You have two tickets and nobody to go with, or one ticket in a city you are visiting and no wish to stand in a stadium alone. Paying someone to come is a normal, platonic thing people do, and done well it is a better night than going with a friend who does not care about the band.
Why people do it#
The friend who was coming dropped out. The friends who would come are in another city. You moved for work and the season tickets came with the job. You are visiting a city for a game and want someone who knows the stadium, the food and the way home. Or you just do not want to be the person alone in row 23.
What it costs#
Most friends charge $20 to $50 an hour; an event is three to five hours door to door, so $60 to $250, and many prefer a flat rate for the night. You buy their ticket, always, and usually their first drink. On RentAFriend you also need a membership of about $24.95 a month before you can message anyone; on Roavi there is no membership. The full cost of hiring a friend, by city.
Who to look for#
Someone who already likes the thing. A fan of the team knows the chants and the history; a fan of the band knows the songs. Search profiles for the team, the genre, "concerts", "sports". In a city you are visiting, a Local Friend who supports the home team doubles as a guide: which gate, which food stand, which bar after, how to get home.
RentAFriend has the most profiles in big US cities. Roavi is free to message, with reviewed profiles, strongest in Latin America and Asia and thin in US cities today: a football match in Medellín, a Boca game in Buenos Aires, a baseball game in Santo Domingo or Tokyo are where it shines. Fan groups and supporters' clubs are free and full of people who would come, but nobody is vetted and paying feels odd there.
How to ask#
> Hi, I have two tickets for the Yankees on Saturday at 1pm and nobody to go with. Your profile says you're a fan. Would you come, about four hours with a beer before? I'll send your ticket today. Your rate as listed?
The event, the time, the length, the ticket, the rate. Specific asks get yes.
On the night#
Meet outside the venue at an agreed spot, early. Talk about the thing you both came for. Pay at the end, privately, as agreed. Get home separately.
The boundaries#
Platonic, public, the agreed hours. The event, a drink before or after if you agreed it. Pay at the end, never a deposit. Either of you can leave early. The safety rules in full.
Other occasions: someone to hang out with, a wedding plus-one, a dinner companion on a work trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you pay someone to go to a concert with you?
Yes. Paid platonic company for events is one of the most common reasons people hire a friend: a concert, a game, a comedy show, a festival day. You agree the hours and the rate, you buy their ticket, and you go as two people who like the same thing.How much does a concert or game buddy cost?
Most friends charge $20 to $50 an hour, and an event is three to five hours door to door, so $60 to $250; many prefer a flat rate for the night. You buy their ticket and usually their first drink. On RentAFriend you also need a membership of about $24.95 a month to message; on Roavi there is no membership.Who pays for the ticket?
You do, always, and you send it before the day or buy the pair together. Agree in writing whether food and drinks inside are on you or on them; most people cover the first round and split the rest.Where do I find someone?
Look for someone who already likes the team or the band, because that is what makes the night good. RentAFriend and Roavi profiles list interests; search for the team, the genre or 'concerts'. Fan groups and supporters' clubs are free and full of people who would come, but nobody is vetted. For a game in a city you are visiting, a Local Friend who supports the home team doubles as a guide to the stadium, the food and getting home.What are the boundaries?
Platonic, public, the agreed hours. The event, a drink before or after if you agreed it, and getting home separately. Pay at the end, never a deposit. Either of you can leave early.