We know how daunting and exhausting it is to get a concert ticket here in the Philippines. If you’re an avid live music enthusiast like us, you might have had a few heartbreaks here and there because of not being able to purchase one for your favorite band or K-Pop artists’ show. Like the lottery, securing tickets is something that requires some luck, a gift not all of us have. However, it also involves a lot of skills and patience.

With numerous acts coming to the Philippines to stage their tours, you’re probably on the lookout for your next concert, too. If you’re in need of some advice to help you secure tickets, check out our guide below!

Before the Ticket Selling

Check Ticketing Dates and Guidelines

Months or weeks away from the concert, organizers usually release a full list of guidelines to follow during the ticket sale. These include dates, payment methods accepted, and the maximum number of tickets you can buy in one transaction, among others. Make sure to read through these guidelines thoroughly to ensure a smooth sailing process and avoid inconveniences. If you want the latest updates, it is also important to follow the organizers’ social media accounts in case there are changes in the dates and guidelines.

Plan your Desired (and Backup) Seat

Prior to the ticket-selling date, organizers also release seat plans and ticket prices for every concert. To make sure you don’t hesitate and run out of time or tickets when buying yours, it’s recommended to plan ahead which seat or section will give you the best view or the best value for money. This will also help ensure you don’t go beyond your planned budget for the show.

Listing down backup seats and sections, in case you don’t get your desired one, is a must as well, especially for shows that sell out quickly.

Take Note of Payment Details

Another tip that will also help you save time is taking note of your payment details. Online ticketing sites will request the cardholder’s name, card number, and security code (or CVV) from those paying via credit or debit card. Other payment channels like GCash or Maya usually require the account owner’s name and the account number.

You can input these details on the Notepad or Sticky Note app, so you’ll only need to copy and paste them on the checkout page. Ensure that you have a good mobile reception, too, because they might require a one-time PIN (OTP) to confirm your purchase.

Friendly reminder: be careful not to share these details with others to avoid fraudulent transactions!

When in Doubt, Ask for Help

Sure, you can probably secure a ticket on your own. But if you think you’ll need an extra hand (trust your gut!), ask your friends or family members if they can help you out. After all, there are "more chances of winning" if you’re all in this together!

Pray and Manifest (IYKYK)

We all have our own routines (or rituals, IYKYK) before buying a ticket. This might not give you a guaranteed pass, but praying and “manifesting,” as they say, that you will be able to watch your faves’ upcoming show, will help you maintain a positive mindset during this exhausting journey.

If You’re Buying On-Site...

Check Which Outlet is Most Convenient

SM Tickets and TicketNet, two of the most common ticketing partners for concerts, have various outlets across the country to help the public, especially those in provinces, secure their tickets on-site easily. If you plan on doing so, check which outlet is the most accessible for you and if they would be selling the ticket you’d love to purchase, so you don’t waste any extra effort.

You can check out SM Tickets and TicketNet’s outlets by visiting their websites or sending them a message on their social media pages.

Wake Up Reaaaaally Really Early

Unlike when purchasing tickets online (where you’ll be assigned a random place in the queue), on-site or offline sales are on a first-come, first-served basis. Given that, you might need to head to the outlet as early as you can. If you’re willing to go the extra mile, you can also line up the day before the ticket sale date and camp overnight there, so you can get the first dibs.

Fans typically create Facebook Groups and Group Chats (GCs) for those who will camp overnight. The process is very informal, needless to say, but it helps to be with fellow fans. Be careful, however, and trust your gut during this entire experience, as there are those who will take advantage of desperate fans (scalpers who will offer tickets for twice the price) and the generally trusting atmosphere (by pretending to be a fan to scam people).

Bring Water and Snacks

Like we previously mentioned, fans usually line up really early or the day before the actual selling date. If you’re doing this, too, make sure you have water to drink and some snacks to munch on while you wait. Pulling an all-nighter for this is definitely tiring, plus you need that energy when you’re already at the counter.

Some kind-hearted people usually help organize these on-site queues and give out food and water to those who are waiting. Talk about fan camaraderie!

