What Are the Best Seats for a Concert? (And the Worst)

I’ve been to a lot of concerts over the year and have learned from experience which are the best seats and which ones someone might want to avoid.

The best seats for a concert are either pit seats or seats in the middle or front rows of the middle section. The worst seats are the farthest back rows, known as the nosebleed seats. However, the ideal seat for you depends on personal preference. 

In this article, I will discuss the best and worst seats to have at a concert. I will also go over other seats available and the pros and cons of those. Let’s get started!

Are Pit Tickets the Best Seats at a Concert?

Pit tickets are the best seats for those looking to be as close to the performers as possible. They offer great visibility and the possibility of interacting with the performers. However, there’s a lot of pushing and shoving, and pit tickets tend to be the most expensive.

The pit is one of the most sought-after tickets and is usually the most expensive. It’s right up on the stage. Usually, you’re standing the entire time—no seats are given. 

You’ll be as close as possible to the stage when in the pit. Often, the performer will give high fives or kneel down to be face-to-face with fans. For an experience like this, the ticket price can be worth it. 

The visibility of the performer is excellent in the “pit.” You may not be able to see the back end of the stage, but you’ll be close to the front, where the performer will most likely be most of the time. 

The pit is usually sought after by the biggest fans who want the best experience. The tickets are generally the priciest in the whole arena. 

The pit can get wild, though. Many fans are extremely amped up about being that close to the performer, so there may be pushing and shoving to get even closer. 

In the past few years, there have been several instances at concerts or music festivals of fans dying or being injured from the crowds pushing and shoving.

At the pit, security is usually surrounding the stage, so they are responsible for keeping the performer and those in the crowd safe. 

There’s more of a risk of something like that happening at a large music festival than in an indoor concert. However, it is still possible, and it’s essential to practice general safety when attending. 

Getting in and out of that area is challenging if you need to use the restroom. You’ll have to fight the crowd of people to get back to your desired spot. Concessions are usually a good way away from the pit, depending on how the arena is set up. 

Even though there are some cons to pit seats, they’re worth the experience most of the time—especially if you like to go out and get wild at a concert.

Best Seats for Sight

The best seats for sight are the front or middle rows of the section facing the stage. However, the seats with the best visibility will depend on the type of stage and arena.

Some performers will have a big center stage, and others will have one large stage with small sub-stages branching out. 

• For a stage in the center of the arena with seats all around, pick any seat where you’re able to see see the whole stage. Make sure you’re not too far away from the front or middle row of any section. Usually, the performer will be facing all areas of the crowd.

• For an end stage, choose a seat in front of the stage. There are seats on the left, right, and directly in front of the stage. Seats directly in front of the stage will allow the best view, while seats on the right or left side will not get many of the performers facing them. 

• If the performer uses a main stage with other small stages branching out, then the visibility comes down to preference. A stage like this allows the performer to engage with all areas of the crowd during the performance. Any seats in the middle or front will be good for visibility. 

Some performers have unique stages that completely change the game. Some have been known to have stages that rise up and move around the arena. Others have a stage in the center but rotate during the performance for all to get a great view.

When purchasing a ticket, look at the stage on the map. This will help you see what type of stage you’re dealing with.

There’s not going to be a seat where you can’t see anything at all, so it’s really about how much and what you want to see. It depends on whether you want to see the whole stage and backup dancers or be close to the performer. 

If you’re unsure what the ‘best’ seat is, the better seats are usually higher in price. This is usually true for the seats closer to the stage.

Best Seats for Sound

The best place to sit for sound quality will be the middle of the arena, relatively close to the stage. Pick the front or middle rows, but not the floor seats. Center stage left or center stage right will be your best bet.

The way that most sound systems are set up is going to be pushing sound toward the middle sections. You’ll get the best sound quality when you sit to the left or right in the middle section of the arena.

Again, this depends on the type of arena and stage used at the concert. This logic is based on the basic stage setup at one end of the room with seats on the left, right, and directly in front or the middle. 

Floor seats won’t be the best or the worst for sound. You’ll be close enough for the sound to be clear, but depending on how the arena and stage are set up, the sound may travel up over the floor seats. Floor seats can be a toss-up for floor seats in terms of sound. 

When you’re in the pit, you’re right up on the speakers. The music could be too loud, and the bass could drown the rest of the sound frequencies. This area is usually filled with screaming fans, which also affects the sound. 

