Finding concert tickets for sale of your favorite bands or any of the nation's top performers on tour is not as hard as it seems. Ticket prices may have steadily risen over the past decade, but only to compensate for more elaborate and entertaining live shows and the stars which perform them. In spite of this, there are a number of ways to score cheap tickets to see your favorite bands and entertainers, and maybe even a few artists who you've never even heard before.

Firstly, become acquainted with your local venues. Do a quick Google search of your neighborhood and surrounding cities and take note of the popular venues. Many venues have concert tickets for sale that you may or may not have heard of, so it's best to keep updated by checking their websites. Keep connected with the artists as well. Most performers announce tours on their websites so you can be the first to know. In these times most artists also have fan clubs or mailing lists, which is the best way to stay informed. Also, if you're an avid radio listener, you'll have noticed that many of your favorite stations hold contests for local concert ticket giveaways. This is also another great way to grab tickets, as most prize packages contain more than one ticket so you can also bring a friend along for the ride.

In this day and age it's also quite easy to find cheap tickets on the internet. In fact, many websites are solely devoted to tracking down cheap concert tickets. They're operated as a large database containing links to other websites and special offers to guarantee you the cheapest tickets available. Craigslist is another good option, as many people have used it to grab tickets minutes before a show's about to start because a seller had just posted them. However, if you choose to use Craigslist, you should always conduct safe business and beware of scalpers, or people who specifically buy tickets for an event in bulk only to sell them to actual fans with jacked prices.

Speaking of jacked up prices, if you've ever gone to any concerts then you're also probably aware of the hidden service charges that many ticket selling websites include in the ticket price. The best way to avoid these nasty little, though most of the times big, charges try purchasing your tickets directly from the concert venue that will be holding the event. It only takes a drive across town to grab tickets without any of the unnecessary service and processing fees that most ticket venders will charge.