Fans of Ed Sheeran, Radiohead, and Ariana Grande have reason to celebrate, as all three artists have announced new tour dates set to go on sale this month. But with Google searches for “how to get tickets” spiking by 5,000%, experts are warning of another looming “Ticketmaster war.”
To help fans stand a better chance of securing tickets, ticketing platform SeatPick has shared its top advice for navigating high-demand sales.
Seven tips to secure concert tickets
- Plan ahead: Review the seating chart and decide your preferred tickets and backup options before sales begin. Agree with your group on who’s attending, what kind of tickets you want, and set a price cap.
- Sort payments in advance: Make sure your payment method is ready to go. Add your card details to your Ticketmaster account beforehand, and have a backup card in case one gets blocked.
- Use strong internet: A reliable, fast connection can make the difference between scoring tickets or missing out. Run a quick speed test to ensure you’re on the fastest network available.
- Choose a computer over a phone: Websites typically run smoother on computers, and the ticket map is easier to navigate.
- Be early: Log on 15 minutes before the sale starts to get into the waiting room, which leads to the ticket queue.
- Don’t refresh: Once you’re in the queue, refreshing the page will lose your spot.
- Stay persistent: High traffic can cause errors or tickets to show as unavailable. Keep checking back over the next few hours.
Dynamic pricing explained
Dynamic pricing means ticket prices rise and fall based on demand, similar to airline and hotel bookings. For major artists, prices can jump significantly in real-time. Fans are advised to wait until after the initial sales surge has passed, when prices may stabilize, or to buy as early as possible to avoid further increases.
Beth Surridge, a fan from Northamptonshire, shared how dynamic pricing impacted her Oasis ticket purchase this summer: “After waiting nearly two hours in the queue, the site crashed and I turned to Heaton Park. At first, tickets were £150 each, but after refreshing the page, they had jumped to £300. I was shocked, but desperate not to miss out, I paid £600 for two tickets. In hindsight, it felt sneaky and unfair.”
Gilad Zilberman, co-founder of SeatPick, says awareness is key: “As fans spend more than ever on live experiences, the pressure to get tickets first can lead to poor decisions and costly mistakes. Myths like the ‘instant sellout’ or ‘best price always at launch’ often fuel unnecessary panic. Add to that the rise of dynamic pricing, and it’s never been more important to understand how the system really works. The smartest fans today aren’t just fast—they’re informed.”
With tour dates for Ed Sheeran, Radiohead, and Ariana Grande all on the horizon, fans are urged to prepare early, stay calm and use every tool at their disposal to beat the competition when tickets go on sale.
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