Have Cash Ready

It’s also important to have some cash ready when you’re buying a ticket at physical outlets. This is because some of them offer cash-only transactions, especially branches located in provinces. You can’t also fully trust card transactions to work all the time, as they often go offline in these crucial times.

To check which payment methods the outlet you prefer will be accepting during the ticket selling, you can check the ticketing partner’s website or social media pages, or inquire via email or direct message.

If You’re Securing Tickets Online...

Watch Out for Pre-Sale Dates

Nowadays, organizers offer earlier ticket-selling access as a perk for exclusive members aside from the usual public selling. In some K-pop concerts, for example, those with a Weverse membership of their favorite group or artist can get access to the pre-sale by using a special code provided to them. There are also organizers whose bank partners allot pre-sale dates for their users, where they will be asked to input their card numbers.

If you're eligible for pre-sales, take advantage of it, because the best seats are usually released during these dates.

Make Sure You Have a Fast and Stable Connection

This is a no-brainer — having a fast Internet connection is ideal for purchasing tickets online. This is so that you won’t experience any delay in logging in or selecting your seats (or maybe, just maybe, help you get a low queue number). So when you’re trying your luck online, make sure you’re in an area where your Internet, Wi-Fi, or mobile data reception is the best.

Save your Log-In Details

Another time-saving tip is saving your log-in details in your browser. SM Tickets, for example, require those buying tickets from their website to log in first before checking out a seat; hence, it’s better to have these details pre-saved so you don’t waste time typing. Remember, online ticketing favors those with the fastest hands!

To set up your log-in information, visit your browser’s “Settings” and find “Passwords.” Usually, your browser will also offer to save your details automatically when you log in on any page, so you can make use of that feature, too.

Have Multiple Browsers and Devices Open

If you don’t have other people to help you with securing your tickets, you can still get multiple spots in the queue by opening more than one browser (Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Safari, everything you have!) and devices. With those browsers and devices, open the ticketing page to access the waiting room prior to the actual selling time. You will be assigned different queuing numbers in those browsers when the time comes, giving you more chances to get a ticket. The lower the queue number, the earlier you’ll be able to choose your seats!

Pro-tip: You can also use your browser's Incognito or InPrivate mode to get more queuing numbers.

Try Ticketing Assistance Services

With concerts happening more often than ever, a lot of people on social media are offering “ticketing assistance services” to help you secure yours for an extra fee. While some may seem sketchy, there are, of course, a couple of legitimate ones who are just really willing to help. Still, be vigilant from scams and fraudulent transactions.

When picking a ticketing assistance service to avail, it’s best to consult friends or people you know who already had a transaction with them. You can also check the Internet or their social media pages for feedback from previous customers (this is when stalking skills come in handy and are valid).

Still, at the end of the day, it's best to purchase your ticket/s yourself or ask help from your trusted friends or family members. You can rest easy knowing that your ticket is 100% legitimate — zero jitters and stress as you line up, praying that the scanner will accept your ticket.

After the Ticket Selling

Do NOT Post Ticket Details on Social Media

Now that you’ve successfully secured your ticket, you’ll want to post this achievement on social media. Yes, it’s definitely okay to post a picture of your ticket on Instagram but avoid showing the whole thing to your followers. Scammers might be able to steal the information printed on the ticket or voucher to replicate it or claim the ticket in your stead, so make sure you’re covering the important stuff, such as the QR code or barcode, ticket control number, seat number, and the like.

Avoid Buying from Scalpers

When all hope is lost, many concertgoers often opt to buy from scalpers instead. These scalpers buy tickets in bulk, whether through connection or bypassing techniques and resell them at a ridiculously higher price, sometimes even two to three times their original cost. While you might be tempted to purchase from them (and it is entirely your choice if you do), remember that you’re being duped into buying overpriced tickets, and it’s hard to guarantee if they’re legitimate (that stress while lining up is just not worth it, trust us!) — you might just be better off waiting for your fave artists’ next concert in Manila.