Information For Attending A Big Bang Theory Taping

[Datitguy84]

My experience... I've been visiting LA for business and I'm a big fan of the show. Since I don't know which specific weeks I'll be in LA, I request tickets and email audiences unlimited if I am unable to attend. I was able to get tickets to 03/12, 04/03, 04/17 tapings. And was able to get standby in February. I was able to attend the Reclusive Potential on the 03/12 and I'll likely be attending 04/17. My tip is to login onto their website at 8:00am local LA time. I refreshed the page every minute till 8:30,  and then every 15 seconds after that. The last three taping dates tickets were released about 8:35 and were sold out in under 3 minutes. I was lucky enough to be there at the right time to get tickets several times. 

 

It's an awesome experience to attend a taping. I recommend if you're standby ticket holder to get there no later than noon. On 03/12 I wasn't chancing it, since audiences unlimited didn't guarantee admission, and got there at 1:30 with a general admission ticket. There was a long line already, with some standby holders waiting there since 8 am. I would estimate 20-30 of standby holders got in, meaning if you weren't there at noon, or before, you likely didn't get into that taping.

 

Also, I highly recommend the WB tour to kill time if you are general admission. And if it's an off week for Big Bang they will show the set if you ask. I flew my wife out to LA the week of the 16th taping, we did a tour that Friday. And while we didn't get to go to the taping, she got to see the set because we told the tour guide we were huge fans 

Edited March 26, 2018 by Datitguy84
Grammar

[Tensor]

@Datitguy84  Thanks for your experiences.   FYI, they will show you the set, even on weeks they are taping, if you ask during a weekend tour.  We visited the set on Sunday, then saw the taping on Tuesday. 

[Candace]

@Datitguy84 we have general admission tickets to the April 17th taping and would like to do a studio tour but can’t decide on the time. What tour times is best before the show? Thanks!! 

[Datitguy84]

11 hours ago, Candace said:

@Datitguy84 we have general admission tickets to the April 17th taping and would like to do a studio tour but can’t decide on the time. What tour times is best before the show? Thanks!! 

I would recommend 11am or and no later than noon. The tour is 2-3 hours in length. I would then get lunch (you only get a cold slice of pizza later) and head over to the queuing line. They start queuing people and taking IDs etc. at roughly 3:30. 

When I did the tour I ate at the Central Perk cafe after touring stage 48. I might do the tour again I enjoyed it that much.

I was just notified I will be LA that week, and will also be attending that taping 

[Candace]

Thank you! Are you usually ok to start lining up at 3:30 or does it need to be earlier?

[Datitguy84]

1 hour ago, Candace said:

Thank you! Are you usually ok to start lining up at 3:30 or does it need to be earlier?

I've only attended the taping once. I got there at 1:30 to get the best seat, and I was 10th in the general admission line. I have heard though as long as you are there 90 minutes prior and have general admission you will get in. I think you will be fine 

[Datitguy84]

Standby tickets are back open for Tuesday’s taping 

 

04/17

[joyceraye]

On 4/13/2018 at 12:01 AM, Datitguy84 said:

Standby tickets are back open for Tuesday’s taping 

 

04/17

Ooooh I hope someone's going who can give us a taping report.  Enjoy it, everybody who makes it there !

[Datitguy84]

18 hours ago, joyceraye said:

Ooooh I hope someone's going who can give us a taping report.  Enjoy it, everybody who makes it there !

I have tickets. Last episode before finale

[spidergirl]

2 minutes ago, Datitguy84 said:

I have tickets. Last episode before finale

Congrats! Have fun!

 

[rrussell50]

What time does the parking deck open?   Also what is the earliest time you can arrive to wait on line without a car?

[Haswan]

Tried to attend Season Finale taping on 4/24 with a Standby ticket:

Arrived 12:30pm to be number 25 of standby's. Had a total of 40 people waiting. Moved to waiting benches at 4PM.

There were about 130-140 Guaranteed ticket holders and about 75 standby's.

At number 88, the staff said that all tickets guaranteed and standby are now "standby". This is due the episode being season finale (SPOILER: Sheldon/Amy wedding) with a huge guest cast and a lot of VIP guests/families. 

