Strictly Tickets

[Howyoudoin]

Found out this morning that i've been lucky enough to get tickets to see Strictly on Sat 23 November! Yay.

However, once i'd gone to the 'print tickets' section and seen the big bold print at the bottom saying "THIS TICKET DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION" I thought, "Eh?"

Seems that they have a few million applicants each week for 450 tickets, and they send 'Congratulaions' emals to approx 1,000 lucky winners. That still means that the chances of someone 'winning' is slim. So I should be very happy right?

Well, because of the 'not guaranteed admission' message above, I decided to look into it. And I didn't like what I found.

This is one post of 1,000s on the TripAdvisor site about the Strictly experience. It should be said that most posts are positive. But almost all posts have the same caveat . . . be willing to queue for 7 hours+. And that's if you have a ticket!!!

TripAdvisor Review:

Strictly! Mixed feelings.

9 years of applying for strictly tickets, in my name, the wife's & daughters. And finally I recieved an e-mail congratulating me that I'd been successful for the live show on 12/10/19 (wk4) from the 4.5 million that had applied.

So excited & quick to print the tickets off and hold them, only to read at the very bottom of this so called ticket, "THIS TICKET DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION."

Panic & confusion set in and so the research began.

VALIDATION!!!!

simply means, 1st come, 1st served. They over subscribe tickets in hopes of a full crowd. To ensure the best seats, you need to be between #1 & 25 in the que. This will mean you get to have a sleep over, yeah!!! On our occasions #1&2 in the que arrived at 8:30pm Friday with a tent and sleeping bags, and so had many others.

Me & the wife Stayed at the premier inn (15 mins steady walk) book a taxi for the live show though to take you there. Up at 5am, in the vast que by 5:35am Saturday morning in the cold pouring rain (take chairs & umbrellas & hot drinks) to validate our tickets at the recommend time of 9am. There's no cover, toilets or seats, your open to the elements on a path in a park. We finally had our tickets validated at 9:30am (Do not forget id & 1 id must match address on the ticket or you will be refused) and issued a sticker. We was #163 &164 in the que.

We was told to return for the show at 3:15pm. Queued again, same place as in the morning for further 35mins whilest been slowly herded through security & into a holding marquee.

Limited seating in marquee (grab a chair asap) and we was held in there for nearly an hour before being called through (in order of sticker #). Toilets outside & refreshments available only before your called in main studio!

Escorted to our seats (it was a bloody bench with lame padding) on the balcony directly opposite the judges. The steward gave us strict instructions of "do's & don't" (mostly don't). NO standing while filming and such is in progress on the balconies, no joining in with standing ovations. Your packed in like sardines, shoulder to shoulder, butt to butt. It becomes very very hot, so dress according, some ppl started feeling I'll due to the heat caused by vast lights, ppl & the amounts of clapping & cheering your expected to do.

Filming started at 5ish & finished just after 11pm. Long long session with only 1 break for around 20mins. Many ppl complained of sore butts, backs & legs, mainly the elderly. You are allowed a bottle of water to take in, and during the break they came around with a can of water & a biscuit.

The filming is fascinating & the cast are amazing. To see it all live is a must!

It's just all the queuing & hanging around, sitting on uncomfortable benches for 6 hours ruins it for many.

So so many like me! Said after the show had finished, "glad we came & experienced it, but never again.

Your patience is worn down by the bloody silly fact that you're having to get up at "silly O'clock" to validate a ticket.

Come on BBC, Sort that part out!!!!


I think i'll swerve that whole 'experience'.

[nimnarb]

No way would i go through that palava.

[Peltiq]

The thought of watching it on TV is bad enough. I would never in a million years waste several hours of my life watching it in a television studio, let alone pay for the privilege.

Some people are easily amused!

Karen

[Howyoudoin]

The thought of watching it on TV is bad enough. I would never in a million years waste several hours of my life watching it in a television studio, let alone pay for the privilege.

Some people are easily amused!

Karen

You don't have to pay for the tickets. You just need to be 'lucky' in the ballot that millions of people enter every week, without knowing the hoops they will need to jump through to sit in the studio if successful.

HYD

[kiloran]

You don't have to pay for the tickets. You just need to be 'lucky' in the ballot that millions of people enter every week, without knowing the hoops they will need to jump through to sit in the studio if successful.

HYD

I'm not a Strictly fan, and I know it's a popular show, but I just can't believe that millions of people apply for tickets each week. I think the viewing figures are around 8m, but surely relatively few of those live somewhere near the studios and could actually be bothered to go. I can only think that those who seriously want to go are putting in multiple requests.

--kiloran

[Howyoudoin]

You don't have to pay for the tickets. You just need to be 'lucky' in the ballot that millions of people enter every week, without knowing the hoops they will need to jump through to sit in the studio if successful.

HYD

I'm not a Strictly fan, and I know it's a popular show, but I just can't believe that millions of people apply for tickets each week. I think the viewing figures are around 8m, but surely relatively few of those live somewhere near the studios and could actually be bothered to go. I can only think that those who seriously want to go are putting in multiple requests.

--kiloran

If something is free and popular, then people will apply for it. I don't doubt that those who want to go put in multiple requests. I use two email addresses (work and home) and the person in the TripAdvisor post above uses three.

According to this link there were over 5 million applications for tickets in 2015 but that was over the whole series. https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/stric ... tails.html

HYD

[Gaggsy]

If it's the experience of seeing the filming process, the studio, the cast etc then there are lots of alternative shows you can get free tickets for which are much easier to get and to get to.

I've been to see Pointless (twice), Would I Lie To You, The Graham Norton Show, and I think a few others I can't remember off hand.

There was one where we missed the cut - the people in front of us were the last ones let in. Quite disappointing but they gave us priority tickets for another show of our choice. That gave us a guarantee of getting in.

Quite often for new shows, they need to drum up an audience and so offer priority tickets just for attending. Meaning you can then go and see a more established show later with a guarantee of getting in.

We've enjoyed all the recordings we've attended. Graham Norton was great entertainment (Ricky Gervais was a guest and very funny) and ran just like you see on the TV with few cuts and retakes. Would I Lie to You was absolutely hilarious and went on much longer than we expected and with a lot more swearing! How they manage to edit it down to 25 minutes I don't know.

Get tickets from www.sroaudiences.com (Standing Room Only Audiences) - it's worth it.