Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2016 January 19

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January 19

Do you have to purchase a ticket to attend the Oscar ceremonies?

I just saw this video: [1]. It says that the price of an Oscar ticket is $750. Can that be true? People who attend have to actually pay? Does anyone know how that works? I assume nominees attend for free? And they are "allowed" a certain number of guests? So, who is paying? Regular people from the public who want to attend? Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 18:39, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

I feel like a question just like this was asked at some point in the past. If I remember correctly, someone said that the ticket prices may be paid for by the production companies as a marketing expense and thus it compels the stars to attend if they otherwise wouldn't. But don't take my word for it, check the archives... And also, if you want to see the Oscars in person, think about becoming a seat filler (Yes, it's a real thing but the article needs some work). Dismas|^(talk) 22:25, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

(Or consider boycotting it due to the lack of diversity from the nomination process.) ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:35, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

The question seemed familiar to me as well Dismas. So a little digging in the dusty archives brought up this thread from 11 months ago Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2015 February 19#Can people purchase tickets to attend the Academy Awards .28Oscars.29 ceremony.3F. MarnetteD|Talk 23:41, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

Thanks, MarnetteD. It's interesting that Joseph A. Spadaro didn't remember his own question. Dismas|^(talk) 00:26, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

That was my question? Wow. Short attention span here, I guess? Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 00:56, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

And, in looking back at that old thread, it seems like the main question was never really answered. The discussion simply went off on a few tangents. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 01:01, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

According to this article from the New York Post (2/18/2015), there is a charge for tickets, which typically is paid by the studio: "Unless you are an Academy member or close to one, you have almost no shot at purchasing a seat. Each of the studios gets an allocation of tickets for the awards show held at the Dolby Theatre — which seats 3,400 people. The studios still have to pay for the tickets, however, and insiders say the prices went up for the first time in years. The best seats — orchestra, parterre and Mezzanine 1 — sell for $750 a pop. Mezzanine 2 spots cost $375. The nosebleed seats on the top level go for $150." John M Baker (talk) 15:32, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

Thanks, all. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 17:35, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

Resolved