In the end, they got all guaranteed and only 7 standby tickets into the studio :(

Will try again next season :)

 

[Tensor]

Sorry you didn’t get in Haswan.

[Haswan]

5 minutes ago, Tensor said:

Sorry you didn’t get in Haswan.

Thank you! I still enjoyed to atmosphere. It was a long shot anyway. Had my expectations low. Will try to secure a guaranteed ticket next season!

[rrussell50]

Actually it was worse than was stated, unfortunately 7 guaranteed admissions didn’t get in along with all stand bys.  I gave up my guaranteed ticket and went standby with my wife (because we both couldn’t get guaranteed tickets) and it literally went down to 6:15 before the 11 out of the final 18 general admissions were let in and we were all sent away. 

Oh well it was still a great experience but disappointing end but won’t stop us from going again.  Love this website and I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to go last year if it wasn’t for all the great information.   Thanks again!

Edited April 25, 2018 by rrussell50

[Haswan]

19 hours ago, rrussell50 said:

Actually it was worse than was stated, unfortunately 7 guaranteed admissions didn’t get in along with all stand bys.  I gave up my guaranteed ticket and went standby with my wife (because we both couldn’t get guaranteed tickets) and it literally went down to 6:15 before the 11 out of the final 18 general admissions were let in and we were all sent away. 

Oh well it was still a great experience but disappointing end but won’t stop us from going again.  Love this website and I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to go last year if it wasn’t for all the great information.   Thanks again!

Wow... I left at 6PM when they told us that anyone above Number 7 on standbys has no chance. I guess, they should have made this taping VIP/Guests only :)))

[rrussell50]

1 minute ago, Haswan said:

Wow... I left at 6PM when they told us that anyone above Number 7 on standbys has no chance. I guess, they should have made this taping VIP/Guests only :)))

Yea we were really hopeful at that point too, we were literally counting down the minutes and watching for any car coming into the lot and cheering after anyone who walked towards the VIP section were just asking questions and not checking in.  Still had fun though even after being in line for 12 hours lol.  

[Kev0821]

AU just released taping dates for season 12:

★ 8/21/18 ★ 8/28/18 ★ 9/5/18 ★ 9/18/18 ★ 9/25/18

I'm super bummed, because August 21 is my birthday... I'd go in a heartbeat, but I'm a teacher and our first day of in-service is August 22. Horrible timing! Any chance they'll add a taping for 8/14?! Wishful thinking!

Jim's play runs through August 12, so I'm assuming that's the reason for the delayed week.

Edited July 2, 2018 by Kev0821
I increased the font size, and changed "release" to "reason."

[vonmar]

7 minutes ago, Kev0821 said:

AU just released taping dates for season 12:

★ 8/21/18 ★ 8/28/18 ★ 9/5/18 ★ 9/18/18 ★ 9/25/18

I'm super bummed, because August 21 is my birthday... I'd go in a heartbeat, but I'm a teacher and our first day of in-service is August 22. Horrible timing! Any chance they'll add a taping for 8/14?! Wishful thinking!

Jim's Broadway play doesn't close until Saturday August 11th, so no way they could do an 8/14 taping.  Sorry

[joyceraye]

Out of interest, does 'guaranteed' mean it literally ? On this side of the pond it means if goods don't work or a service is not provided, then  in order to fulfil the guarantee, a replacement, an alternative, or financial compensation is offered . Eg, if a new computer comes with a guarantee they have to replace it if it's faulty, or give you your money back. If bricklayers' work is guaranteed, they have to rebuild the wall if it falls down. Does 'guarantee' mean the same in US English ?

When tickets for TBBT are given away free of charge,can they really do anything for the rejected people with 'guaranteed' tickets to make up for not being able to get in ? There's no ticket price to refund. Considering the ticket-hoders may have come from other countries at great trouble and expense, really looking forward to it, what happens to uphold the 'guarantee' ? Do they put a big screen on the carpark or anything like that ?

