How to Get Pre-Sale Concert Tickets and Even Score Backstage Passes

Do you wish you were at the Garden to see the epic 121212 concert to benefit Sandy’s victims? Are you wondering who you have to know to score tickets to see The Who or the Rolling Stones? Well, the answer may be correct in your wallet. And no, it’s not a matter of paying exorbitant ticket prices to resellers. It’s more a matter of what credit cards you carry and what benefits they offer.
Some of the most significant events these days sell out within minutes. You can find tickets on eBay or ScoreBig, but most of us can’t afford the marked-up prices. You can avoid situations like this if you take advantage of one of the credit card programs designed to offer cardmembers advance ticket sales and once-in-a-lifetime experiences like Citi Private Pass or Chase Inside Access.

How to Get on the VIP List

Private Pass and Inside Access have a lot to offer. For many events, both banks offer cardmembers pre-sale tickets. Program members can purchase tickets days before they go on sale to the general public. They also give you access to priority seating.
The banks also have a selection of the best seats in the house set aside for their members. And there are VIP packages for specific shows. The contents of these packages vary from show to show. Still, you can expect premium seating, artist merchandise, access to the event hospitality area, or even a meet and greet with an artist like Alicia Keys, featured in the Citi Private Pass commercials.
Both programs primarily focus on concerts and shows, but the benefits can extend to nightclubs, sporting events, dining, golf, and family entertainment.

Getting Past the Velvet Rope

Unlike some special access programs, the bar for entry to Private Pass and Inside Access is pretty low. All you need to sign up is a Citi or Chase credit or debit card. If you have one already, you should visit each program’s website (see links above) to see what offers are available. You can also sign up for newsletters, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter for updates.
If you’re in the market for a new credit card, you might be looking for a rewards program to help take some strain off your bank account. Maybe a card that offers airline miles is more appealing than pre-sale tickets for a concert. But Private Pass and Inside Access don’t replace existing rewards or incentives¬—they provide additional benefits.
When you decide to invest in a night out (which we all need occasionally), don’t you want to get the most value for your money? You can’t attach a price tag to some things in life.