how much concert ticket prices have risen over the years and efficient tips for saving money on them.

Read more: Buying Concert Tickets Online Is a Mess. 10 Tips for Grabbing the Seats You Want

Are concert tickets getting more expensive?

Concert tickets can be outrageously expensive. I’m not making that statement based on the anecdotal evidence of millions of people who recount the nightmare experience of fighting for presale codes and then being bombarded with taxes and fees after selecting their seats. I’m basing it on decades of data on the rising ticket costs. 

According to Pollstar, the average ticket price data from the top 100 tours over the last four years is as follows:

Based on data provided by Pollstar, ticket prices have gone up faster than the cost of other consumer goods over the last 20 years and have outpaced inflation.

7 tips to save money on concert tickets

Here are time-honored tips — plus my own personal lessons from concert ticket debacles over the years — to finding the lowest ticket prices.

Buy your tickets early

Buy tickets as soon as they go on sale. Early-bird tickets are often cheaper than waiting until closer to the concert date.

Sign up for ticket presales

Join artist fan clubs, subscribe to newsletters or follow your favorite artists on social media to access presale offers, which usually have discounted prices. Many concert ticket-distributors, such as Ticketmaster, Live Nation and AXS, offer presale opportunities, so it’s best practice to sign up for notifications to never miss out on low ticket prices. 

Attend weekday shows

Concert tickets are usually cheaper on weekdays than on weekends, as demand is generally lower. Over the years, I’ve saved hundreds of dollars opting to see my favorite artists on weekday nights rather than weekends. 

Use student or military discounts

Many venues or ticketing platforms in the US offer discounted tickets for college students, military personnel and seniors. Double-check if you qualify for any special discounts.

Use a credit card with entertainment rewards

You could save up to 4% on concert tickets with an entertainment rewards credit card. Some credit cards may even have partnerships with ticket-distribution companies and will offer card holders exclusive deals, discounts and access to presale tickets.

Volunteer at music festivals or venues

Volunteering at a multiday music festival or music venue can be an efficient way to get free or discounted concert tickets. For many festivals, you can volunteer for a several-hour shift and then attend the rest of the day for free. Volunteers at music venues, symphonies or theaters often receive discounted or free tickets to performances as a thank you for their work.

Purchase during Concert Week 

Live Nation hosts a Concert Week between May 8 to May 14 in which the ticket-distribution company offers discounts up to 75% off for over 5,000 shows. In 2024, discounted tickets were available for over 900 artists, including big-name performers like Janet Jackson, Maggie Rogers, Missy Elliott, which means there’s something for everyone, across all genres. 

For more, here’s tips for saving money on airfare and tips for saving this holiday season.