When you visit Ticketmaster.com prior to a certain event going on sale, one of the first things you're sure to notice is the on-sale time. Although Ticketmaster's system is programmed to sell tickets beginning exactly at this time, computer glitches can affect it -- sometimes in your favor. If an upcoming concert goes on sale at 10 a.m., try visiting the website a few minutes early. If, for whatever reason, the tickets have gone on sale even a couple minutes early, you could be one of the only ones to know -- and have your pick of the best seats in the house.
One mistake people tend to make when shopping for concert tickets is to settle for something less than they want out of fear of not getting a ticket at all. Still, if having a good seat is important to you, you need to make completely sure nothing better is available before you purchase. If you have pulled up seats, then, that are unacceptable, throw them back and try again. If, after a few times, you notice you're not getting anything better, you can make the decision to purchase. In many cases, however, you'll find that persistence pays off. It might also be a good idea to try Ticketmaster via phone at the same time, as agents there may have access to different seats.
When tickets go on sale for an event, it's not always a sure bet that Ticketmaster will release all its available seats from the get-go. Rather, it's likely to release a certain, initial "allotment" and then subsequent allotments once each sells out. If you opted not to buy during the initial sale, it's always a good idea to check back in the days and weeks leading up to a show -- even on a day-of basis. In some cases, artists and performers will hold a certain amount of tickets for media, friends and family and if these people don't show up, Ticketmaster will sell them as well.