There’s a special place in the world reserved for ticket scalpers, somewhere between Vanserg and a 9 a.m. class every single day.

For the past two months, I’d been tracking ticket prices for Olivia Rodrigo’s Unraveled Tour. I signed up for every waitlist and lottery imaginable, to no avail. Nosebleeds and obstructed-view tickets started at $500 each — literal highway robbery, or “vampire” pricing. Prices obstinately refused to drop “less” than this. My “expectations” that I could actually get tickets sank accordingly.

My options seemed to be: a) give up, or b) start recruiting for quant with the hopes that I’ll be able to afford tickets at her next tour.

Then I heard a rumor. Tickets for this sold-out concert were apparently still being sold at the box office for face value…

The only catch? Having to wait outside the box office for hours on end. Undeterred, I recruited the only person I knew who was willing to join me, and we headed to TD Garden.

Luckily, I’m no stranger to lines. My Harvard experience has taught me well the art of waiting. I’ve survived the 1-hour+ Berryline line on multiple occasions. I’ve waited for my TF to answer questions during the last LS1a and Chem 17 office hours right before an exam, fighting my way through a crowd of overzealous premeds. And I’ve waited weeks for professors to answer my emails. Whatever this line threw “my way,” I figured I was ready.

TLDR: We waited seven hours for Olivia Rodrigo tickets at the box office. Here’s our guide to doing this in the future!

1. Get there early!

Some people show up at the crack of dawn, but that requires a level of commitment that I couldn’t muster. My friend and I arrived at 9 a.m., and the line already wrapped around the corner into the parking lot by the wharf. You probably don’t need to camp out at 3 a.m., since the box office doesn’t open until around noon or 1 p.m. anyway. But hey, to each their own.

At one point, a few passersby slowed down to take in the scene: a long row of people huddled under blankets on the pavement next to the highway underpass, clutching snacks and surrounded by bags. Several of them seemed genuinely concerned. Had they looked a little closer, they’d have noticed the crowd was almost entirely teenage girls, their exhausted parents, and college students typing furiously on MacBooks.

2. Bring layers and something to sit on.

Remember those picnic blankets Harvard handed out freshman year? This was their moment to shine. I never actually found time to picnic in the Yard (who has time, really?), but mine finally fulfilled its destiny: cushioning me in a slightly sketchy parking lot. It was 32 degrees when we got to the parking lot — I was so glad I packed layers to stay warm!

3. Snacks and water!!

This is a non-negotiable. There’s a Star Market underneath TD Garden and plenty of options nearby, but packing your own is half the fun. I brought PopUp Bagels, and we had a delightful little picnic right next to the highway. Nothing says ambiance like the gentle roar of U.S. Route 1.

4. Entertainment

I brought my laptop and worked on a pset and an essay while I waited. Productive? Maybe. Fun? Debatable. There is something oddly productivity-inducing about waiting outside in the freezing cold, though: the only way to keep your fingers warm is to keep them moving on your keyboard. I have never written an essay so fast in my life. My section leader should consider holding office hours in the parking lot behind the MAC.

5. Do Research

Before you go, check social media for other people’s box office experiences. This helped my friend and me figure out which tickets we generally wanted before we got to the window. And most importantly, bring a physical credit card! The box office didn’t take tap-to-pay, and you do NOT want to learn that the hard way after seven hours on the pavement.

So was it worth it? Our tickets were pretty incredible, the show was even better, and I have no regrets. Would I do it again, though? Seven hours in a parking lot and a serious lack of sleep later, one could say this was a “bad idea, right?” But if Olivia goes on tour again soon... you know where to find me.