By: Jenna Lizasuain

April 14, 2023: The Eras Tour at Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)

Seats: Back Lower Bowl

Price: $145

Method: Ticketmaster

As most of TikTok has pointed out, getting tickets for The Eras Tour directly from Ticketmaster was no easy feat. While I was not the person in my group that purchased the tickets, I can attest to the fact that they were incredibly difficult to obtain and Ticketmaster was not as prepared for the demand as they should have been. People were being kicked out, and almost every stadium in the country was sold out within minutes of the website opening, crashing, and opening again. That being said, the seats we did end up getting were great, especially for the price we paid. We were in one of the last rows of the lower bowl, to the front left of the stage, and the incline of the seats meant we could see Taylor the whole time.

For one of the most popular artists in the country (probably in the world) and the view we had, I would say the tickets were worth the price. The biggest criticism I have for this concert was that Ticketmaster could have handled the demand of the artist and the structure of their website better so more people could have bought tickets at the same value we did. I would also say resellers played a major role in the cost of the tour for most people, as they took advantage of the fact that most people would give hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for any seat in the stadium. While I don’t think this is Ticketmaster or Taylor Swift’s fault, I do think that there should be a better system in place to help more fans have access to more reasonable ticket prices.

September 30, 2023: Hozier’s Unreal Unearth Tour at MSG (New York, NY)

Seats: Front Lower Bowl

Price: $220

Method: TickPick

This concert was my first experience with resale tickets, as I had only ever purchased tickets from Ticketmaster or some other verified source. Two hours before Madison Cunningham was meant to open the show, some friends and I had our tickets purchased and we were officially going to see Hozier perform. We were in Section 2, Row 12, which is the first row of raised seats in the lower bowl; we were as close as we could get, dead center, without being in the actual pit. Personally, I think these are the best seats I’ve ever had, as I could see the entire time (as a shorter person, I was especially grateful for this) and was close enough to see and hear every detail of his set.

I will say, we paid more than the face value, according to TickPick, but for how good the seats were, I believe we got a good deal. I also noticed that ticket prices dropped tremendously after the opening act performed, but the only seats left were nosebleeds or in the Upper Bowl for about $100 cheaper than ours. The best advice I would give to anyone buying tickets from a reselling website is to use one that is verified, to actually read their fraud policies—as this can be a lot of money to lose to a scam—and to wait until the day of or the day before to buy tickets when prices will drop to their lowest.

October 26, 2023: Aidan Bissett’s Supernova Tour at Racket NYC

Seats: General Admission

Price: $3

Method: Tickpick

Okay, I was completely sure these tickets were going to be a scam, but I still bought one and went… and got in? I personally do not really listen to Aidan Bissett, only having heard a few of his songs on TikTok before actually buying this ticket, but the overall energy and experience of going to a concert in Manhattan was definitely worth the effort. Since he isn’t exceptionally popular, I was able to get a spot in the third or fourth row and only arrived ten minutes before the opener went on. I fully recommend going to free, or really cheap, concerts if you have the opportunity to, even if it’s not an artist you’ve listened to a lot.

October 31, 2023: Renee Rapp’s Snow Hard Feelings Tour at King’s Theater (Brooklyn, NY)

Seats: General Admission

Price: $68

Method: Artist’s Website

I was extremely lucky to purchase pit tickets for this concert at face value the day they opened to the public. The only downside to most general admission tickets is that it can be hard to get a good spot if you don’t get there early, and getting a good spot is crucial if you’re short and want to be able to see. Luckily, King’s Theater has a slight angle to their pit area, meaning even if you’re farther back, there is still a slight incline that helps you see better. I got in line about two hours before doors opened and was probably in the first hundred people there, not including VIP packages with early access. This put me about five or six rows away from the stage (and Renee Rapp), and I found that I was still able to see quite well.

I would also say that the process of meeting fans in line and in the general admission section is a fun experience and something I didn’t get at either of the other concerts. I appreciate how Renee Rapp sold her tickets on her website, instead of a larger ticket selling website that could pile on fees. However, not all artists have this luxury with the locations they perform at.

Overall, I would say that all of these concerts were worth what I paid for them. The experience of singing and dancing to music you love with people who share that same passion is unforgettable and New York is a great place to do that. Buying from Ticketmaster or directly from an artist is safest, but don’t totally knock out resale tickets, just be slightly more cautious. Try and research a venue before buying tickets, to figure out what seats would be best for you, and also remember that big artists aren’t the only option. Rod’s has free shows on campus all the time and there are plenty of small artists with cheap or free shows just a subway ride away. However you choose, just make sure you have a rocking time, and remember—money is temporary, memories are forever!