Concert prices have rapidly snuck up on us. Between Ticketmaster fees, parking, and drinks, what starts as a $20 ticket often turns into a $70 evening on the town. Here are a few tips to save money when seeing a show in Los Angeles.
1) Buy tickets at the venue
You can buy tickets to a lot of concerts directly from the venue’s box office, which saves you the Ticketmaster fees. Swing by the venue on a weeknight after work – you won’t have to wait in long lines and parking will be easy.
2) You don’t always have to pay to park
Most venue-adjacent parking structures charge you around $15. Don’t give in! If you don’t mind walking half a mile you can often find free street parking or a cheaper lot.
3) Get drunk before you go
Venues will charge you $12 for a beer that costs less than $2 at a liquor store. If you don’t want to drink thug-style on the curb out of a brown paper bag, most venues have restaurants and dive bars close by. A little research and exploring can scare you up some cheap booze before the show.
A real-life cheap night example:
I recently saw the Gaslight Anthem at Henry Fonda. I parked at Hollywood and Highland (cheap if you get validated at Starbucks). I walked a mile to the venue (also a one-stop ride on the subway). I got a beer and a shot at the iO West theater bar ($10 total), and bought my ticket for the show at the door for $20 cash. Full evening cost MY way: $33. Full evening cost THEIR way: $71. I’m no mathematician, but I think I won this one.
We live in an expensive town, but if you’re smart, concert-going doesn’t have to be that way.
How do you save dough? Tell us what your concert saving tips are!
