'Bout that time again!
In this thread, you'll find all the information you need for attending a taping of the Big Bang Theory. You can always check this first post for updated information on when tapings will be held and when tickets will be available for them.
If you are looking for members to attend with, or are looking for extra tickets for your party, or just have questions about tapings or suggestions based on your own experience, comment here!
Getting Tickets Where to get tickets:
Audiences Unlimited
When to get tickets:
Tickets are available on the AU website 30 days before the taping at approximately 8:30 am PST. (That's 9:30am Mountain, 10:30am Central, and 11:30am Eastern.) This only applies to weekdays, so if the calendar shows 30 days prior to a taping is a weekend, it will fall on the Monday. Tickets going up at 8:30am is a loose guideline; they have been known to go up as early as 7:45am or as late as 8:50am. It does vary.
Click here to see what time it is in Los Angeles so you know how that compares to your time zone.
How to get tickets:
Make sure to only submit for one ticket at a time, one for each name in your party. You cannot submit a ticket request for multiple guests. Warner Brothers needs each party's name individually, so if you're getting multiple tickets, do them one at a time and select 1 ticket.
These are the dates that tickets will be available, and for which shows:
Mon Jul 17, 2017 → 8/15/17 (11.1) (sold out)
Mon Jul 24, 2017 → 8/22/17 (11.2)
Mon Jul 31, 2017 → 8/29/17 (11.3)
Mon Aug 14, 2017 → 9/12/17 (11.4)
Mon Aug 21, 2017 → 9/19/17 (11.5)
Traveling to/Staying in Los Angeles
Where to fly into:
Use the Matrix website to search flights out of and into multiple airports (if you have several options) as well as multiple travel dates to find the cheapest and best option for your travel. Fares tend to be the lowest if you search between Tuesday and Thursday. Weekends are when airlines tend to raise the prices of travel.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is located at 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045, and is approximately 25.8 miles away from the Warner Brothers Studios. It is more likely to have better flight options, possibly better prices, and more options for international travelers. Downside is its distance from Warner Brothers and travel to and from LAX can be brutal on weekday rush hour times, so be sure to allow a lot of time for travel.
Bob Hope Airport (BUR) is located at 2627 N Hollywood Way Burbank, CA 91505, and is 4.2 miles away from the Warner Brother studios. Flights to and from this airport may be more expensive, less frequent, or unavailable depending on point of origin. But it is an option to consider if you are traveling domestically.
**Southwest Airlines allow you to change your flight dates with no penalty, so if you are concerned about booking flights in case your taping is rescheduled or canceled, this is a good way to go! (Thanks delsino for this information.) Read their refund policy here and their no change fees policy here.
Where to stay (and who recommends it, if any):
This is by no means a comprehensive list. There are tons of hotels, hostels, and other options for your lodging in the city. There are just a few suggestions to start you off, but feel free to check Google Maps, Hotels.Com, or other travel sites like Travelocity or Expedia for other options.
You may also look into using an AirBnB for your stay.
Tangerine Hotel (3901 W Riverside Dr. Burbank, CA 91505) ★ Most members use this hotel
0.4 miles north of Warner Brothers
30.3 miles northeast of LAX Airport
3.5 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://www.tangerinehotel.com
(818) 843-1121
Approx. $140-160/night.
Best Western (3910 W Riverside Dr. Burbank, CA 91505)
0.4 miles north of Warner Brothers
24.9 miles northeast of LAX Airport
3.5 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://book.bestwestern.com
(818) 842-1900
Approx. $180/night.
Travelodge Burbank Glendale (1112 N Hollywood Way Burbank, CA 91505)
1.8 miles north of Warner Brothers
26.6 miles northeast of LAX Airport
1.8 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://www.travelodge.com/
(818) 845-2408
Approx. $98/night.
Portofino Inn Burbank (924 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506)
2.3 miles northeast of Warner Brothers
29.2 miles northeast of LAX Airport
2.9 miles southeast of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://www.portofinoburbank.com/
(818) 848-5100
Approx. $128/night.
Burbank Inn and Suites (180 W Alameda Ave Burbank, CA 91502)
3.4 miles northeast of Warner Brothers
28.8 miles northeast of LAX Airport
4.1 miles southeast of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://www.burbankinnandsuites.com/
(818) 842-1114
Approx. $139/night.
Best Inn Hollywood (1822 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028) ★ Rick71
3.6 miles south of Warner Brothers
24.7 miles northeast of LAX Airport
5.1 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://www.bestinnhollywood.net/
(323) 467-2252
Approx. $90-110/night.
