Purchasing Keywords

Term

Definition

Presale

A ticket sale that occurs before the general public onsale, typically requiring a presale code to access. Presale codes are provided in event details.

General Onsale / Public Sale

The point at which tickets become available to the general public without a code.

Waiting Room / Queue

A virtual holding area that opens before high-demand events go on sale. To join, log in to the account before the presale starts. The waiting room typically opens 15 minutes prior to the sale. Some waiting rooms require two-factor authentication — be prepared to receive a code to the number on file.

Carting

The act of selecting tickets and adding them to your cart. Once tickets are selected, click Next to proceed to the cart screen. Do not complete the purchase until approval has been granted.

Cart Timer

A countdown timer — generally five minutes — that begins once tickets are in your cart. The purchase must be completed within that window or the tickets will be released.

Ticket Limit

The maximum number of tickets that may be purchased on a single account for a given event. Most events have an 8-ticket limit, though it can be as low as 2. The limit is listed under event info. Never exceed the ticket limit or attempt multiple purchases on the same account to acquire more tickets — all orders can be canceled for exceeding the limit.

Add-Ons

Optional extras that may appear during checkout, such as parking passes, food and drink vouchers, or early access. These should never be purchased.

Ticket Insurance

An optional purchase protection product is offered during checkout. Always decline this — click 'No' for 'protecting your purchase' before completing any order.

Drops

Tickets that were previously held back and released during or after a sale. If directed to 'wait for drops,' refresh the screen periodically to check for newly available inventory. Note: each refresh may require re-entering the presale code. Do not refresh too quickly or too frequently, as it can cause the tab to become corrupted or paused.

Paused / Browsing Paused

A screen that appears when Ticketmaster detects that an account or browser tab is moving too quickly. If this occurs, try accessing the presale in a different browser or on a different device. In some cases, an account may be flagged and remain paused, preventing it from being used for purchasing.

Verified Fan Registration

A Ticketmaster program that requires buyers to register their accounts in advance for a chance to receive a unique presale code. Designed to filter out bots and accounts with irregular purchasing histories.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

A security step that sends a verification code to the account's phone number. Required during login, queue entry, and ticket transfers. Be prepared to receive this code promptly.

Performer / Headliner

The main act — the person or group the audience came to see.

Event

Any ticketed live experience, including concerts, sports, comedy, theatre, and more. Key event details include the date, time, performer, and venue.

Price Break ("Breaks")

A cheaper section, row, or seat directly adjacent to a more expensive one. The 'break' is simply the point at which the price drops. Breaks can occur between sections (Section B priced lower than Section A), between rows (Row 15 cheaper than Row 14), or between individual seats (middle seats cheaper than aisle seats).

Refund

Money returned to the original payment method used by the vendor. A refund may be issued if an event is canceled, rescheduled, or if there is an issue with the order.

Credit

Money returned to the customer's online account on the ticketing platform, usable only for future purchases on that site. Credits most commonly occur after an event is canceled or rescheduled.

Primary Market

The original point of sale where tickets are first made available to the public. Tickets are sold directly by the venue or promoter at set prices. Examples: Ticketmaster, AXS, Paciolan.

Secondary Market

The resale market where tickets are listed after their original purchase. Prices are set competitively by brokers based on event demand. Examples: StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats.

Lowers Facing

Lower-level seats that sit directly opposite the stage, so the performer is right in front of you. The number of sections included can vary by venue — sometimes it's just one section, other times it's two or three side by side.

Side Stage. Behind Stage, and Limited View

Exactly what they sound like — seats that aren't facing the stage directly. These typically only get released when a show is nearly sold out and demand is extremely high. The view is limited: you're either looking at the stage from a sharp angle or with your back to it entirely.

Resale Tickets

Tickets being resold by another buyer, not sold directly by the venue, team, or promoter. On Ticketmaster, these show up as pink dots on the seating map. These are not face-value tickets.

Platinum and VIP seats

Premium seats sold by the venue at prices well above standard face value. Platinum seats are trickier to catch because they show up as the same blue color as regular seats — no visual difference until you click. VIP Package seats are more obvious: look for a yellow-orange dot with a star in the middle. On high-demand shows nearing a sellout, these tend to be the last seats available.