How I Went to the Grammys for Free

A seat filler story, and what it taught me about access, etiquette, and the rooms everyone wonders about

Bringing a phone/camera into the Staples Center was against the rules, so I asked a woman sitting near me to take my photo and text it to me

People assume awards shows are only for celebrities, insiders, and the kind of people who have stylists on speed dial.

Sometimes they are.

But there is a quieter path into those rooms, and it’s one most people never hear about.

That path is seat filling.

I’m going to tell you exactly how it works, what it felt like, and what I learned. It actually has less to do with glamour than people think, and much more to do with being prepared, respectful, and paying attention to how the room actually functions.

How I got there

The way I found awards season wasn’t through Hollywood, at least not at first.

It started with my son’s love of animation.

That led me to the Annie Awards, which celebrate the animation industry, and take place at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus. The Annies are not the Oscars. I think of them the way I think of high school football compared to the Super Bowl.

And yet the energy is electric. More than a thousand people. A red carpet reception. An after-party on the lawn outside Royce Hall, a great venue. The kind of event where young talent gets their first taste of what awards season feels like, even as the industry itself has evolved from ink and paint to digital art.

That was my entry point. From there, I started attending more ceremonies.

In 2023, I attended the Producers Guild Awards at the Beverly Hilton and the Hollywood Critics Alliance Awards at the Beverly Wilshire. I walked the red carpet. I felt the buzz of being in the same room as people you’ve only seen on-screen.

That experience changes your perception of formal events. It makes you realize there is an entire layer of culture that is structured, rehearsed, and choreographed, even when it appears effortless on television.

Then the HCA Awards became the Astra Awards, and in December 2024, I attended again.

This time, I found myself mingling with celebrities and watching the next awards season begin to take shape.

But the real twist, and the reason you’re reading this, was seat filling.

What a seat filler actually does

A seat filler is part of the machinery of a televised awards show.

When a guest gets up to go to the restroom, walk backstage, or step out, their seat cannot sit empty on camera. So seat fillers are brought in to keep the room looking full.

The concept sounds glamorous. It is not glamorous in the traditional sense. It is disciplined. It is controlled. It is volunteer work. And it requires a very particular kind of awareness.

You are not there to be seen. You are there to support the show.

How I became a seat filler

A seat fillers organizer put out a call, and I responded.

They received around 20,000 applicants and selected about 400.

They were extremely organized, and I followed their instructions to the letter. Which parking garage. Which entrance. Where to meet. What time. What to do. What not to do.

That alone was a lesson: access often goes to people who are prepared and respectful, not necessarily the people who are loudest.

The job briefing (and the etiquette nobody talks about)

There was a briefing before the show, and it was one of the most useful etiquette lessons I’ve ever received.

We were told we might get to sit at a table near the front, but we were not to eat the food or drink the wine being served. It was not for us.

We were told not to tell someone we were their biggest fan because that puts them above you. Just smile and say hello, how are you?

We could not bring our cell phones. The organizers wanted to ensure we wouldn’t ask celebrities for selfies or disrupt guests.

This is not the kind of etiquette you read in a book. This is situational etiquette. The kind that keeps the room functioning.

What it was like inside the Grammys

The seat filler staff moved us around throughout the night as needed. During a commercial break, a staff member beckoned to me, and I jumped up quickly.

Almost too quickly.

I nearly tripped Trevor Noah as he barreled by.

In this photo I am seated on the main floor at the left

He said, “Oh, hello,” and I smiled and said hello back. And I was very glad I didn’t trip him.

Because that would have been a different kind of story.

Later, one of the staff told me to move into the tables near the front and pick an empty chair.

There was a table with nobody sitting at it, so I stood with my hand on the back of a chair, waiting.

And then something happened that still doesn’t feel real.

Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Credit: Stan Shields

Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter walked up and started talking to each other.

A photographer standing next to me asked them to pose for a photo. I was glad he took it, because it captured exactly what I was seeing, and there’s no way I could explain it otherwise.

Then Taylor Swift walked up.

I realized she would sit at that table.

And then a staff member tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to move to a different table.

Taylor Swift smiled at me. I smiled back. And I went to sit with Jaden and Willow Smith.

If you are wondering whether that kind of moment feels surreal, it does.

But what I remember most is not the celebrity proximity. It’s the choreography. The precision. The fact that this entire world runs on timing, coordination, and unspoken rules.

That's how I went to the Grammys for free.

Seat filling is an education in the room

I continued seat filling at AARP Movies for Grownups, where I had a prime view of the stage and later spotted myself on the PBS broadcast.

Again, it wasn’t just fun. It was instructive.

Seat filling taught me how to move in a formal space without even attempting to make the space about me. It taught me what it means to be gracious, discreet, and observant. It showed me how much of awards season is built on structure and professionalism, not just sparkle.

And it made me realize something I want you to know too.

These rooms are not unreachable.

They’re just unfamiliar.

Once you understand how they work, they become less intimidating, and much more interesting.

If you’re curious, here’s the takeaway

If you want to explore this world, seat filler organizations are one legitimate path. They are not guaranteed, and they require flexibility, professionalism, and a willingness to follow instructions.

But they exist.

And they are one of the reasons awards shows look the way they do on camera.

If you want a practical guide to doing this well, what to expect, what to wear, and how to handle the etiquette, tell me in the comments. I’ll gladly share what I’ve learned.

And yes, I’m still hoping for the Oscars someday.

But awards season has already given me something better than a dream. It’s given me a set of stories, and a perspective on formal events that I’ll be sharing all season.

Warmly,

Edie

The Gala Girl