7 Ways to Save on Summer Concerts

Even concert ticket scalpers are singing the recession blues -- and that’s good news for consumers.

Low demand for concert tickets has led to a flooded market and lower prices. As of Thursday afternoon, ticket search engine FanSnap.com listed more than 4,000 tickets on the market for Paul McCartney’s New York show on July 21, and the Jonas Brothers’ Long Island show on the same date still has more than 3,000 seats for sale. Prices for the two headliners are relatively low, too; tickets start at $46 and $14, respectively.

Concert prices have dropped to an average $140 a seat, down $20 from last year, and available tickets are a big reason why, says Sean Pate, a spokesman for ticket marketplace StubHub.com http://www.stubhub.com. “That kind of supply really pressures prices downward,” he says. (Sports ticket prices have seen a similar plunge.)

Of course, browsing the ticket resale sites isn’t the only way to save. Try these seven tips to see your favorite musicians for less:

Although the secondary market is full of bargains, buying at the box office is still your best bet for low prices on great seats, says Yarden Tadmor, co-founder of Livekick.com, a ticket search engine. “Shows run out at the box office a little slower than they used to,” he says. “Scalpers are taking less risk.” Tour operators often release additional seats a few weeks in, too, so it’s worth checking. For example, face-value tickets are still available at Ticketmaster for every stop on Metallica’s fall tour.

Members of an artist or band’s fan club often get early access to tickets. If you’re not ready to fork over a membership fee, check in with your credit card issuer. Citibank (C) cardholders, for example, can now buy pre-sale tickets and preferred seats for Creed, Aerosmith and Brandi Carlile through the issuer’s Private Pass program.

If you’re not picky about where you sit, there’s a sweet spot in pricing three to five days before the show, Pate says. Many seller listings expire three days out (to avoid the hassle of last-minute shipping), so prices drop as they scramble to find a buyer. Really want to cut it close? Scalpers may cut prices in half on tickets still in-hand once the concert begins. (For tips to make sure they’re legit, read our guide.)

Free concerts abound during the summer, so find out who might be sponsoring them in your area. Radio stations, schools and major corporations are likely candidates. Mall developer Simon Property Group (SPD) is offering an 11-mall nationwide tour with Hoobastank and Forever the Sickest Kids, among other musicians. And visitors to the San Mateo County Fair ($8 admission) get free access to performances by Boys II Men and Arrested Development.

Many arenas and clubs are offering discounts and coupons to lure in concertgoers in the rough economy, says Dan de Grandpre, the founder of Dealnews.com, which lists sales and coupon codes. For example, Tampa’s St. Pete Times Forum is currently offering $15 “Recession Buster” tickets (regularly as much as $47) for actress and singer-songwriter Demi Lovato. Another good source for deals: your city’s Entertainment Book http://www.entertainment.com. Detroit’s book offers buy-two-get-two-free tickets at DTE Energy Music Theatre and the Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Jonas Brothers will perform later this month.

Amy Ammen, a dog trainer in Milwaukee, works as a volunteer usher at the Pabst Theater. “I choose the shows I want to work,” she says. Among the acts Ammen has watched gratis: Keith Urban and the Indigo Girls. Virgin Mobile’s FreeFest http://www.virginmobilefestival.com/ has taken a more proactive approach, opening up 3,000 seats for the August 30 festival in Columbia, Md., to concertgoers who log at least eight hours of service with a partner charity.

Commission and shipping fees vary from site to site, so be sure to factor those in when choosing a vendor, Tadmor says. For example, sellers at RazorGator and TicketNetwork each list seats in row 16 of Promenade section 501 at CitiField in New York to see Paul McCartney on July 21. You’d pay $70 for the RazorGator ticket ($63, plus $6.30 handling), or $64 for the TicketNetwork one ($54, plus $9.18 handling).