Just HOW did you guys get to do that?
A Seatfiller is an individual that fills an empty seat while an entertainer is either presenting an award or performing during the show. The purpose of the Seatfiller is so that when the camera pans the audience, it should appear that there are no empty seats. Typically during a commercial, a stage manager will pull the entertainer (or group of individuals) from their seat and prepare them for the next segment of the show. The entertainer is taken back stage and and that individual's seat is then left empty. A Seatfiller will then be summoned from the sidelines of the audience and is asked to sit in the seat until the entertainer returns or until the end of the show.
Well.... now that is a long story. Seems as though Vanessa wanted to go see the Academy of Country Music Award Show held in Hollywood. It was about three to four weeks before the show and I called to reserve seats. Because it was so close to the show, there were only three seats left. Now, I didn't want to sit three hours during the show all the way across the auditorium. I asked the young lady if there were any other seats available. I was informed that there were other seats available, but that they were "Silver" and "Gold" seating. These seats include dinner and invitation to the after-show party. That part sounded great... then I was told the price... $250 each for the Silver seats and $300 each for the Gold seats.
I called my wife and spoke to her and she told me that she did not want me to spend the money for the show - that we could wait until next year and buy the seats earlier in the season. After I got off of the phone with my wife, I called back to the show and ended up speaking to the same young lady. I told her that I was contemplating the Silver seats but that I just couldn't quite bring my self to paying the $500. She said that if I didn't buy the tickets, someone else would. Well, I then asked her about the seatfiller program. She quickly responded "how do you know about that?" I told her that I had a friend of a friend who once did it. She then proceeded to tell me that I needed to call this lady - and she gave me a phone number. I called that lady and she told me to send me her my information and she gave me the address to send it to.
After about a week after I sent my information, I received a letter asking me to inform them what days I would be available. Sunday? Monday? Tuesday? Wednesday? Well, I returned the letter that day saying that we were available everyday of the week prior to the show! About three days later, I received another letter informing me that we were required to attend a mandatory meeting held in Hollywood on the Sunday prior to the show. When we showed up at the Hilton, we were greeted by other seatfillers. It was then that we were informed that there was a two year waiting period to get on the list to become seatfillers. We were extremely pleased to have this cool position!
Incidentally, the phone call to the lady I called turned out to be the Executive Director of the show - who answered to one individual - Dick Clark, himself!
Seatfillers are not paid for their services, at least not monitarily. The pay off is that you get to sit WITH the entertainers, and sometimes, you get to go to the After-party Show, and you get to meet a lot of the stars! You are responsible for your hotel room if you are from out of town - as we are. Then you take into account that you miss up to four days of work - it turns out that you actually pay to be a part of the show. In 2003, the show was moved to Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino . We just took a week off from work as vacation and spent the entire week in Las Vegas. In 2004, we were torn between continuing with the show and take the week as vacation or leave the show. Our concerns were soon relieved, as the show chose a new audience participation group - which put us out of a job. :( That was only temporarily! In 2005, we were invited back as Seatfillers only! Hey! Better a little than none!
Our first year doing the show was 1998. Here is a list of those we have escorted:
Mart Vanessa
| Year / Entertainer Year / Entertainer |
1998 - Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) 1998 - Miss USA (1998)
1999 - Billy Dean 1999 - Danni Leigh
2000 - The Bellamy Bros. 2000 - Janie Fricke
2001 - The Warren Bros. 2001 - SHeDAISY
2002 - Jamie O'Neal 2002 - The Bellamy Bros.
2003 - Diamond Rio 2003 - Leann Rimes
2004 - Missed the show 2004 - Missed the show
2005 - Seat Filler Only 2005 - Seat Filler Only
2006 - Seat Filler Only 2006 - Missed the show
2007 - Seat Filler Only 2007 - Seat Filler Only
2008 - Seat Filler Only 2008 - Seat Filler Only
2009 - Seat Filler Only 2009 - Missed the show
2010 - Seat Filler Only 2010 - Missed the show
Now isn't THAT the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question?!
Fact is, if you want to be a seat filler - you will need to contact the AUDIENCES handling company * located in Las Vegas for your chance to do this wonderful opportunity. But be aware, you will be screened extensively for UNLIMITED background checks due to the 9-11 issue.
* Disclaimer: I chose not to divulge the proper name (.COM) of the company who handles this department.
The 2010 show will be held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April18th at 8:00pm Pacific Time. For the last few years, the show has been held on a Sunday, previously the show was aired on Wednesday nights.
The 2007 show was held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 15th at 8:00pm pacific time. Reba McIntire hosted the 42nd ACM Awards Show for an unprecedented ninth time!
In 2006, the Academy of Country Music Awards Show was held on May 23rd, 2006 at the MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada. The previous three years, the show was taped live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to 2003, the show was held at the Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood, California. The show airs live on CBS Television.