Concert-Going Without a Ticket

Maybe you plan on buying a ticket at the box office. Maybe the show is sold out. Maybe ticket prices are too expensive. Maybe you have no desire to actually attend the concert at all.

In any of these situations, you may find yourself going to a concert without a ticket. If your heart is set on getting into the show, this course of action is unwise. Assuming that the box office will have tickets left is dangerous, and can ruin your concert-going experience if you are unable to gain admission to the show. Since scalping tickets is illegal in most states, that option carries the risk of getting caught and prosecuted. That is if you even manage to find a scalper willing to sell tickets at a reasonable price. Anyone who heads to a show without a ticket in hand is courting disappointment.

Unless admission to the concert is not your goal at all.

In the face of rising ticket prices and mediocre performances, more fans than ever are heading to concerts, not for the show, but for the party outside. Rather than shelling out hundreds of dollars for a ticket and overpriced concessions inside the venue, savvy people are choosing to channel that money into food and drink for tailgating bashes in arena parking lots.

The phenomenon is nothing new; tailgating at athletic events has been popular for years. Fans of each team typically gather hours before games, grills and coolers in tow, to enjoy some food and libations alongside those who share their passion for a particular team. Concert crowds adapt this idea with ease.

As in sports, like-minded music fans relish the opportunity to get together and discuss their common interest. The main draw of a concert is not necessarily the music, which can be enjoyed in more polished form on CD and radio. Fans flock to live music events looking for energy, fun with friends and a unique experience. Often, these things can be found in the parking lot as well as the stadium. Throw in cheaper, tastier food and drink and the concert tailgating party becomes a kind of music convention.

Some tailgating parties have become famous events themselves. Phish fans have established a tradition of extravagant tailgating parties complete with Frisbee-tossing, outdoor cooking, music playing and hacky sacking. Parrotheads, as Jimmy Buffet’s fans are known, represent another group that has insinuated itself into tailgating legend, with some devotees never making it to the concerts even when they have tickets.

These examples demonstrate that it’s not necessary to have a ticket or attend a concert in order to enjoy the show. It’s important to realize that looking for tickets at the venue is optimistic and risky at best. If you want tickets to a sold out show, legal options exists in the form of ticket brokers, who resell tickets above face value for profit. While the tickets are more expensive, they are still available, and you’ll enjoy the added security of having tickets in your hand on the way to the show.

If you don’t want to pay too much, don’t worry. The tailgating experience outside the arena can often be superior to the concert in the arena. Just bring some lawn chairs, some food, some drinks and some friends and you’ll enjoy the event without even seeing the show.

About the Author:
J.B. Hooper is a consultant for TicketLiquidator.com. He has been an authority on music and theater for more than twenty years.