How virtual concert queues work like Taylor Swift’s

Selling concert tickets Taylor Swift dated May 30, 2024 in Madrid, today the concept of virtual queues is being tested again. A system that is increasingly being used around the world when it comes to selling tickets to mass events. A very interesting technological solution, although not without controversy.

Therefore, we want to use these lines to explain in a simple way how virtual queues work. Of course, we won’t get into the technical stuff, because the ticketing infrastructure differs depending on which company is in charge of which concerts or shows.

However, the concept they are driven by is basically the same across all platforms. It’s not difficult at all, but we’re talking about the virtual equivalent of standing in line in real life with other people.. We know from the start how many tickets are available and that not everyone in line will be able to get them.

This is how virtual queues work for getting tickets for mass events

Back to what was said in the previous lines: virtual queues may differ slightly depending on which company sells tickets. However, the concept is the same in all of them. In the case of Taylor Swift, for example, marketing is done through Ticketmaster, and those who wanted to be able to buy a ticket first had to register on the platform and receive an access code.

But in such a situation, obtaining an access code is only the first step. Once the virtual queue is enabled, the fans will only they must enter and wait for their turn to attempt to complete the purchase. It sounds simple this way, but those who already have experience with virtual queues know that things can get ugly at any moment.

Whether it’s a Taylor Swift concert in Madrid, the final of a sporting event, or any other event you can imagine, fans typically “hound” the ticketing platform’s website minutes or even hours before the process begins. The intention is clear: be among the first to click and enter virtual queues as early as possible.

Although this doesn’t always work. No matter how prepared the infrastructure is to handle tens of thousands of potential ticket buyers at the same time, delays or technical issues tend to recur quite frequently. However, if you have earned a place in the virtual queue, there are no magic solutions: you need to be patient.

What to do if you are already in line

If you manage to access the virtual queues, you have no choice but to wait. While it’s true that there are some tips to try not to suffer from connection loss or act quickly when it’s your turn to buy a ticket, standing in line does not guarantee you a ticket.

In case you become one of the lucky ones who manage to buy tickets, you must act quickly. virtual queue systems set a time limit for the user to complete a transactionwhich usually does not exceed 10 minutes. Thus, it is required that the system does not overload and that the experience is as fast as possible for everyone. What happens if I run out of time? It is likely that the site will update and remove you to make room for another buyer. Or that you see an error message when executing check shopping and you can’t finish it.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the viralization of alleged tricks promising to boost places in virtual queues has become repeated. They appear on social networks as memes or jokes, quickly become viral, but do not work. No matter how many key combinations you press or what magic solution you are offered, if they promise to jump 10,000 places in a second, they are lying to you.

Actually, if you’re already in a virtual queue, you shouldn’t refresh the page either. If you do, you may lose the space you had. Although it is important to mention that if other people who are ahead of you decide to leave, it is likely that you will be able to advance a few places. The same if they lose connection.

Finally, we should mention that one of the big problems with virtual queues is hordes of bots. They usually show up not only at major events like a Taylor Swift concert, but also at pre-sales for highly coveted products. These automated chains have become a very lucrative business, as they not only prevent other users from buying normally, but also fuel the exorbitant resale market.