By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
goodrob13/Flickr.
Do you yearn to be a screaming audience member on The Price is Right or a cheering fan on the Tonight show? Do you dream of watching your favorite star being filmed on-set? With some pre-planning, patience and luck, these experiences can be yours – for free.
As hard as it is to believe, television studios have to work to fill their audiences each time they shoot. It’s not just a matter of opening their front door and letting any old riff-raff in. There are dress codes and rules. Doling out coveted set passes sucks up staff time and energy. For many (but not all) shows, this coordination is too much trouble so television show turns the duty over to a company that specializes in finding audiences.
Here are some ways to get in to the shows you want to see:
- For free tickets for Two and a Half Men, Wizards of Waverly Place, Melissa and Joey, I’m in the Band and more, try Audiences Unlimited, Inc.
- If you are a Jimmy Kimmel Live! fan, you can get tickets online or call 866-546-6984 (weekdays from 1-4 p.m. PST).
- American Idol, Hannah Montana, So You Think You Can Dance?, and Dancing with the Stars tickets can be obtained through On Camera Audiences.
- Your dream to be on a game show can come true at game show contestant submissions or go to any of the major TV network’s websites and look for a “casting” link.
- The Tonight Show tickets are distributed at the studio’s ticket window the day of taping or by mail. Write to 3000 W. Alameda Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91523 or call 818-840-3537.
- Saturday Night Live tickets are distributed by lottery.
- And last, but not least… if you are just dying to be seen on television wearing a hula outfit and scuba gear holding a sign saying “I love Drew Carey” then you are destined to be on The Price is Right.
Going to the taping of a TV show is an impressive first date (if the show is your date’s favorite), a frugal and memorable vacation event, or an educational field trip. There is a LOT more going on off the screen than most people know.
I’ve seen some really cool shows with my friends and family using some of these links.
Have you ever gone to the taping of a TV show? Was it fun?
July 8th, 2010 at 6:54 am
I have been to a few tapings of the Dr. Phil Show….it was a blast!
July 8th, 2010 at 9:36 am
Wow! I had no idea that it Tv show audiences were picked like this! I am definitely trying this out! It sounds like a unique date and a lot of fun!
July 8th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Did you check, for sure, on Hannah Montana? I understand that show has ended.
July 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am
I took my three daughters to a taping of Martha Stewart during a visit to NYC. It was so much fun and the audience members always go home with a bag full of goodies. We came home with four toddler balance bikes, several free coupons for ocean spray products, copies of the cookbook that was featured the day of the taping and some other assorted gift certificates. It beat paying $$$$ for the theater!
July 8th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
ive been to alot of them all cancled now but sometimes when there changing sets they let the audiences win prizes for triva and other things i won a really nice watch and stuff its fun i also saw people leaving ellen at the holidays with bags of free stuff its worth it and fun
July 8th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Just recently went with a friend to a taping of “Dancing with the Stars”. GREAT fun, but we were only assured a chance of getting in b/c my friend had gone the previous month and had NOT gotten in after waiting for hours, so she was given a “you’re definitely in” voucher for our big day. Watch out for long waits and possibly not getting in if they have too many people!
July 8th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Many many years ago I worked for Jack Cassidy (David’s father) He was going to be on one of the celebrity game shows like Match Game and took me with him. I sat in the first row and between shows, got to go backstage and meet the other celebrities. It was something that I will never forget.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
My family and I tried to get into the taping of the “Tonight Show” a few years ago, but were turned away since we arrived too late. (We later found out we should have been at the studio by about 5 am to get in!) But not all was lost since to following day we went back to the studio; went into the back parking lot and ran into Kevin Eubanks as he was arriving for work so we had a nice chat with him!
July 8th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Went to the Tonight Show last year when Tom Cruise & The Cure was on, that was a fantastic experience. The audience is a LOT smaller than what it appears like on TV.
Also if you go to either Venice Beach or Santa Monica Promenade, there are often people from those same companies giving out vouchers for TV Shows and Movie screenings.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I have worked with On Camera Audiences for the pasat 3 years. They also will PAY your group to attend-10 people minimum, $10-$15 per person per show.
They do not pay for American Idol & NEVER had tickets for, Hannah Montana-they are saved for “elite” show business people.(and yes, it’s the last season & seats are reserved for family,etc).
Our High School Dance Team made a lot of money going to the tapings, LOTS of fun/laughs, worth it for the fundraiser.
We did attend American Idol numberous times, as the dance team, with girls in the pit and me in the nosebleed (which was fine with me—I was a there as the driver/chaperone).
C
July 9th, 2010 at 5:39 am
@chrisM Getting paid to watch a TV taping – that’s wild – and a great fundraiser. Way to take advantage of the situation.
July 9th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I took my mother to The View, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and Rachel Ray. All were a lot of fun. The View was the best because it’s a live show and it’s a pretty quick taping. Oh, DON’T go to see Montel Williams. He does infomercials now in NJ and is always looking for studio audience members. They keep you there for about 7 hours, promise you all kinds of infomercial goodies, and then don’t ever send the stuff.