Getting Into The Most Popular Events To Grace The Nation

It's probably the huge range of live events available that makes the ticketing industry so lucrative. From theatre to sports to concerts, operators like Live Nation and ATG make millions every year by providing tickets to people wanting to see their favourite actors, teams or performers in the flesh rather than on the screen.

However, it can be very difficult to get tickets for the most in-demand events, no matter what they are. Customers of sponsors like O2 and Vodafone will be eligible for pre-sale tickets, which will deplete the amount that go on sale to the general public, and then ticket touts will always manage to monopolise a fair few before actual fans have a chance to get any. Highly-anticipated events (usually concerts, as the ticketing systems for sports matches and plays operate differently) will sell out in minutes, and unless you're on the ball it's very easy to miss out.

This is where websites like Big Ticket Shop can help you. It collects the tickets that are being sold by fans who no longer want or need them on ticket-sharing or exchange websites like Seatwave, Viagogo and GetMeIn and compares the prices for you so you have an affordable, safe and legal way of getting into the events that you can't miss out on (rather than trying your luck with a tout on the day). Its extensive range of hot events at top venues throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States covers various types of sports competitions, all genres of music gigs and various plays, musicals and comedy tours.

Currently available on the website are tickets for the autumn UK tour of rising star Ed Sheeran, whose hit the A Team was one of the biggest songs of 2011. He has just performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, giving him the most exposure he has ever had, so it's a safe bet that this tour, despite its large amount of dates, will be extremely popular so don't miss your chance to see him in small venues while you can this is a star that's headed for the big-time.

In terms of the plays and musicals available on the website, one of the most popular is the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's popular children's book Matilda, which has seen its ticket sales soar following the seven Olivier Awards that it was recently awarded. The musical, written by Dennis Kelly with songs by comedian Tim Minchin, was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and has had a meteoric rise initially transferring from Stratford to the West End with a further transfer to Broadway now expected early in 2013.

In terms of sport, there is an eclectic mix available the likes of Wimbledon, England Test cricket and the rugby Six Nations are available on the website, but there are also a great deal of options for sport in America featuring teams like the New York Mets, Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Lakers.