TICKETING
MADNESS D i d yo u s p e n d h o u r s i n l i n e f o r t i c ke t s t o Av i c i i o r L i l Way n e? N o e l l e M a t e e r w e n t b e h i n d t h e s c e n e s t o f i n d t h e b e s t way t o g e t t h e t i c ke t s yo u wa n t .
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Unlike Avicii though, Lil Wayne’s concert didn’t offer general floor tickets, instead opting for assigned seats on every level. But, don’t blame the BJC if your favorite show doesn’t offer general admission — a common complaint at recent concerts. It’s the promoter, acting as the go-between for the venue and the artist’s agent, who determines how the seats will be arranged. In fact, the promoter is often the one who dictates ticket pricing, selling dates and stage placement. “For every show, the map looks completely different,” Bishop says. The BJC just serves as what Kozak calls a “rental facility” for the show. If there’s one thing Penn State ticket offices are in charge of, though, it’s selling tickets. There are four ticket-sales locations: the HUB, Eisenhower Auditorium, the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center and, of course, the Bryce Jordan Center. But where’s the best place to ensure your spot? “The HUB generally sells the most,” says Kozak, but not necessarily as quickly. Bishop points out that although the Penn
Spring 2012
State Downtown Theatre Center has fewer staff members to sell tickets, its convenient downtown location makes it easy to grab coffee or food while your friends hold your spot in line. Plus, many students don’t even know the Center exists. (Are you one of them? Penn State Downtown Theatre Center is on Allen Street, right next to Panera Bread.) If you’d rather stay inside and purchase tickets online, keep in mind that you won’t get the reduced student pre-sale price, which means you may not get your favorite seats. Student pre-sales allow students to purchase tickets at a reduced price before they go on sale to the general public. So, with a valid Penn State ID, students can snatch all the best seats without even paying full price. This just means you need to purchase your ticket in person. The vendors there will sell to capacity as allowed by seat space and fire codes. Only in the rare case of a sold-out show will students be turned away. But with the right combination of promptness and patience, you’ll snag your ticket without a hitch.
Photo by Nina Abbott
You jammed out to Drake. You rocked on at Lady Antebellum. But no matter how many Penn State concerts you’ve danced, sung and shouted at, chances are what you heard about them was wrong. Rumors fly as fast as ticket lines form, so Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Operations Manager Kevin Kozak and Downtown Ticket Manager Shannon Bishop are here to bust Penn State ticketing myths. First up: BJC sell-outs. You probably heard that Avicii sold out in a couple hours — that’s only partly true. “There’s a perception that we sell out of a lot of shows,” Kozak says. “Shows don’t necessarily sell out here, but the sections people want to sit in sell out.” In the case of Avicii, seated tickets to the show were available long after tickets went on sale. It was only the floor tickets that sold out in just three hours. But, there are exceptions: February 2011’s frenzied Lil Wayne sale, which completely sold out the first day. It was “probably the biggest student sale we’ve had,” Kozak says. All in all, it was a rare occurrence.