Do tickets get cheaper or more expensive closer to concert?

  • Posted on: 13 Jul 2024
    Do tickets get cheaper or more expensive closer to concert?

  • Commonly, prices of concert tickets may vary from the time the concert is set until the actual date of the concert. Is it wise to book your flight in advance and grab the early bird offer or to travel at the last minute and hope to get the deal that everyone wants? I have some sensible points on both sides, and the best practice can vary from one artist to another and sometimes from one club to another. Below is a preview of why prices can be dynamic and the directions to go while getting your ticket near the show time.

    Why Prices Fluctuate

    Similar to airplane seats or hotel rooms, the price of concert tickets depends largely on demand or more accordingly, on the law of supply and demand. Seating is limited in venues; the structures that compose them, therefore, have only limited seating capacity. During the initial phase when tickets are launched for sale, a certain number of them are available. The initial prices of these products are dictated by demand, although supply tends to accompany demand.

    The final tickets for the event also become limited closer to the date, even for those performances that are highly in demand. The number of users may also rise or fall, and so may the demand. This means that the prices can either go up or down, as this is dynamic pricing that depends on the availability of the products.

    Specific factors that can impact price trends include.

    Social recognition: big artists and their songs are usually bought faster, and the tickets’ prices remain high for a longer time.

    Word of mouth: people get to know and talk about the tour/ show, and since people demand what they know, the hype created by these people increases the demand.

    Number of tickets: The number of tickets that are available at a smaller venue is less than that of a large venue, which is why supply is more constrained.

    Market shift: concerning money, it is bound to affect the entertainment budget.

    Weather forecast: Crowded events or uneventful days bring out more relaxed fans.

    Rival attractions: By allocating a fixed amount of time and money to entertainment, fans choose where to spend it.

    Reseller speculation: Speculative resellers attempt to purchase the sought-after tickets to make their profits.

    Why Prices Often Increase

    While it is always possible to have a different scenario where concert prices may increase or decrease as the date approaches, it is more often the other way around where ticket price goes up. Here are some key reasons.

    Consequently, this leads to increased prices. The few tickets available are sold.

    In many cases, the costs of production are fixed, which means that the artist does not get to share the cost of the tickets with every attendee of the show.

    Individuals benefit at the maximum; they perform for the best price the people will offer.

    Automated pricing strategies: As noted earlier, algorithmic pricing increases prices in response to various demand stimuli.

    Some of the marketing strategies that affect the consumer market include Speculators withdrawing their products from circulation; resellers tend to withdraw their stocks in the market so that they can sell them at higher prices later.

    The first is that ticket prices do sometimes get cheaper among the services offered by the various carriers available.

    However, this is not a very frequent case; sometimes, ticket prices may drop as the event’s date approaches. Here's why:

    Failure to sustain the momentum that existed earlier and create hype—the slow rate of sales indicates low consumer interest.

    high initial prices; expensive tickets are static and cause shortfalls.

    Disputes or low ratings from consumers have an unfavorable impact on popularity and the reputation of artists.

    Float and cycle: Consumers start making adjustments when they spot an economic downturn.

    Rain in football: fans do not go out to get wet.

    Sluggish secondary market activity: retailers struggle to sell goods.

    Timing Your Purchase

    Thus, the question arises: when is it appropriate to buy a ticket to a concert? Here are some best practices.

    Purchase before the current popular programs

    If a concert is going to be very popular and it is anticipated that tickets will be sold out soon, then plan and buy them. Holders of this product in the initial stages can enjoy the full benefit or use the product before it gets scarce. Again, attempt to buy as soon as they are available to the public with the aim of purchasing.

    Patience since low demand signals

    In a situation where you anticipate that a particular show is going to have less demand in the future, it is advisable to keep a close eye on price and wait for potential reductions. However, do not procrastinate because there is always the chance that you may not be able to be part of it if it is sold out.

    Use sale alerts

    Most of the ticket resale sites have a notification feature that allows you to input an event you are interested in and get a notification when the tickets are available for sale at the price range you want. This way, you will be alerted when prices reach your goal, and whether it is fascinating enough to invest.

    Consider VIP packages

    If purchasing regular tickets is not within your financial capabilities, then you should look at the VIP prices. In rare circumstances, upgrades such as meet and greets, first entry, and exclusive items can provide better value as a ticket down front.

    Check the forecast

    If an outdoor concert has uncertain weather conditions beforehand, one should wait and see whether ticket prices drop near the event due to rain or low temperatures, which discourage fans from attending.

    There are always con artists willing to take advantage of the situation and sell fake tickets.

    In the secondary market, with price increases, fakes are more often seen as well. Do not lend any credit card for purchasing products online, especially second-hand items, and do not use any resellers that are not reputable to avoid being scammed.

    The Bottom Line

    The nature and reasons behind concert ticket pricing are complex and cannot be generalized, as each artist, venue, market condition, and fanbase have different conduct. As a rule, prices tend to rise rather than fall but it appears that at times, one can wait for a certain period and come across a bargain. This is the best technique and also means being adaptive, watching out for price drops, and then grabbing it before someone else does.

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