Viva Las Vegas - Show Tickets in Sin City
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If you have been to Vegas in the past few years you know it is no longer the land of cheap rooms, free tickets, and $1 buffets. In fact, recent reports confirm that Las Vegas Casinos earn more revenue annually from their hotels, food, and shows than they do gaming.
Show tickets for the hottest productions like Celine Dion, Jerry Seinfeld, any of the Cirque Du Soleil shows, or La Rev can easily cost over $100 per ticket.
Even at those prices, many shows sell out months in advance.
There are few hard fast rules for Vegas show tickets, but here are several tips that may increase your chances for better seats at the best possible price:
1. If you are set on seeing a particular show, make sure you make the show part of your planning process. When checking airfare and hotel prices, check to see if tickets are available for the show you would like to see. Remember, most shows are “black” 2 nights per week.
2. Most show are housed in Casino / Hotels. Most of the tickets are sold to the general public - so it does not matter if you are staying on that property, if you have the cash you can buy a ticket. Many Hotels also keep an allotment for their regular guests. They sometimes have packages that include show tickets. It can definitely help to be staying at a hotel (or in the same family of hotels) as the show you would like to see. Last, VIPs are often given free tickets or access to tickets based on the amount they wager in the Casinos.
3. Because the Casinos cater to the big players, they always keep some tickets from being sold for every show. There is no such thing as a sold out show in Vegas until the show begins. These extra tickets are often released an hour before the show right up until the minute the show begins. Check with the box office to see if they have a process for selling last minute cancellations or standby tickets.
4. Do not underestimate the value of tipping in Vegas. Unlike any other city - everyone seems to make a little cash on every interaction. I always tip the front desk person when checking in. Usually $20 - and I always end up with a suite or better, and always have a great view of the strip. It’s hard to do it the first time, but it’s common in Vegas. Tipping the Box Office person or Concierge often helps tickets magically appear.
5. If you are not set on a specific show - take advantage of www.Tikets2nite.com. This agency sells tickets for all the major shows at 25%-50% off the face value of the ticket. Basically, if a show has tickets that have gone unsold for some reason, they sell them through Tickets2nite. You can visit their location on the strip or call them anytime after 10:30am for shows later that evening. No need to go to their location - you can check for show availability, pricing, and even purchase tickets over the phone! I have seen some really big name show for half price through this service.
6. Many of the lesser name shows or smaller casinos offer free tickets with the purchase of a couple of drinks. Dozens more offer buy 1 ticket get one free ticket specials. Ask your concierge, or pick up one of the many free magazines available in the hotels for coupons and specials.
7. If you are a comedy fan, check out one of the half dozen comedy clubs in Las Vegas, and check to see who the headliners are that week. Big name headliners fly in and out each week, some on short notice - so ask around. Again, the magazines, concierge, or even the cabbies can give you a hot tip on who is in town that week.
Good Luck - and remember, $200 spent on a show could save you $1000’s in the casino!
