How to Make a Custom Concert Ticket (That Actually Looks Real)

You just bought the tickets. They cost a fortune. You are about to make someone very, very happy.

But you have a problem: The tickets are digital.

You can’t wrap a QR code. You can’t put an Apple Wallet pass in a birthday card. So, you went to Google and searched "How to make a concert ticket."

You probably found a lot of complicated Photoshop tutorials or cheesy "Admit One" templates that look like they belong at a school carnival.

If you are giving a gift, you want the "reveal" to feel magical. You want the ticket to feel real.

Here is the comprehensive guide on how to make a custom concert ticket—comparing the DIY "home printer" method against the professional "replica" method—so you can decide which route is right for your surprise.

Option 1: The "Home Printer" Method (DIY)

If you have zero budget and a lot of patience, you can try to build one from scratch.

What You Need:

• Heavy cardstock paper (at least 65lb weight).

• A color printer (Inkjet or Laser).

• Design software (Canva, Photoshop, or Word).

• Scissors or an X-Acto knife.

The Process:

1. Find a Template: Search for a "ticket template." (Warning: Most free ones look very generic).

2. Design It: Type in the Artist, Venue, Date, and Seat Number. Try to find the official font the band uses to make it look authentic.

3. Print & Cut: Print it out. Be careful with the scissors—crooked edges ruin the illusion.

The Downside:

Even if you do everything right, it will still feel like a flyer. Home printers lay ink on top of the paper. It feels flat. It lacks the glossy sheen, the perforated tear-stub, and the "snap" of a real thermal ticket.

Option 2: The "Ticketrelic" Method (Professional & Authentic)

If you want the ticket to look and feel like it came out of a Ticketmaster box office machine, you need professional Thermal Transfer technology.

This is how you "make" a ticket using our tools in under 60 seconds.

Step 1: Open the Ticket Creator

Go to the Ticketrelic Custom Creator. No design skills are required. We have already built the professional templates that mimic the layout of classic concert tickets.

Step 2: Input the "Big 3" Details

• Artist/Event: (e.g., "Taylor Swift" or "The Super Bowl").

• Venue: (e.g., "Wembley Stadium").

• Date: The exact night of the show.

  
  

Step 3: Customize the "Seat" Location

This is where you can get creative.

• Realism: If you know your actual seats, type them in (e.g., "Section 108, Row F, Seat 4").

• The Gift Reveal: If the seats are a surprise, type "VIP" or "Front Row."

• The Occasion: You can use this space for a message: "Section: HAPPY | Row: BIRTHDAY | Seat: MOM"

Step 4: Choose Your Aesthetic

Real tickets come in different styles.

• The "Classic" Blue/Grey: Looks like the standard Ticketmaster stubs from the 2000s.

• The "Venue" Match: Pick a color scheme that matches the team or the tour poster (e.g., Red for a Chiefs game, Purple for an Olivia Rodrigo concert).

Step 5: We Print & Ship

This is the magic part. instead of your inkjet printer, we use industrial Thermal Transfer printers.

• We melt resin onto archival cardstock.

• We perforate the stub so you can actually "tear" it.

• We ship it to you ready to wrap.

Why "Making It" the Right Way Matters

When you hand someone a piece of printer paper, they say "Oh, cool, you printed this."

When you hand someone a Tickerelic stub, they stop. They run their thumb over the text (which has texture). They feel the weight of the cardstock. They look at the barcode.

For a split second, they think, "Wait, how did you get a physical ticket?"

That moment of confusion and delight is the best part of the gift.

Summary Checklist: DIY vs. Pro

Ready to make a ticket that’s worthy of the show?

Start Designing Your Custom Ticket Now