Put your name in the hat for free tickets to classical concerts in Seattle. We’ll email you at the start of the week about the weekend’s free ticket drawing.
Frequently asked questions
> What are spontaneous free tickets?
> I don’t live in Seattle. Can I still get free tickets?
> How do I find out when tickets are available? How do giveaways work?
> How do arts organizations benefit from contributing to Spontaneous Free Tickets?
> I work with a Seattle-area performing arts organization. How can I contribute tickets?
> Who has given away tickets in the past?
> Thanks to…
> Bits and bobs
> Contact us
What are spontaneous free tickets?
The LMP Spontaneous Free Ticket program is an informal way to reach out to listeners and build audiences for the Seattle community. The tickets are donated by local performing arts organizations like Seattle Chamber Music Society, Sammamish Symphony, The Sound Ensemble, Town Hall Seattle, Byron Schenkman & Friends, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, the Byrd Ensemble, and more. Check out the list of all past giveaways. Fun fact: SFT distributed more than $20,000 in free tickets during the 2018-2019 season!
I don’t live near Seattle. Can I still get free tickets?
Currently, Spontaneous Free Tickets are available only in the Seattle / Puget Sound area. We invite you to visit and look forward to extending the program to other cities one day! Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when SFT comes to your area.
How do I find out when tickets are available? How do giveaways work?
We’ll email you! Sign up for Spontaneous Free Ticket alerts (it’s an option on our newsletter settings). You’ll get an email each weekend announcing the upcoming giveaways. To request tickets, click the pink button in the email and fill out the ticket request form.
Tickets are awarded by random drawing, and we notify both the ticket winners and the waitlist by email. Winners have 24 hours to claim or release their tickets. After we receive confirmation, the winner’s name is added to the Will Call list at the door.
Following the concert, we send ticket winners a feedback form that can be used to join the performers’ mailing list and/or send them feedback, which is incredibly helpful to them.
Along with the gift of tickets, the performers will also occasionally provide a discount code for the waitlist. We’ll send that information along as well, so even if you don’t win free tickets, you can attend the concert at a discount.
How do arts organizations benefit from contributing to Spontaneous Free Tickets?
Arts organizations have used SFT to recruit new paying audiences, subscribers, and donors for the long term; to provide tickets to listeners who otherwise couldn’t attend their concerts due to limited financial means; and to fill seats as needed.
After each concert, ticket winners receive a feedback survey asking if they’d like to join the ensemble’s mailing list and/or send them a note. The listeners are responsive and their notes are inspiring. This helps grow the audience-performer relationship in a way that is both meaningful and lasting.
Donate tickets to your event. This is a great way to reach new audiences and share your beautiful music with our community. Contribute tickets here!
I work with a Seattle-area performing arts organization. How can I contribute tickets?
Please use this form to contribute tickets. We request that you fill out the form at least 10 days ahead of your concert date (this gives us time to set up the giveaway email, reach out to winners and the waitlist, and wait for the winners to confirm). Some organizations find it convenient to set up all of their giveaways at the start of the season.
Keep in mind that a short turnaround may make it more challenging to fill seats, so if you’re looking to give away a dozen or 50 tickets, more lead time is helpful.
We generally announce each giveaway 1-2 weeks prior to the concert date, on Sundays. We’ve found this timing works well for our listener community: it’s not so far in advance that people aren’t thinking about the date yet, but not so close that everyone is already booked. Having a few weeks to plan ahead is also supportive of audience members who need to schedule a babysitter or shared transportation to your event.
Who has given away tickets in the past?
Many organizations have contributed tickets. Check out the list of past giveaways! We think it's incredible.
Thanks to…
Spontaneous Free Tickets is supported, in part, by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission, and with support from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, the King County Lodging Tax, and our wonderful donors.
Bits and bobs
By signing up for spontaneous ticket alerts, you acknowledge that you won’t sell or scalp tickets, or otherwise take advantage of the generosity of our local orchestras and arts establishments.
Questions?
Send an email to sft@livemusicproject.org and we’ll get right back to you.