How to Buy & Sell Extra Festival Tickets (The Smart Way)

Festival season is in full swing and we know things don’t always go as planned. You may have flunked spring semester and found yourself taking summer classes, you may have that manager/parent that doesn’t remember what it’s like to be young, or you may have found yourself ballin’ on a budget. Whatever the reason is, you need to sell that pesky extra ticket and we’re here to help!

Since we live in a culture plagued with ticket scalpers, we wanted to share advice for buyers/and sellers to effectively buy/and sell event tickets. Whether it’s a ticket to a local show or EDC Las Vegas, follow these helpful tips for a successful transaction.

Helpin’ v.s. Hustlin’- Know the Difference 

We understand that money is important. Many of us work really, really hard so we can afford these extravagant music festivals we love so much. So sometimes we think it’s okay to post ticket prices that are a little higher than what we actually paid but it doesn’t really support the idea of helping fellow music lovers out, does it?

Start by offering the ticket at face value. If a bidding war ensues, then it’s your choice to continue. However, don’t be shocked when your extra ticket doesn’t sell because you’re asking two times above face value.

Make sure to check out Magnolia Miracle. They provide a reliable and easy platform for people to exchange tickets at face value or less.

Advertise in Smaller Facebook Groups & Event Pages

There are thousands of Facebook groups dedicated to specific music festivals, artists, events, genres, etc. It’s easy to join a specific group/event to not only interact with millions of people that share similar interests but it also provides thee perfect platform to advertise your extra ticket to people who are ACTUALLY interested. Posting on Craigslist can sometimes be ineffective, especially if you live in a smaller town.

Twitter Hashtag Heaven

#edc4sale #ef4sale #ultra4sale the list goes on and on. Major influencers such as the infamous “Lady Casa” will sometimes help spread your tweet to reach more people. So don’t hesitate to use the power of hashtags & @’s.

Will Call, You Maybe (hehe)

Bad jokes aside, lets talk about “Will Call.” This has to be the most frustrating process and most unappealing word associated with buying and selling tickets. Many online ticket vendors or venues require the ticket buyer to be present when picking up a ticket from the box office. So even if you can’t attend the event, you will still have to show up to the box office with your ID and credit card to physically obtain the ticket you wish to sell. Always try to avoid the “Will Call” option when checking out online. Sellers, it’s better to work with your buyers because many of them can blow you off for someone with hard copies. Buyers, I suggest meeting at the box office and verify that the seller is providing you correct box office hours. Meeting with strangers is ALWAYS dangerous.

Throwback to Trading

Maybe you can’t make it to Spring Awakening- bummer! But you can make it to North Coast- score! Believe it or not but there is a person out there who can’t make it to North Coast anymore but wants to attend Spring Awakening…..whoa. Throwback to the good ol’ trading days.

Check out Cash Or Trade. It’s like the ticket category under Craigslist but it’s managed by fans like you and me.

Hard Copy v.s. Printed Ticket = Legit v.s Wildcard

Buyers, train your eye to spot the term “hard tix” while searching online. It’s lingo for having a physical copy. Printing at home is super convenient/cheap and it also makes it super convenient for duplication. Can you imagine paying hard earned money on something that could possibly be fraudulent? Not all ticket sellers are bad guys and are out to get you though. Be sure to always buy from the original buyer and not from his sister who bought the ticket from a friend (it can go on and on.) Sellers, it is important to provide proper receipts when asked. Make your buyer feel comfortable. Trust is so crucial in these transactions.

Closing the Deal

Before you start the celebration of selling or buying, you gotta seal the deal. Let’s talk about payments. The easiest and most reliable way to complete the transaction is to meet in person (IN A SAFE & BUSY AREA WITH FRIENDS.) Meeting in person guarantees that the money and ticket ends up in the right hands. Not all tickets are sold locally though. Say you want to sell your ticket to someone across the nation, now what? Sellers, do not send the ticket until you get your money. Buyers, a safe and reliable way to pay for your ticket is through PayPal.

The internet has transformed the way tickets are purchased and sold. It’s important to educate yourself so you can purchase tickets in a legal and safe method. With the proper tools you can find the right deals for those sold out shows.

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