You don’t need to be the nominated-for-practically-everything Adele to score a seat at Hollywood’s hottest award shows. Sure, the front rows are reserved for A-list audience members, but all those other seats are often filled with fans. Why not be one of them? Here’s how to secure your ticket to Tinseltown so you can rub shoulders with the stars:
SEAT FILLER
Regular folk are often employed as seat fillers so the audience doesn’t look sparse to TV viewers while the stars are on stage, backstage, or elsewhere during the ceremony. Award show productions have used the following companies to cast these special positions, so fill out an application and see if you get picked!
WHEN + WHERE: late February/early March at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: The Academy sets up a bleacher seat section on the red carpet for select fans. To be one of them, check this oscars.org page for updated fan experience information closer to the event.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
WHEN + WHERE: mid-April, usually in Las Vegas, but in North Texas for the 50th anniversary show being celebrated in 2014
HOW: Tickets go on sale about a year before the show and will run you $60 to $250, depending on where you want to hang your cowboy hat at “Country Music’s Party of the Year.” Click over to the ACM tickets page to purchase yours.
WHEN + WHERE: November at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company. (Ticketmaster.com tip: add the American Music Awards to your favorites so you’ll be emailed before they go on sale).
WHEN + WHERE: May at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV
How: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company. (Ticketmaster.com tip: add the Billboard Music Awards to your favorites so you’ll be emailed before they go on sale).
FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS
WHEN + WHERE: The day before the Oscars in late February/early March in Santa Monica, CA
How: You have to be part of the Arts Circle Members to score individual tickets to this show. If you or your organization can support Film Independent year-round, then you could qualify to become a member and get exclusive access to the Spirit Awards — get more information on that here.
WHEN + WHERE: Late January/early February at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: By invitation only.
WHEN + WHERE: Late March/early April at the University of Southern California Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company.
WHEN + WHERE: July at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company.
WHEN + WHERE: April in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company.
WHEN + WHERE: late August/early September in Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY
HOW: MTV does make some coveted VMA tickets available for fans. Check the MTV VMA ticket page for updates leading up to the show.
WHEN + WHERE: early January in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company. (Ticketmaster.com tip: add People’s Choice Awards to your favorites so you’ll be emailed before they go on sale).
WHEN + WHERE: late August/September at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Tickets to the public go on sale shortly after the nominees are announced in July so check Emmys.com around that time to get yours. They generally run from $200 to $400 depending on seat location. To be a seat filler for this event, you’ll also want to keep an eye on the Emmy’s site since that’s where the contact information for the outside company that oversees those spots will be posted. (While not stated, we’re thinking it might be the same story for the Daytime Emmy Awards).
WHEN + WHERE: August at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA
HOW: Fan audience tickets are available and can be purchased from your preferred ticket sales and distribution company. (Ticketmaster.com tip: add the Teen Choice Awards to your favorites so you’ll be emailed before they go on sale).
WHEN + WHERE: June at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY
HOW: You can buy Tony Awards tickets at Radio City Music Hall’s box office. If you live outside the New York area, there are options to reach Ticketmaster by phone or order online. Tickets range between $275 and $425 a piece, plus, don’t forget to budget for a black tie outfit!