When: June 27, 2012 | 2:00pm show
Where: Dunkin' Donuts Center
GPS Address: 1 La Salle Square. Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 331-6700
Backdrop:
We attended the taping of The X-Factor USA for the first time and wish to share our experience so others may have an idea and could use this as reference for later. This may or may not apply to other venues (or even this particular venue on a another date) but we are pretty sure the general feel would be close if not similar.
The X-Factor held a total of 6 tapings at this venue. From June 27-29 with two shows in a day (2:00pm and 6:30pm).
Disclaimer: These are merely our opinions and observations. We cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience or untoward incident that happens to you upon reading this blog (eg. you weren't allowed entrance!!). As in everything, use your own common sense and intellect.
So you got an email invite to watch the live taping of the X-Factor USA, what now? Here's a guide:
1. They enforce the age strictly. Minimum age to enter is 12 years old. If you're 7, don't push your luck. We saw them driving away parents with kids who were clearly not 12.
2. They weren't strict on IDs or the email tickets. They neither asked for our ID's nor did they look closely if we were in fact holding an email ticket or a piece of blank paper. You could technically give your email ticket to a friend if you can't make it even if it's your name written there! The tickets are transferable. If your ticket said for 2 and there's 4 or 6 of you, that's fine- they allow it.
3. We arrived around 11:30am and found out, the show was at 2. The email ticket said 1:00pm.
4. So they want you there promptly. Sure! If you want to get decent seats, you must come 2 to 3 hours before the show. We got the lower section seats and it was pretty close but it was on the side. If we were there earlier, we could have probably gotten the lower section center. We were looking at the people up on the balcony seats too far away, and even for free, it did not look promising unless you are carrying binoculars!!
5. They hand out hard tickets as you wait in line, so you are guaranteed an assigned seat upon entering the venue.
6. DRESS NICE. DRESS TO IMPRESS but don't try too hard! You are after all going to be just another face in the crowd... From the show:
DRESS CODE:
DRESS CODE IS STRICTLY ENFORCED FOR OUR INTERNET TICKET HOLDERS! Hip, upscale attire is mandatory. COLORFUL, BRIGHT SOLID COLORS ARE REQUESTED. Absolutely no apparel with logos of any kind on the front or back are allowed in the studio audience. Absolutely no t-shirts, sweatshirts/hoodies, white tops, shorts, or flip flops! We'd prefer that you don't wear jeans. But, considered if worn with nice top. Please dress hip and upscale as if going to a nice club or restaurant. You will be on camera, so it is very important that you dress nicely. When you look great, the show looks great!
IF YOU DO NOT DRESS ACCORDING TO THE DRESS CODE YOU MAY NOT BE ADMITTED.
The Tickets
7. The floor seats and front rows are reserved "for groups of kids and adults coming from local schools/churches and other youth organizations. If they do not show up - then, we begin handing them out in line. It won't necessarily be to the first people in line either. It's random."
Translation: If you're naturally gifted and born beautiful by Hollywood standard, getting the best seats will be a breeze for you! You could come half an hour before the show and you will still most likely be asked to seat behind Simon Cowell so when they pan the camera, your attractive face will show on national television!!
The production staff are scouring the entire queue looking for people who will "look good" in front of the camera especially 12 to 17 year olds! We were way, way behind the front of the line and a crew member approached 3 teenagers with their mom and asked if they wanted to seat near the stage! (The mom was given a separate ticket to seat in the lower section! Guess she wasn't Hollywood enough.)
8. The staff are uber friendly! We're not used to kindness. We have gotten so used to rude, unfriendly, bossy production crew, concert ushers that when everyone of the X-Factor staff smiled and greeted us, we didn't know how to respond!
9. Food and Drinks aren't allowed! The venue wants to sell you their overpriced food and beverage of course! No backpacks allowed. Purses are fine.
10. By golly, bring some food and drinks while you are waiting in line! You will get hungry and you will get thirsty as you are standing, in our case- under the heat of the beaming sun. Bring some sort of seating pad. Be prepared to seat on the hot pavement/concrete. We brought some packed sandwiches and ice cold drinks! A lot of people around us were nodding their heads as though to say, "smart idea/good thinking."
11. PARKING. Do not park at the first parking sign you see! That's why you need to come early too- so you could survey the scene. The venue has its own parking for $20.00. We drove around the block and it was $15 bucks.
12. You can bring along your small camera and phones (even though the ticket says otherwise). They aren't strict as long as you turn them off while the show is "live." They allow non-flash photography before the show starts and in-between breaks.
13. The judges take breaks for 5 minutes or so. There is a host who entertains the crowd prior to the show, during breaks and to fill the air when things seem quiet.
14. Smile, you may be on camera! Or not. Smile anyway... :)
To get tickets for future shows, visit On-Camera Audiences, Inc. | Frequently Asked Questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Join the conversation...