Ticket Brokering's Most Frequently Asked Questions

… and, their answers! Ticket brokering is still a mystery to many in the U.S. While some are devoted converts of ticket brokering sites, others spend hours in virtual waiting rooms, and wonder what all the fuss is about … after all, they assume it's just what you have to do to get the good tix! Today we are looking at why ticket brokers are such big business, and the benefits they offer to the consumer … and also answering some of the more obscure questions about the business.

Why would I go to a ticket broker?

So many people in the U.S. are afraid of small businesses. They assume that if a business doesn’t have a brand that has been established for thirty years or more, they can’t be trusted. They automatically go to the Box Office … and they either pay more than they had to, get seats that are less than ideal, or get told that the show is sold out! Ticket brokers are good for many things:

• They offer the good seats that always sell out early,
• You don’t have to spend hours standing in lines, either real or virtual, to buy tickets.
• They still have tickets close to the concert date, or if it was sold out through the promoter

Isn't that what Ticketmaster and Ticketron do?

Not quite. Ticket brokers have to go through the public sale process, just like everybody else does. It's just that they know a few tricks of the trade to ensure that they get concert tickets in bulk amounts at good prices, that will be in high demand.

Why is the price sometimes so radically different than the face value?

The price that a ticket broker charges you is directly related to the demand for a ticket. Tickets in high demand will often cost more than face value; on the other hand, you might get an awesome discount from a ticket broker close to the date if there are lots of seats unfilled. This is the way that our entire market works -- on supply and demand. If you want something that not many other people do, you'll pay less.

But ticket brokers don’t have tickets for every concert, do they? Doesn’t it create a lot of running around?

Actually, if you want tickets for a popular event the ticket broker will often use their network of contacts to get you a ticket. They'll do the running around … it's their job!