8 Expert Tips to Score Sold-Out Tickets from Travelzoo's Pros

Travelzoo’s Entertainment team has secured countless ticket deals over the years, building unmatched expertise in navigating high-demand sales—even to the point of CAPTCHA dreams. Drawing from our proven strategies, here are our top 8 tips to land tickets to the hottest shows everyone craves:

1. Subscription Packages: True theater enthusiasts should consider local venue subscriptions. Purchase tickets for multiple shows at a discount, plus gain perks like early access to exclusive, fast-selling performances not in the package.
2. Group Sales: Planning to attend a blockbuster like Broadway’s Hamilton? Buy in groups of 20+ for early access before presales and potential discounts. In Travelzoo’s Chicago office, we’re already pursuing group tickets for next fall’s run—shows like this vanish in seconds.
3. Presales: Stay ahead by researching early. Join venue mailing lists, leverage credit card perks, enroll in artist fan clubs, and watch for Travelzoo-exclusive presale alerts to secure prime seats first.
4. Buy Early: For multi-day festivals like Lollapalooza, grab multi-day passes before the lineup drops. They’re often cheaper than single-day tickets to headliners later.
5. Buy Late: In hubs like New York, chase standby or lottery options. Many sold-out Broadway shows offer daily lotteries, giving everyone a fair shot at premium seats.
6. Be Flexible: Skip impossible Saturday nights—opt for weekdays, matinees, or Sundays with better availability. Research casts first, as understudies may perform off-peak.
7. Stay Social: Follow social media and local radio for giveaways. Venues and artists reserve prime seats for promotions at sold-out events.
8. Don’t Give Up: Tickets often release in phases by section. Keep checking official sites persistently.