Downcasta live music listener's handbook

An independent handbook about live music. This is not the website of the band Downcast, its members or representatives, and we do not sell tickets.

How-to articles

How-to articles

The first article in this section explains how to buy a concert ticket without losing money. The result: you buy from a reliable seller, know the terms before you pay, and understand how much you can get back if your plans change or the show is canceled. The refund rules below apply to events in Russia; rules in other countries differ.

Read the refund policy before you pay, not after. Five minutes with the seller's terms saves more than any discount.

— Editor's note

Before you start

  • The concert date, city and venue, taken from the official event page
  • Who is going: this decides whether you need a named ticket
  • A bank card or other payment method that leaves you a receipt
  • An email address and phone number to receive the e-ticket

  1. Find the official event page

    Ask the organizer or the venue where tickets are sold. Buy from the organizer or from the ticketing service the organizer links to.

    If a link to buy tickets came in a private message from a stranger, check it against the official event page before paying.

  2. Read the ticket and admission rules

    Before paying, check age restrictions and the rules on entry, filming and refunds. These rules are set by the organizer and the venue, and they vary.

    A rule like "no professional cameras" is usually listed in the admission policy, not on the ticket itself.

  3. Check whether it's a promo ticket

    Tickets bought through promotions and special programs may be non-refundable. This should be stated in the seller's terms.

    If a discount looks too generous, search the terms for the word "refund" before you click "Pay".

  4. Sort out named tickets

    A named ticket can be transferred to another person no later than 10 days before the event. After that, it may not be possible.

    Buying a ticket as a gift? Enter the name of the person who'll actually attend right away.

  5. Pay in a way that leaves a receipt

    Keep the e-ticket, the receipt and the order confirmation email. Without them, filing a refund request is harder.

    Don't post photos of your ticket with the barcode or QR code on social media: someone else could get in with it.

  6. If your plans change, watch the deadlines

    At the ticket holder's request in Russia: no later than 10 days before the event you get 100% of the price back, no later than 5 days at least 50%, no later than 3 days at least 30%. Less than 3 days out, the organizer may refuse a refund.

    A request filed 4 days before the concert falls under the "no later than 3 days" threshold: at least 30% of the price.

  7. If you get sick, gather documents

    If the ticket holder's illness or the death of a close relative is documented, 100% of the price is refunded, even on the day of the event. Documents are submitted before the event date or, if that's impossible, within two more weeks.

    Notify the seller about the refund right away, and submit the medical document within the allowed time.

  8. If the concert is canceled or postponed

    If the event is canceled, replaced or rescheduled, you may return the ticket for a full refund. Switching to the new date is your right, not an obligation.

    A concert moved to a different month doesn't oblige you to attend: you can demand a full refund.

Common mistakes

  • Buying secondhand via a link you can't check against the official event page
  • Paying for a promo ticket without reading the refund terms
  • Putting off a refund until the last few days, when the amount has already dropped
  • Throwing away the receipt and order email before the concert is over
  • Posting a photo of a ticket with a readable barcode

Alternatives

  • Buying at the venue box office, where you can ask about admission rules on the spot
  • Buying directly from the organizer, with fewer intermediaries if you need a refund
  • Waiting for an extra release from the organizer instead of buying secondhand when tickets sell out

Results checklist

  • The ticket was bought from the organizer or a service the organizer links to
  • The ticket and admission rules were read before paying
  • You know whether it's a promo ticket and whether it can be refunded
  • A named ticket is issued to the person who's going
  • The e-ticket, receipt and order email are saved
  • The 10-, 5- and 3-day refund deadlines are in your calendar

Article catalogue for English-language readers

This section will feature standalone articles written for English-speaking readers in the US and elsewhere. They are written for this audience and are not translations of articles from other language versions of the site.

Topics our editors are planning

  • How to choose earplugs for concerts
  • Your first music festival: what to pack and how to plan the day
  • Concert tickets at the door vs. online: what to know before you go
  • Building a digital music library: storing files without quality loss

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish unverifiable venue ratings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions and answers

    Short answers on ticket refunds, concert volume, recording formats and filming.

  • Reference

    Terms and numbers: refund deadlines, decibels, recording formats, web archives.

  • Reading lists

    Reading paths: before your first concert, when plans change, and for record collectors.

Sources

  • Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Culture (Art. 52.1)
  • Russian Government Resolution on ticket refund rules (September 2020)
  • Event organizer's terms of sale and admission

Information is current as of the preparation date. Ticket sale and refund rules, as well as venue policies, change over time. Before you buy, check the law in force and the organizer's terms.