OTL Seat Fillers logo in a spotlight with two gold tickets on an empty theater floor, text reads 'Celebrate Entertainment.'
OTL Seat Fillers logo in a spotlight with two gold tickets on an empty theater floor, text reads 'Celebrate Entertainment.'
Smiling audience members enjoying a live show, representing OTL Seat Fillers' 'Enjoy Entertainment' section.
Musician performing on stage with an electric guitar, representing OTL Spotlight's 'Follow Entertainment' section.
Collage of entertainment-inspired apparel and accessories, representing the 'Wear Entertainment' section for Echoes & Spotlights on seatfillershop.com.
Gift boxes wrapped in gold ribbon, representing the 'Share Entertainment' section for Seat Filler Gifts
A sign with the OTL logo and OTLSeatFillers.com on it.

About OTL Seat Fillers

If you love theatre, comedy shows, and other live events, you'll love OTL. On Tuesday, you might not have any plans for the weekend. But on Wednesday, a private invitation to a new play in town comes out of the blue. It's fun and full of surprises!

You never pay for tickets or those crazy ticket fees

  • Join with a 2-seat or 4-seat (cancel anytime) plan starting at just 3.65 a month.
  • When an entertainment partner (theatre, comedy club, music venue, etc.) anticipates having some open seats, they privately invite OTL seat fillers to fill them.
  • OTL will alert you when tickets are available in your area.
  • Make your reservations in the OTL VIP area.
  • Pick up your complimentary tickets at the box office right before showtime.

Reviews & Testimonials

"My wife and I love being seat fillers! We get out of the house so much more and it's so cool to be able to reserve free tickets to such great shows that we might not have attended without OTL!"

C.R., Atlanta Seat Filler

"It takes a little patience because shows aren't always available in your city. But when they are, just one event can pay for an entire year of membership."

S.C., Miami Seat Filler

"I love working with OTL. The ticket process is easy and the audiences they send our way keep coming back. They are a valuable part of the arts community in Austin."

Austin Entertainment Partner

Because we can't publicize our list of partners so we don't impact their ticket sales, the only people who know about OTL are actual members. Check out more of their reviews and testimonials...

Latest Blog Posts

A theater audience enjoying a live performance on a brightly lit stage while a stack of phones, TVs, and computers sits off to the side, symbolizing technology being ignored so the audience can see a show without distraction.

See a Show – No Streaming Required!

Don't Hesitate To See a Show Live Shows Are More Affordable With a Few Tips and Tricks by Lu Ann Wall, OTL Seat Fillers See a show?! Streaming platforms have made it easier and more affordable than ever to watch ...

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A colorful immersive experience with glowing neon lights, interactive displays, and people enjoying a futuristic, multi-sensory environment depicting seat filling for immersive experience through OTL Seat Fillers

Seat Filling for Immersive Experiences: A Win-Win for Venues and Attendees

Seat Filling for Immersive Experiences A Win-Win for Venues and Attendees - No Seats Required! by OTL Staff Writer Immersive experiences have taken the entertainment world by storm, offering audiences an unparalleled opportunity to engage with stories, environments, and themes ...

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A diverse group of people, including younger and older individuals, standing together with colorful question marks floating around them on a lively, abstract background, symbolizing curiosity and discovery.

What Does a Seat Filler Do?

Are You Curious? by Lu Ann Wall, OTL Seat Fillers More than a decade ago, my family and I started OTL Seat Fillers with the simple idea of connecting people with incredible local entertainment. Over the years, we’ve seen how ...

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Illustration of a podcast tour with a host on stage holding a microphone and an engaged audience clapping and smiling in a vibrant theater setting.

Extend Your Signal: Seat Filling for Podcast Tours

Extend Your Signal: Seat Filling for Podcast Tours It's Fresh! It's Effective! by Lu Ann Wall, OTL Seat Fillers & Spotlight Adam Curry, often called the 'Podfather,' helped popularize podcasting with The Daily Source Code, one of the earliest and ...

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Frequently Asked Questions About OTL Seat Fillers

What Is OTL Seat Fillers and Local Seat Filling?

