If you're buying tickets for shows by a certain artist or band, get fan club information for that artist and join the club. Fan club members are usually given advance information about shows, access to special seating and updates on tickets made available through promotions. Be sure to join the fan club before tour announcements are made as many fan clubs operate first come, first served.
Before the on-sale date, research the concert's venue. Visit the venue's website and study any seating maps available on the website. If the seating maps are confusing, don't be afraid to call the venue to clarify any confusion.
The best way to beat the online ticketing system is in numbers. Employ several friends to log onto their computers 15 to 20 minutes before tickets go on sale. Five minutes before the sale begins, have each friend begin repeatedly refreshing the ticket outlet's web page. When tickets officially go on sale, have each person snap up any available seats in the quantity needed by your group. You can sell any extra tickets you are left holding later.
Many concert promoters will hold blocks of tickets for promotions such as radio or corporate sales. These seats often go unused and are eventually released by the promoter for sale to the public days or hours before the concert. While this method is a bit riskier, it is also one of the best ways to get amazing seats for your concert. If you want to play it safe, purchase tickets on the first on-sale date and check for better seats closer to the concert date.
Radio stations will usually have access to a block of tickets for large concerts. These tickets are usually distributed through promotional contests held by the station. Listen to the stations that usually play the artist's music for contests and promotions. Because many of these contests consist of phone lotteries, coordinate with friends or family members to increase your chances of winning. While this isn't a guaranteed method of getting better concert tickets, someone has to win these contests and it might as well be you.