Seeing shows

[mycats]

Whenever there are certain comedians etc playing I never seem to know about it till all the tickets have gone! How do you find out first where/when people are going to be putting on shows??

[B00]

Hullo Cat ;-)

I find the easiest method is by looking up your local concert area's website instead of looking for individual acts. For example nearest one to me is MEN (Manchester Evening News Arena), every few weeks or so I look on it's website.

Word of advise, don't do what I did when 1st looking.....I was at work, got bored and typed in MEN into Google.....nearly had a coronary with what it brought up!

[Nummy]

you can subscribe to Ticketmaster - they will send you weekly updates of tours happening around the country, and you can search artists/bands/comedians too.

[mycats]

cheers folks, will do both those
and Boo... it was an accident eh? yeah suuuuure LMAO

[littleoldme]

mycats - what you need if you want to know about stand-up comedy shows in the UK is the fantastic site, http://www.chortle.co.uk - use the Venues link on the right to find out about upcoming shows in your area, or the Comedians link to find when your favourite comic is appearing near you.

Sorry to sound as if I'm on commission from the site (I'm not, by the way) but it's indispensable if you're a stand-up fan.

[Backdrifter]

All the above. Plus listings sections in mags & papers. And even if you still miss hearing about it until it's "sold out" it's rare that the tickets really have all gone. If it's an event you really seriously want to go to, keep checking agency and venue websites a few times a day - it only takes a few moments. Phone occasionally. If it's a local venue, check with the box office in person whenever you can. Tickets become available from time to time for most "sold out" events, for various reasons. Be especially sure to make these checks as you get to within 2 weeks of the event, that's the most likely time for sudden availability. Even check on the day and, again, if it's local, GO on the day - lots of venues have day sales.

Using these methods, I've been to loads of "sold out" events - mostly gigs. I've never paid over the odds to touts or ebay vendors, and never will.

[mycats]

Great advice there litleoldme and Backdrifter, thanks. I will do all those things