The Memory of the Perfect Gift

Every so often we manage to pull off giving that perfect gift. The gift that is so special to the person you give it to that words can’t express their elation nearly as well as their face does. I pulled off such a gift two years ago by scoring the hardest NFL tickets to get; the Super Bowl.

My son is probably one of the biggest football fans there is. He certainly has his favorite team but he enjoys every aspect of the game. He counts down the months, weeks, days, and hours until the next season begins. Two years ago when his favorite team made it to the Super Bowl I knew what I had to do. I immediately began searching for online ticket brokers to see if I could purchase two sports tickets to the biggest game in football. I knew they were going to be expensive but I also knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime event that he would never ever forget.

After a few hours of searching, I found a reputable site that had sports tickets for sale. People who held season tickets or had previously bought tickets and won’t be able to attend put those tickets up for sale. I contacted one of the online ticket brokers I found and explained what I was looking for. He immediately found me two tickets for the Super Bowl and I braced myself for the price. They were expensive and put a dent in my budget, but how many times in a life will you get to make one of your child’s dreams come true? This was my chance and I took it. I purchased the tickets and had them sent overnight to me. I could hardly contain myself; I couldn’t wait to give him his gift.

The next day the package arrived and I opened it up to examine the NFL tickets I nearly had to mortgage my home for. These were prize tickets; right on the fifty-yard line. I placed them in the gift box I bought, wrapped the box, then called my son and invited him over for dinner. I sat the table and placed the box on his dinner plate and waited anxiously for him and his wife to show up.

When he arrived he spotted the box right away but I told him he had to wait to open it until the rest of the family arrived. This was a very big deal; almost as exciting as winning the lottery so I wanted to make sure everybody got to be in on the excitement of the moment. Once everybody arrived and we sat down at the table I told him he could open the gift. As soon as his eyes saw the familiar NFL Ticket logo, he knew what it was. His eyes filled with tears and he couldn’t speak. He just looked at me in amazement. And then it hit him and he began screaming, “I’m going to the Super Bowl! I’m going to the Super Bowl!”

Every time I think about or tell this story I get emotional all over again. Those two little sports tickets became one of my son’s best memories to date. I would gladly mortgage my home to get that kind of elation again.

Work with Professional Ticket Brokers to Avoid Sticker Shock

There are two ways to experience sticker shock when buying concert tickets, football tickets or theater tickets. The first is by doing business with someone unsavory or a scalper. These shadowy characters offer tickets at exorbitant prices in order to make a big profit. The second is to work with a ticket broker who isn't up-front about the total cost of your tickets. It's easy to know before you buy how much your tickets will cost when you work with a professional ticket broker, instead.

If tickets are tickets, you may be asking why there's such a wide discrepancy in price. The truth is that unscrupulous online ticket brokers will stack fees on top of the original price quoted. They know most people will suck it up and pay the final asking price if it's the last minute before the event. A professional ticket broker, on the other hand, helps you avoid ticket sticker shock by providing all the information about your tickets before you purchase. Here's what you should expect when buying sports tickets, or any other kind of tickets, from a broker:

1. Clearly advertised prices without additional fees.
2. Tickets they know from personal experience represent good seats in your venue.
3. Simple, fast ticket delivery methods.
4. Courteous customer service from people who understand the needs of ticket buyers.
5. A wide range of entertainment tickets -- whether you need a concert ticket, football ticket or an entire entertainment package.

In other words, working with reputable online ticket brokers takes the surprise out of purchasing tickets. You know from the moment you place your order that you've paid the best possible price for great seats at the upcoming event.

Here's one way to make sure the person selling you tickets is reputable -- see if they're a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers. This self-governing group of legitimate ticket brokers follows a code of ethics that ensures fair, reliable service to their customers.

The entertainment ticket industry, like any other industry, attracts the good and bad. Knowing up front who you're dealing with can save you big disappointment down the road. Also, give yourself permission to put the brakes on a ticket purchase when exorbitant extra fees start showing up. The choice is up to you the next time you find yourself in need of tickets. You risk ticket sticker shock when you choose a firm that disguises the true price of tickets. Instead, work with a professional, reputable online ticket broker and always know exactly what you're buying.

Get Your Laugh On with Las Vegas Comedy Tickets

Know what works like a charm when you're sick of hearing about the recession? A quick trip to your Vegas ticket broker and then a night of all-out belly laughs at a Vegas comedy show.

Some people see their online ticket broker for concert tickets when they're heading for Vegas. When you just need to laugh, though, have your broker hunt down tickets to the world-class comedians playing Vegas. A good Vegas ticket broker can find the best seats for all the shows. No matter whether it's George Lopez, Jamie Foxx or the Sin City Comedy show, a professional ticket broker has been there, seen that and knows which seats you'll like.

Visitors to Vegas find it easy to see the funniest in Sin City comedy when their online ticket brokers reserve tickets to all the great shows. Ray Milano is a perennial favorite in Las Vegas, and so is Andrew Dice Clay, but be sure to contact your ticket broker in Las Vegas before you come, so you'll get great seats.

Of course, you can score concert tickets or a theater ticket or two, but when it's time to get your laugh on, nothing will do but to have your Vegas ticket broker turn you on to great comedy. Admit it, just the thought of giggling, guffawing and groaning at the stand-up routines of the pros is enough to having you heading for Nevada. If you're lucky enough to live nearby, have your ticket broker in Vegas score tickets for shows as soon as they're advertised.

Turn off the pundits, put down the paper and see your online ticket broker for seats at one of the best in Las Vegas comedy shows. It's the perfect remedy for recession blues, and you're going to be a whole lot more fun to be around!