Kerri’s Guide to the Symphony Part 2 – Buying Tickets & Other Important Preparations

Okay, you’ve decided on a concert you’d like to attend. Well done, time to purchase your ticket(s).

First, know how many people will be attending. It may sound like an obvious thing and not too complicated if you’re going solo or bringing a date.

Here’s an insider secret you may not know when selecting a concert - if the same performance is on a Friday and a Saturday, you’re better off going on Friday. Saturdays sell out faster so your seat selection is very much improved just by opting to go on a Friday night.

There are three ways to purchase your ticket – in person, by phone, or online. If this is the first time at the venue, I strongly recommend visiting the box office in person. They have seating maps available, sometimes even a scaled down version of the concert hall, and they can show you exactly where your seats are in relation to the stage. Also, the service charges are less. The most expensive way to purchase tickets is online. You pay for convenience.

The price listed in the brochure and/or online most likely does NOT include any service charges. There is always a service charge of some sort. Expect to pay at least a few dollars more. You may contact the box office to ask what they are and what the difference is depending on the method you choose.

I mentioned in Part 1 that the Winspear has a nifty tool on their website where you can see the view from different parts of the hall. Try it! Even after you bring your tickets home you can take a look.

If you purchase your tickets in person, you walk away with them in your hands. Don’t lose them! If you do, the box office will charge a reprint fee and will not print them again until just prior to the show. If you order online or by phone, your tickets will be mailed unless there isn’t time in which case they will hold them for pick-up.

Now, you’ve got your tickets and are planning for the main event. What do I wear? That’s likely a prominent thought. As a general rule of thumb, think “business casual.” If you’re not sure what that is, think about what people working in an office would wear. I’ve seen everything but still think it pays to dress it up rather than down. Think of it as a nice night out (because it is). If you’re going to something like Salute to Vienna, which is held on New Year’s Night at the Winspear annually, people will be dressed to the hilt in tuxedos and gowns. Otherwise, not quite so much.