Ramada Burbank Airport (2900 N San Fernando Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504) ★ kazzie
4.2 miles north of Warner Brothers
36.1 miles northeast of LAX Airport
1.2 miles north east of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
1.0 mile east of Hollywood Way / Winona Metro 222 bus stop
http://www.ramadaburbank.com
(818) 843-5955 * info@ramadaburbank.com
USA Hostels Hollywood (1624 Schrader Boulevard Hollywood, CA 90028) ★ notchinc
3.8 miles south of Warner Brothers
13.6 miles northeast of LAX Airport
7.6 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
0.4 miles east of Hollywood/Highland Metro Station, 0.4 miles west of Hollywood/Vine Metro Station
http://www.usahostels.com/hollywood
(323) 462-3777 * hollywood@usahostels.com
Approx. $45/night
Banana Bungalow Hollywood (5920 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028)
4.7 miles south of Warner Brothers
22.7 miles northeast of LAX Airport
7.8 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
http://www.bananabungalowus.com/
(323) 469-2500
Approx. $25-30/night.
Hollywood Youth Hostel (for international travelers only) (6820 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028)
3.5 miles south of Warner Brothers
12.4 miles northeast of LAX Airport
7.1 miles south of Bob Hope Airport (Burbank)
Across the street from Hollywood / Highland Center and Metro Station.
http://www.ushostel.com/
(323) 463-2770
Approx. $25-30/night
How to travel:
SuperShuttle: Service to and from LAX and BUR. Cheaper than a taxi. You can arrange for it to pick you up anywhere and take you to the airport for when you need to arrive for your flight. You can also arrange for the shuttle to pick you up for free from North Hollywood Station if traveling to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank.
Primetime Shuttle: Service to and from LAX and BUR. Similar to the SuperShuttle, prices may vary between services, so check them both and see what's best for you.
Rent a car: Both LAX and BUR have car rental services at the terminal.
Uber/Lyft: These are ridesharing apps you can download on your mobile phone. They are cheaper than taxis as they use local drivers (vetted by the companies) to pick you up and drive you to your destination for a price lower than cab fare. You can use this for local transportation between destinations or even to the airport if necessary.
Public Transportation: The 222 Metro busline between Sunland and Hollywood/Highland station stops right outside of Gate 3. Other buses within walking distance are nearby as well, depending on your point of origin.
There are also a variety of car rental services available in Los Angeles.
Taping Day Information
Where things are located:
Line up for Big Bang Theory Taping: Gate 3, Warner Brothers Studios, Burbank, CA (approx. 4301 W. Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91505)
Warner Brothers VIP Tours (approx. 3400 Riverside Dr Burbank, CA 91505) Tickets available at: www.wbstudiotour.com.
Where to line up:
Depending on what time you arrive, the line may be in one of two different locations. If you arrive in the morning or early afternoon, the line (both guaranteed and standby ticket-holders together) will be outside in the parking lot next to the parking garage. Sometime around 3:30, Audiences Unlimited staff will arrive to bring the line inside the parking garage where the benches and bathrooms are located. They will split the line into two: one for guaranteed ticket holders, and one for standby ticket holders.
This is the view of the parking structure from across the street. If you drive, you will pull into the garage where it's marked on the right below. The middle section is where the elevator and stairs from the garage come out. The left is where you will go line up early in the day. If you arrive after the line has moved, you may enter where it is indicated in the middle below.
Here is a close up of the gap in the trees where you will enter to find the line in the parking lot.
This is directly across the street from where you enter for the line. Good landmark and photo opp!
This is what the line will look like when you arrive. The line starts at the benches and snakes around to the sidewalk. Please note: if the line is outside, it is standby AND guaranteed TOGETHER. Audiences Unlimited will split the line when they arrive around 3:30 and move you inside.
You may also watch this virtual tour video for a better sense of where things are located and how to get around!
Tips for taping day
Here is some information about what to expect on taping day, along with a few things that seasoned vets recommend for your experience.
Food and beverage:
Bring snacks and drinks for your wait in line.
There are also vending machines and water fountains inside the parking garage, so bring some change or bills if you'd like to have that option. There is a snack machine, cold beverage machine, and hot beverage machine (with coffee and hot chocolate).
There are many restaurants in the area that you may choose to go to during the day (as long as someone is willing to hold your place in line!). Many people like to visit the Starbucks or Chipotle for fuel. There are lots of other options in the area, so check out a map and see if there's something you might like.
There are also a number of places that will deliver food if you're afraid of leaving the line. You can use GrubHub (download for Apple or Android phones) to find a cuisine that you like. They accept PayPal, Credit Cards, and Cash. Use the 4301 W. Olive Ave address for where they should deliver, and they can meet you out at the bus stop.
