TV Show Tapings; Free AND easy

[jedimasta]

Anything that's free is good, right? It used to be that you had to know someone or send in a self addressed balh blah blah. After recently visiting Universal Studios in Hollywood I discovered a web site where you can order audience seating for top run sitcoms. Most everything is free except the award shows.

If you live in the L.A. or New York area, or you plan on visiting, follow this LINK to http://www.tvtickets.com and reserve tickets for your party.

I've been to about 6 shows already. Most of them have warm up guys for the audience and explain whats going on down on stage. They frequently pass out food (candy, cracker jacks and little things) and for shows that tape for a longer expected time (Friends for example, if you can get in, takes an average of 9 hours to film) they feed the audience for free. The actors rarely hesitate to come up into the audience and talk to everyone, and you get to see the outtakes no one on TV sees.

All in all it's a good night out, cheap and you can see stuff like That 70's Show, Spin City, The Drew Carey Show and a bunch of others.

The site tends to stay kinda busy, so you might have to try the URL more than once, but I think it's worth the little extra effort.

 

[Ranger X]

Aren't most TV shows free anyways? Some shows will even pay you to come. I was in a club once which went to a show for fund raising (It was a pilot for "Ladies Man" TV show). They said they would pay us $5 a headcount.

 

[jedimasta]

Most of them are free, yeah, but you usually have to know someone to get in to them, or at least you used to. I don't know about being paid to go. If you know of a show like that, you'' tell us right?

 

[Tangman]

Wow...I've always wondered how to go to these tapings. Thanks!!

 

[Ranger X]

Yeah, basically it's to fill the seats on some sets. They need an audience that'll laugh (when prompted), etc.

I guess those laughters are worth a few bucks. It's also a way to get the word out about the show. Word of mouth is a great way for publicity, especially for pilots.

 

[dimwit]

They had some booth too at Universal Studios Hollywood for a bunch TV shows when I was there last month. I also stopped by NBC Studios in Burbank on the same trip. They made an announcement saying they were looking for people to sit in on Family Feud. The page said that they have to really hustle to get folks for the Tonight Show in late winter /early spring, although in summer people are lining up real early.

 

[jedimasta]

The booth at universal is the same company, Audiences Unlimited, and they have the NBC booth outside of the park in the shopping center there. The booth is there for those people who are there just for the day and are intereseted in going, convenience wise. The web is handy for people who like this kinda stuff and don't want to A. pay to get into the park everytime, or B. get an annual pass (like I did).

I just got tickets to a new Game Show starting up based on the CD-Rom You Don't Know Jack. It's hosted by Pee-Wee Herman himself, paul reubens. It should be interesting just to see how life out of the lime light has been to his performance.... no pun intended.

 

[matmax]

thanks.

 

[mchurchm]

Back in my fraternity days, we used to always go to TV show tapings as fundraisers. If you have a large enough group, they will gladly pay you to fill up their audience (I think we usually got like $10-15 a person). I'm not sure how to go about this, but if you have a large group of friends who can do this, you can definitely make some cash. Not bad for about an hour or so of "work," if you can call it that.

 

[LevcoS]

Both the post above and the website linked say "NY or LA", but it's worth noting that this appears to ACTUALLY be LA only. Boo hoo.

LevcoS

 

[Ranger X]

mchurchm, that is right. I guess it was 10-15 bucks. I'm not sure since I didn't go to the fundraiser but yeah, they're more than willing to pay you to fill up the seats. I like this fundraiser much better than selling items door to door.

 

[mmarcuse]

They pay $35 for going to a Judge Judy taping! Everyone in the audience is unemployed and wants tax-free cash, so you can spot the same people in the audience all the time sitting in different seats with different outfits.