What Are Pit Tickets?

Pit Seats

At most concert venues, pit tickets grant the ticketholders admission into the pit seating section, which is the section located directly in front of the stage. The name "pit seats" derives from opera concert halls in which the orchestra was positioned right in front of the stage. This section was known as the "orchestra pit," so the term "pit seats" has come to refer to the seating section directly in front of the stage. Many ticket broker companies, including Ticketmaster and ConcertKings.com, offer pit tickets for those who want to get as close to the stage as possible at rock concerts.

Whether the pit tickets and the pit sections at concert venues are general admission or assigned seating depends on the particular venue. Some cities do not allow venues to provide general admission seating sections because of worries that an enormous mob of people simultaneously scrambling for the best possible seats can result in injuries and perhaps fatalities. At theses venues, even the pit sections have designated seats, and each ticketholder must abide by the specific seat assigned to him on his ticket stub. For many concerts, however, the pit section is general-admission seating, so everyone permitted in the section can sit or stand wherever they want. As a result, the first people to arrive typically obtain the spots that are closest to the stage and offer the best view of the musicians. To get the best possible spots in the pit section, it helps to arrive very early at the venue.

The price of pit tickets varies depending on the concert venue, the band playing and the ticket broker company handling the concert. However, because pit tickets enable the holders to get into the seating section closest to the stage -- which often provides a superior view and is thus the most desirable section -- pit tickets tend to be very expensive. Pit tickets are usually among the most expensive tickets available for a concert, and although the exact amount can vary, the tickets can range up to two or three times the face value price of the cheapest tickets available.

Experiencing a concert from the pit can be a dramatic and thrilling experience. People in the pit are very close to the stage, so their favorite performers are playing directly in front of them, sometimes even hovering over them if the performers move and dance around the stage. The view from most areas of the pit is usually spectacular. However, in some areas to the far right or far left edge of the stage, the view can sometimes be obstructed by instruments, technical equipment or people. Furthermore, although the pit sections at some venues provide seats, the pit sections at many venues are standing-only areas, so patrons with pit tickets should be prepared to stand for an extensive period of time during the concert. However, people watching a live concert from a great spot right in front of the stage should have an easy time staying on their feet.