The typical tour schedule
Almost all tours follow the same mechanics. Understanding it means knowing where to position yourself to get your tickets.
First the 'T0' announcement 'T1': the artist reveals the cities and dates, often several months before the concerts. Then comes a phase of presales – fan club, partners, operators or bank cards – reserved for a restricted audience and limited in time. Then the 'T4' general sale 'T5' opens to everyone, generally a few days after the pre-sales. Finally, if demand explodes, additional 'T6' dates 'T7' are sometimes added and an 'T8' official resale 'T9' can put places back into circulation.
The method to not miss anything
- 1
Identify your priority artists
Make a list of those you absolutely want to see, then subscribe to their official channels (site, newsletter, networks) to receive the announcement from day one.
- 2
Activate box office and venue alerts
Create an account on the relevant ticket offices and activate notifications from the venue or producer. This is often where the exact time of sale falls.
- 3
Note the pre-sale AND general sale dates
Mark both in your calendar with a reminder. A pre-sale can be enough to secure good places without waiting for the general opening.
- 4
Prepare your purchase in advance
Account created, means of payment registered, budget and seat category decided. On the big day, every minute counts.
- 5
Be connected at the opening
Log in a few minutes before the scheduled time, keep only one window active and wait in the queue without reloading the page.
Traps that cause tickets to be missed
- Arriving late: on a highly demanded tour, the best categories leave in the first minutes.
- Not having a account: creating an account and entering your details in the middle of a sale wastes crucial time.
- Ignoring pre-sales: Many buyers only wait for the general sale and miss out on early access.
- Reload the page in the queue, which may send you to the end of the queue at certain ticket offices.
- Hesitating too long: a basket is often reserved just a few minutes before expiring.
Presales vs general sale
| Criteria | Presale | General sale |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Restricted (fan club, partner, card) | Open to all |
| Moment | Before the general sale | Official opening date |
| Choice of seats | Often wider at the start | Variable depending on demand |
| Preparation | Code or prior registration required | Account and payment ready |
The exact terms and conditions (codes, partners, schedules) are specific to each tour: check them on the official page.
When a date is full
A sold out tour is not the end game. First watch for the addition of additional 'T0' dates 'T1', common when demand exceeds supply. Then activate the 'T2' relisting alerts 'T3': places reappear when baskets expire or buyers resell. Finally, turn to 'T4' legal resale 'T5', supervised and secure, rather than informal resales between individuals on networks, which are more risky.