Hannah Montana's TV show popularity made getting tickets for her concert last year a fan's nightmare.

If you've seen events sell out and find yourself online paying way more than face value, you've entered today's world of ticket reselling. Ticket reselling is legal in British Columbia. It's not legal in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

Showtime Tickets is the best-known Canadian company. It started in Vancouver 22 years ago and lists events right across North America and Europe. People either sell their tickets to Showtime or list them for sale on the website.

For example, how much you pay for the Madonna concert depends on good old supply and demand.

"Prices for Madonna are very high right now and the market started probably 30 to 40 percent lower than where it is right now, and its been going up and up," says Mario Livich of Showtime Tickets.

A Consumer Reports test illustrates how much prices fluctuate. It looked at ticket prices over a month's time for two events, a major league baseball game and a Santana concert.

"In the case of the Yankees game, we saw prices go up and down and up and down and on the day of the game. We were able to get a $65 ticket for $25 plus fees, which is pretty good," says Tod Marks of Consumer Reports.

For the Santana concert, ticket prices went up and down even more. But a half hour before the show, tickets were available for $92, slightly above the original price.

One way to get tickets at a good price is to buy them before they actually go on sale. Presale mailings are one option. Joining an artist's fan club can get you onto a presale list.

Often season ticket holders for teams like the Canucks get first dibs on other events at GM Place, so cozy up to those Canucks fans you know! Also look for credit-card promotions for sponsored events that give you first priority and discounts, too.

If you have to use a reseller, Tod has the following advice: "Track those tickets over multiple reseller sites for as long as possible. Don't buy early on in the process. Don't be desperate."

Set a price you're willing to pay and stick to it.

Consumer Reports says buying tickets from better-known resellers is a better bet than Craigslist or eBay because you have protection if the tickets turn out to be counterfeit. The reseller would either find you other tickets or give you your money back.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen.