Oh No! My Favorite Artist Is On SNL This Week!
A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Into Studio 8H
How SNL works:
Every week that SNL airs, they invite a famous singer and a guest onto the show. The selected singer typically performs two full songs throughout the live show, mostly promoting their new material. The host sometimes doubles as the singer as well, like Harry Styles next week! Tickets are completely free and can be won through the email lottery in August, where you have the rare chance of winning tickets to a random show anytime that season. The main way, though, is through the SNL website the week of, which I will explain further here!
Some of my SNL stories:
I had attempted (and failed) to register for the live show three times before finally getting my first standby number for the band Geese! My friend and I initially got 283rd and 284th in line—by the end of standby on Friday, we were 106th. Despite this, I showed up, only to be cut off with about seven people ahead of me. Even though I did not get in, meeting and chatting with fellow Geese fans in line made it worthwhile!
The week after, Alexander Skarsgaard and Cardi B were the guests. I somehow channeled all my luck into this, getting number 32 for dress rehearsal. I felt vindicated after the heartbreak of last week and had a great view of everything except the musical guest stage due to my seat. I chatted with Alexander Skarsgaard as they were setting up the scene next to me, and got hellos from a lot of the cast members! Cardi B, of course, bodied the performance, and was featured in a sketch as well, which is rare for musical guests! She played “Errtime” and “Bodega Baddie” from her new album, Am I the Drama?
Disclaimers:
● If you are reading this article anytime after 10 am on Thursday of that week, your chances are slim to none, but not impossible! Skip to: What if I do not get a number?
● If you cannot commit your entire Friday night & Saturday night to this, I do not recommend attempting!
Part 0:
Before doing anything, you have to decide whether to do the Live Show or Dress Rehearsal, as you can only sign up for one.
What is the difference?
Dress Rehearsal: This is the complete rundown of the live show + music performance + anything that will be cut for time. This show starts a lot earlier, typically taking from 6:30 to 10:30 pm on Saturday. If you care less about seeing yourself on TV and want to heighten your odds of getting a ticket, it is easier to attempt attending dress.
Live Show: This is the refined dress rehearsal where every second counts. Your competition is a lot bigger, and for good reason. Prepare to spend your Saturday night from 9:30 to 1 am to hopefully get in.
Part 1: Thursday Morning
In order to prepare, make sure you have autofill on your device and a reliable internet connection to get the tickets as soon as they are out. You can only get 2 tickets per show, so make sure everyone in your party applies to improve your chances. The tickets will sell out in less than a minute, so every second counts! Try out this process on the show before yours to practice for the real deal.
Head to the link exactly at 10 am. If nothing shows up dont reload the page; it will take too long and sell out. Instead, quickly open another tab. You will be given the option of Dress or Live, so choose whichever you prefer. Fill out your information and make sure to select how many tickets you want. If you are too slow, they will notify you that there are no spots left. If you manage to make it through, however, it brings you to the confirmation page. Anytime from 10am to as late as 6 pm, you will receive your official standby number through your email between 1 and 300 that looks like this:
Many people do not end up showing up for Friday due to bad numbers or conflicting plans, so now is the best time to decide if you are ready to commit your next two nights to this. Typically, they let in the first 80 people for shows, so if your number is under, you have an almost guaranteed shot. If you are higher, do not worry, there is still a chance! My first time for the live show, I went from 285 to 106 Friday night due to no-shows.
What if I do not get a number?
If you did not get a number but still want to chance it, you can still line up in the standby line behind everyone who got a number. Just let the pages there know your intent and show up slightly early to scout your odds. Once it reaches 7 pm and they check IDs, if there are more than 100 people ahead of you, you should not attempt to stay the whole night.
Part 2: Friday Night
Those with standby reservation numbers must check in with an NBC Page outside on 49th Street near the NBC marquee between 6 and 7 p.m. Until 12:00 am, the concrete will be your home as you brave the outside for 6 hours. Make sure to bring any essentials like
a blanket, chair, powerbank, entertainment, and maybe finally that essay you have been needing to finish, as it will be hellish without it. Security and other participants are keeping track, so do not attempt to leave and come back later on. They allow reasonable bathroom breaks located inside Rockefeller Center and food breaks nearby, as long as you check in with them. Cast members and hosts have been known to buy food or hot chocolate for the guests waiting outside as well! Make sure you have your email confirmation ready, as well as any ID that has your date of birth (your Columbia ID will not count), as they check them at 7 pm. If the person who made the reservation is not there, your plus one is not able to claim your spot, counting as both of you forfeiting it.
Can I hitch a spot in line?
From what I have seen so far, there are no rules against it, and I have seen people get spots from this approach. If you plan to, also keep watch for the subreddit for that show to see if anyone is giving away their plus one spot.
Once you survive the 6 hours, you will receive a card at midnight that looks like this for your show with a corresponding number on the back for your new #. Make sure you do not lose this card, as you will not be able to get into the show without
it. Also, do not get too attached to it, as they will take it from you once you get into the actual show to keep count. Once you are free from the line, it is time to head back for some well-deserved rest. If you do not want to walk all the way to the 1 train late at night, you can take the B or D uptown to 59th and transfer to the 1 from there. Your new number after this will not change, so if you are above 80, stay optimistically cautious; if you are over 100, only go if you are willing to risk it.
Part 3: Saturday Night (The Main Event)
If you are going to the Dress Rehearsal you are expected to show up by 6:30; for the Live show, be there by 9:45. You get checked in once again by the NBC Pages right outside the NBC Giftshop door. Have your ticket as well as an ID ready again for checking. You then wait inside the store, where they line you up by 20 in each section. Do not try to show up super early, as you will be waiting in this room for up to 2 hours, so make sure your phone is fully charged! An hour in, they start sending people in groups of 10 for security. This does not mean you made it, but you are one step closer. Make sure you do not have any liquids,weapons, or anything that could get you in trouble, since they will be confiscated. They will then lead you up a stairway into the final trial.
Once you reach the circular room upstairs, they ask you to turn off and put away your phones. Many VIPs are in this room on the other end. I saw Daniel Kaluya the last time I went! The pages will start by handing out wristbands to every 10 people until a certain point, then they allot them depending on space availability. Once you have your wristband, you are guaranteed to be in the show! They take your group up one of the elevators and guide you into your new seat for the show.
The musical guest’s performance is on the far left of the stage layout, so the only time you will sadly not see them completely is if you are sitting on the far right end. They do have monitors, so you are not completely in the dark. The sets for the rest of the show will be all over the place, so any seat will deliver a great experience, and you are allowed to wave at the stars in between skits as long as it is respectful. Once the show is over, you exit back into the gift shop and receive a 10% off voucher on anything in the shop. Honestly, all that effort and waiting truly pays off the second the lights go down, and the musical act hits the stage. That live show makes every minute worth it! Good luck with getting through this rigorous—but free—experience, and enjoy seeing your favorite artists live!