[Kev0821]

1 minute ago, joyceraye said:

Out of interest, does 'guaranteed' mean it literally ? On this side of the pond it means if goods don't work or a service is not provided, then  in order to fulfil the guarantee, a replacement, an alternative, or financial compensation is offered . Eg, if a new computer comes with a guarantee they have to replace it if it's faulty, or give you your money back. If bricklayers' work is guaranteed, they have to rebuild the wall if it falls down. Does 'guarantee' mean the same in US English ?

When tickets for TBBT are given away free of charge,can they really do anything for the rejected people with 'guaranteed' tickets to make up for not being able to get in ? There's no ticket price to refund. Considering the ticket-hoders may have come from other countries at great trouble and expense, really looking forward to it, what happens to uphold the 'guarantee' ? Do they put a big screen on the carpark or anything like that ?

Audiences Unlimited says this about guaranteed tickets:

IS ADMISSION GUARANTEED?
Ticket distribution is limited for all shows; however, tickets may be distributed in excess of studio capacity. General admission ticket holders will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows. Admission to the studio is not guaranteed. Please click here for more important information that is included with all ticket printouts. 

No, you have to be admitted to the studio to see the taping. They do not telecast it to other locations on the premises.

[joyceraye]

2 minutes ago, Kev0821 said:

Audiences Unlimited says this about guaranteed tickets:

IS ADMISSION GUARANTEED?
Ticket distribution is limited for all shows; however, tickets may be distributed in excess of studio capacity. General admission ticket holders will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows. Admission to the studio is not guaranteed. Please click here for more important information that is included with all ticket printouts. 

Thank you. So there's no such thing as a guaranteed ticket ? That's helpful to know.

[Tensor]

2 hours ago, joyceraye said:

Thank you. So there's no such thing as a guaranteed ticket ? That's helpful to know.

There are three levels of tickets.  

VIP- these are usually friends or family of the cast, crew, Warner Brothers execs, etc.  They are also given to people who win contests (Our local station has had several give a ways with tickets to a airfare, hotel, car and extra money, along with tickets to a taping.   In general, those who have VIP tickets are seated in the first rows, are allowed to keep their phones, and are allowed on the stage floor (i.e.  on the set) after the show.  (They aren't the only ones, and if you know a member of the cast or crew, you may be able to visit the set afterward also, even if you only have a regular ticket.)

Regular Tickets.  Most call the general admission "guaranteed"  to differentiate them from the Standby tickets.  This is because almost every time, if you get a regular ticket, and get there by the specified time, you will get in and be seated for a taping.   You have to turn in your phone (if you haven't already left it in your car), and in most cases are not allowed on the stage floor either before or after the show.  

Standby Tickets These are tickets that allow people in, if there is room after the VIP and Regular tickets holders are seated.   Holders of these tickets are allowed in on a first come, first served basis.  You can find standby ticket holders getting in line outside the parking structure at 8 AM or even earlier.   The number of Standbys admitted will depend on how many VIP and Regular ticket holders are there.  Then tend to start allowing Standbys in around 6-6:15, after getting a good headcount of the VIP and GA tickets.  

I know about taping reports going back to late season three (3-16) through this year.  I am aware of only three (I think) times where a General Admission ticket holder (GATH)  did not get in. Sometime in season five, two GATH didn't get in, and they were given VIP tickets for a taping later in the season.    There was a problem in season 9 or 10 (I'm too lazy right now to look it up) , and quite a few of the GATH didn't get in.   Bill Prady was majorly upset and as a result, Audiences Unlimited changed the way they issued tickets and the number of available VIP tickets was changed.   And if I remember correctly, a couple of the GATH didn't get in for the finale last year.  

That AU doesn't call them guaranteed is mostly for legal reasons.  That way, if something comes up and a GATH can't get in, they can't complain or sue because they didn't get in.  

There are a couple of other possibilities, but you have to be in the inner circle for those.  Friends of the actors can come and spend time in the actors dressing rooms.  Also, Kaley's father, Gary Cuoco, has his own directors chair, that sits in the walkway to the control spaces (video, sound, lights etc) at the back of the stands.