How to Get Inaugural Ball Tickets
- 1). Act early. As soon as the election is won, the winner will form a Presidential Inaugural Committee. Even before the official celebration schedule is finalized, the PIC will set up a contact list. Register your name and address early because tickets will probably be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
- 2). Contact your Congressional offices. Let it know you'd like tickets. Residents of the winning candidate's home states might find more tickets available. Obama's home states of Hawaii and Illinois each hosted a ball in 2009..
- 3). Look into organizations sponsoring the unofficial balls. If you belong to an organization, or could belong to it, you might find easier access to tickets. For example, one of the hosts of the "Dreams From My Father" American Scholars Inaugural Ball was the American Intellectual Property Law Institute.
- 4). Use your connections. Many people get invitations and can't use them. Military personnel are often on guest lists. Depending on who the winning candidate is, different interest groups might be honored. If you know a member of one of those groups, you might be able to negotiate tickets. Friendship with a big donor can also yield tickets.
- 5). Buy tickets through a secondary market. You'll find tickets for sale, though they'll be at a premium. Regular tickets cost from $75 to $150. Re-sold tickets might be $500 or more.
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