7 Ticket Buying Tips

Many third-party sites will use similar web addresses, such as ticketsfaster.com or ticketcenter.com. We only sell tickets through our website, never through a third party. When conducting an online search for shows, often the top few listings on the results page will be for non-Overture sites that have paid to be listed first. Be wary of any result that has “AD” next to it. Sometimes patrons think they are on our site, but instead when they searched for Overture Center, they clicked on a link to a non-Overture site.

If it feels like the ticket costs too much, it probably does. We offer standard price ranges for each show. Typically, Orchestra seats will cost more than Balcony seats. If you’re finding upper-level seats at a higher price than floor seats or seats on a Balcony level costing above $100, stop right there.

If you are uncertain about the ticket cost or processing fees, call us at 608-258-4141 before you buy the tickets. We are happy to walk you through the ticket-purchasing process or sell tickets directly over the phone. We will provide the accurate cost, so you know you aren’t paying more than the ticket is worth. But be sure to call us BEFORE completing a transaction; once you’ve purchased tickets, it can be difficult to undo the order and get your money back. (If you do make the mistake of buying over-priced tickets, document all transactions and interactions and work with your credit card company to cancel or dispute the charge.)

Third-party scalpers often try to sell tickets to shows we haven’t even put on sale yet. Check our website, call or ask us in person if a show is on sale. This will help you prevent a big headache! If you are eager to see a popular show, join our email list, and we’ll alert you when tickets go on sale, or keep an eye on our website. (Note: donors of $150 more get the opportunity to buy tickets before the general public.)

Resellers will post general listings and wait for someone to bite and make the purchase, and then they’ll scramble to find seats to fit in that general category. If you are only given a price zone or general section for your purchase (like Balcony, Row H) instead of specific seats (like Balcony, Row H, Seat 413), don’t continue the transaction. Every purchase from Overture Center lists specific seat information, unless the show is a general admission show or you’ve ordered a subscription during the first few months of the season on-sale (April-July).

If a show is flagged as sold out, don’t buy “extra tickets” from a third-party site. When you purchase tickets through a third party, Overture is unable to guarantee you will receive the tickets. Most scalped tickets are not purchased under the attendee’s name, which means we cannot locate the tickets in our system—unless the scalper provides you with exact seat information, which is rare.

The nature of scalper sites is nefarious and frustrating for all of us. At Overture, we are determined to protect and assist our patrons in any way we can. When we find scalper accounts, we ban them from buying tickets again online, over the phone or in person. However, this is not a perfect system. If you come across a questionable site or seller, let us know.