For many people, it is very exciting to have the opportunity to see a live performance of their favorite singer or musical band. They look forward to finding out what acts are going to be visiting their town and putting on concerts. But, even the most excited and die-hard fans can get discouraged and loose enthusiasm for a concert when faced with long lines at the box office to buy the concert tickets they want. But, these days there really is very little reason to stand in long lines like people used to do before the internet. No longer do people need to camp out overnight and wait for the box office to open and start selling the coveted tickets for the concert. They don’t have to sleep on the sidewalk in order to be first in line so they can grab the best seats in the house.

Because of this, you can get tickets for a concert on the internet, but as well, often in the same transaction, you can also buy tickets for more than one concert or for a Broadway production that is coming to town. This makes it easy to plan and organize your entertainment schedule so that you can be sure that you don’t purchase tickets to different events on the same day. Many of these special websites that provide ticket sales also have regular email newsletters that you can subscribe to. At the time you subscribe, you can indicate what type of entertainment you are most interested in seeing, and then as new performances are scheduled, the site can send you an email to alert you of the ticket information and when the ticket sales will begin. This way you don’t even have to spend time searching for what types of shows and performances are coming your way, since you will already be informed so you can make your plans and take action as soon as the online ticket sales begin. Sometimes, these websites that provide ticket sales will also hold contests for their members or their subscribers. You might be able to win free concert tickets or get a discount on your tickets through these contests. At times, there are even opportunities to get VIP seating or backstage passes, so it makes sense to sign up for these free newsletters.

The eighth annual Children’s Benefit Concert to help needy children in Vietnam will be held April 1 in Pleasanton.
The annual concert is organized by sisters Chi and Truc Nguyen, who started their fundraising efforts in 1998 with garage sales that included a personal Beanie Baby collection and homemade almond toffee.
The concert features classical and jazz performances by San Francisco Symphony cellist Lawrence Granger, San Francisco Ballet associate principal cellist Eric Sung, New Pacific Trio cellist Nina Flyer, New Century Chamber Orchestra and Stratos chamber orchestra founder Miriam Perkoff, a Cal State East Bay jazz sextet and Stanford music students.
Truc Nguyen is a 2000 graduate of Amador Valley High who has since graduated from Stanford University. Chi Nguyen graduated from San Ramon’s California High, and now attends Stanford.
Proceeds go to the San Jose-based nonprofit Vietnam Health Education and Literature Projects for clothing, meals, books, literacy classes and basic medical needs for more than 100 street children at a shelter in the southern Vietnamese city of Can Tho. Organizers hope to raise $15,000.
Tickets are $10 before the concert or $12 at the door.