Sound quality will also depend on the type of concert you’re attending. If you’re attending an orchestral concert, this will be quite different from a country music concert. 

For an orchestral concert, sitting near the sound booth usually provides the best sound quality because they place the booth where they can hear the overall sound the best.

Floor Seats

Floor seats can give you a very exciting experience, but they usually don’t offer the best sound and visibility. They’re close to the stage but less crowded than the pit.

Having floor seats at a concert comes with pros and cons. Experience-wise, it can be the best because you’re very close to the stage and the performer.

Visibility-wise, they can be good or bad. Your visibility may be impaired depending on how close you are to the stage, especially if a large crowd of people is in front of you. 

This also depends on how the seating is laid out. Most of the time, the seats are not on an incline, hence the name ‘floor’ seats. If you’re on the shorter side, you may not be able to see over some people. 

But floor seats are the best option if you want to be close but not in the pit. These seats are also a bit more comfortable than the pit because you’ll have a place to sit, and it is still easy to come and go from your seat. 

Being that close to the stage, you can see the performer clearly enough to make out features on their face and clothes. Floor seats are usually a great experience. The tickets for floor seats are more expensive than in some other areas of the arena. 

Nosebleed Seats

Nosebleed seats are the worst and least sought-after seats. They received this nickname because they usually have the highest and farthest seats available, and you can get a nosebleed at high altitudes. 

Will you actually get a nosebleed sitting up this high? Most likely not. The nickname is mainly just a joke. However, the seats are really not that great. 

You will be so high up and far back that you won’t be able to hear or see much. The stage will look much smaller from this point of view, and you will only be able to see the performer well if you look at the big screen.

The sound has a long way to travel to these “nosebleed” seats, so once it reaches you, it won’t sound as good.

The good news is that the seating area is usually a bit calmer and more relaxed, so if that’s more your style, go for it. Nosebleed seats are also usually the cheapest seats you can get.

If you want to go for the experience and aren’t too concerned about the visibility or sound quality, then nosebleed seats are the ones for you. 

Most Comfortable Seats

The most comfortable seats in a concert may be those closer to the food and drink vendors and the restrooms. However, this depends on your priorities. It doesn’t mean the seat is extra cushiony, but that you will feel most comfortable sitting in a particular area.

Walking a long way to the restroom can be a hassle when trying not to miss too much of the performance. 

There’s no set section where there is the most accessibility. Every arena is made differently, depending on the concert you’re going to and where it’s being held. 

However, a map of the arena should show where food and restrooms are so that you can pick seats accordingly. 

Purchasing Tickets for the Best Seats

I’ve already discussed which sections will be the most or least expensive. Now let’s go over ways to find a reasonable price for the best seats.

Many websites that sell concert tickets have filters that show you the cheapest or best tickets based on section and price combined. You can always use those filters to help get a better idea of what’s the best for that particular venue. 

Here are some websites you can use to purchase reliable tickets: 

• Ticketmaster
• Vivid Seats
• StubHub
• Seat Geek
• Live Nation

Some of these websites, such as Stubhub, allow people to sell tickets they no longer want. The website verifies the tickets and has buyer protection, so it is a trustworthy transaction.

If you go to the performer’s website to purchase tickets, it should take you to the website they’re using to sell the tickets. Ticketmaster and Live Nation are some of the most commonly used.

Money-Saving Tip: For getting great seats for a cheaper price is waiting to purchase tickets. Studies show that ticket prices decrease the closer it gets to the concert. Buying a few days before will often give you the best prices.

This can be stressful because there is no guarantee that the concern won’t have already sold out. It depends on which performer you’re seeing. Sadly, this strategy doesn’t work for most people because they have to plan around the concert.

Most people have to ask off for work, and many travel to get to the city or state in which the concert is being held. Unless you live close by and don’t have work, then waiting this long may not work for you. 

Conclusion

Choosing the best seats for a concert depends on what your priorities are. Pit seats are the most sought-after and expensive because they’re right on the stage. 

Seats in the front or middle rows on the left or right of the middle sections are great for sight and sound. However, this depends on the type of arena and stage used. 

Floor seats can also be good, but your sight could be blocked, and the sound might not be great. Nosebleed seats are the farthest back seats and are usually the worst.

For more, check out The Average Cost To Detail a Car or Truck (Partial vs. Full).