When you buy a ticket to a SELECTA night, you are entering a specific tier of a multi-tier distribution system. Most ravers do not know the full mechanism. Here is the breakdown.

Tier 1: early bird

Cheapest tickets, released the moment the event is announced. Usually 30-50 percent off the door price. Capped quantity. Goes to the most committed fans who buy on autopilot when SELECTA posts the lineup.

Tier 2: general advance

Standard price, available until doors. The majority of the ticket allocation lives here. Most casual fans buy at this tier.

Tier 3: door sales

Most expensive option. Pays a premium for not deciding in advance. Often limited because the door cap depends on advance sales calculations.

The guest list

Press, label representatives, friends-of-the-artist, the venue's own guest allocation. Typically 5-10 percent of total capacity. Not a free-for-all: real guest list slots are tracked and reconciled.

The artist comp

The booked artist often gets 5-10 comp tickets they distribute to friends or family in the city. Standard hospitality arrangement, written into the contract.