Pizza and a small bottle of water will be served roughly halfway through the taping. If you have allergies (lactose, gluten, etc) and think you may need to eat during the taping, bring something alternative with you. I've never seen them confiscate food, so you should be able to bring it in. Just don't make a mess!
Bathroom breaks:
There are men's and women's restrooms inside the parking garage structure that you may use all during the day while you are waiting in line.
As you are being brought into the studio, there is sometimes an opportunity to stop and use a bathroom on the way in. This is typically only an option if you are guaranteed or one of the first few groups of standbys let in. As they get closer to taping time, there isn't time for them to stop and let the group use the restrooms. So be aware that while it is possible to use the bathroom on the way in, it doesn't always happen. Your best bet is to use it while you are in the parking garage.
Once you are in the studio, there will not be an opportunity to use the bathroom until after the first scene is filmed. This is because they need to have an accurate head count while filling the audience, and if people are coming and going, that's not possible. So if you are brought into the studio at 4pm, your next break may not be until after 6:30pm. So plan your breaks accordingly.
You can use the bathroom during the taping; however, it is very likely that you will miss a portion of the scene. Bathrooms are a walk, and even if you are quick and you return in a short amount of time, they may not open the stage doors until the scene is done filming. You just have to decide if you want to miss part of the taping to use the bathroom.
My own personal rule is "no liquids after 3pm" (a slight modification of Sheldon's advice). That allows me to take my last bathroom break by 4 or 4:30pm and not have to interrupt my enjoyment of the show. Obviously everyone's needs vary, so do you!
Seating:
There are approximately 246 seats in the stage. A maximum of seventy-five of these may be reserved for VIP (sometimes fewer, and on very rare occasions, they may make an exception to go over). The audience is broken into four sections that are six rows deep. The two middle sections are much wider (approximately 15-16 seats wide) and the two sections on the ends are shorter (approximately six seats wide).
The middle two sections of the audience will be filled first before seating will begin on the wings.
Standby will be let in once all VIP and guaranteed ticketholders present have been brought into the studio. Once that happens, they will assess how many empty seats are available and begin to bring in standby ticketholders in groups of about ten at a time. More VIP or guaranteed may show up during this time and jump the line, but they will not take your seat from you once you are "in."
The amount of standby that get in varies from show to show. It's been as high as 70 and as low as three. It all depends on how many guaranteed ticketholders and VIP show up. Generally, a good 25-40 get in, but this is by no means a guarantee.
There are truly no "bad seats" in the house. If you're off to the side, you may have a better view of the "swing sets" (sets that come and go based on the needs of the episode). Penny's apartment, the hallyway, and the boys' apartment are always center stage. The other sets for the episode will be set up on the sides.
If you don't have a good view of a particular scene from where you're sitting, there are monitors all around the studio on which you may watch the action.
Autographs:
There is not an official opportunity to meet the cast. However, some members have gotten lucky running into them in the parking lot after the taping, or they may sometimes hang out at the barrier after the curtain call.
Do not bring merchandise or other items to get signed. They will confiscate it from you at the security checkpoint, and you will have to pick it up after the taping.
Handicap access:
Call or email Audiences Unlimited ahead of time if you think you may need handicap access. The walk from the parking garage to the stage is very long, so they have golf carts they may take you over in.
There is also a lift in the studio that you may use if you are in a wheelchair or use a cane or just cannot take the stairs.
Handicap access seats are located stage left (meaning the far right of the audience) in the front row. This gives you a good view of the boys' apartment, as well as whatever swing set may be off to that side.
Miscellany
Bring a watch! You may find yourself wondering what time it is, only to realize you don't have your phone on you.
Tapings are generally 3-4 hours long. This depends on how long the scenes take to film and how many of them were pre-taped (more pre-taped scenes means it will go more quickly). If the scenes are few but long, it will also go more quickly. If the scenes are short and many, it may take longer because each set up will take time.
Cell phones cannot be brought into the stage. If you need to have your phone for safety reasons (traveling alone, no car, etc) you must give your phone with photo ID to security when you enter the stage. Phone must be powered down completely. You will get it back after the taping.
You may be asked to participate in a few fun activities that keep the audience entertained while filming is not taking place. Participation is completely optional. However, be prepared to possibly: dance, sing (if you're from another country), imitate a barnyard animal, share a weird talent, talk about why you love Big Bang Theory, and much more! These activities can be fun and you have a chance to win candy or a color photograph of the cast.
If you have any other information that you think would be helpful to this post, please comment below or PM me!
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