OTL is a seat-fillers club (a VIP Squad) - not a ticket broker. Seat Fillers pay very low monthly dues for the opportunity to reserve free pairs of tickets to shows and events, like plays, musicals, comedy shows, etc. It’s a collective of people who love live entertainment but aren’t looking to shop for just one night. That's because part of the fun is anticipating something new out of the blue and knowing you can attend without paying for tickets (whether they cost 5.00, 20.00, or even 100.00!)

How Much Does It Cost To Be a Local Seat Filler?

Local seat fillers don't pay anything for tickets. They're always on the comp list through low monthly all-inclusive seat-filling plans. OTL Preferred members (in the eight busiest cities) pay an average of $11.99 monthly for two seats per show. There's also a four-seat membership and a discounted plan for seniors, military, first responders, and teachers.

OTL On-Call is just $3.65 a month and OTL in London is £3.65. Seat-filling plans cover all tickets - seat fillers don't pay for anything beyond their dues and can cancel anytime.

Is OTL Seat Fillers (Local Seat Filling) Where I Live?

OTL Seat Fillers has a handful of preferred US locations, which are the busiest. Preferred cities are Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The rest of the US is covered by OTL On-Call, which allows everyone to participate. On-Call cities (Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh, Seattle, St. Louis, South Florida, and Tampa Bay) aren't as busy as preferred. However, as interest grows, the club will focus on creating new partnerships in those areas.

Additionally, OTL Seat Fillers are in London with fringe theatre seat filling, aka "non-west end" shows.

What Kinds of Shows and Events Do Local Seat Fillers Attend?

While OTL Seat Fillers has more theatre partners providing tickets to plays and musicals than anything else, opportunities are all across the board. Over the years, local seat fillers have attended comedy shows, smaller concerts, sports, dance, opera, symphony, burlesque, classes, lectures, escape rooms, conferences, and more. Part of the fun of OTL and local seat-filling is participants never know what could pop up at any time.

How Do Event Promoters Request Local Seat Fillers?

Community seat filling is a free service offered to OTL's event partners. It's a private and easy way to fill seats and introduce new patrons to shows and events. OTL has an event promoter page and online submission form to make things easy. But regular partners just shoot OTL an email when they have tickets to offer - no forms needed.

Why Would Venues Give Free Tickets to Local Seat Fillers (aka OTL Seat Fillers)?

There are different reasons why venues and organizations partner with OTL Seat Fillers, offering free admission. Some need seats filled and appreciate the additional food and beverage income that comes with a larger audience. Comedy clubs are ideal partners, as larger crowds are better for everyone. Festivals might have endless space and appreciate the opportunity to showcase their event to new patrons.

But one of the top reasons the OTL concept works is a little policy called “privacy to shows.” OTL doesn’t publicize the names of its entertainment partners so that their regular ticket sales aren’t impacted. It’s free partnership marketing and a win-win for everyone!

How Are Seat Filler Tickets Distributed?

This is a question for both seat fillers and OTL partners, and the answer is simple - venues distribute their tickets. Seat fillers make online reservations, and OTL sends the will-call list to the venue on the afternoon of the performance. Members pick their tickets up at the box office (or other designated locations) just before showtime.

Is There Anything Else I Should Know About OTL Seat Fillers and Local Seat Filling?

Yes. OTL is family-run and likes to keep everything positive and upbeat. After all, entertainment is an escape from our to-dos and must-dos. So, we want to make sure that all new members fully understand that OTL is a collective of eventgoers who are passionate about live entertainment and not a ticket broker. There will be many times when shows and events aren't available in a given city. But part of the fun is seeing what pops up out of the blue and having plans without worrying about ticket costs.

Is Seat Filling Appropriate for Families?

Yes and no. Well, it really depends on the show. Some shows and events are 100% family-friendly, while others (comedy, burlesque, etc.) are for adults. All event postings include age ranges and we also throw in attire recommendations, too. If you are interested in family tickets, OTL offers a 4-seat plan. It's so affordable that even if you don't reserve four tickets consistently, you still save a TON on entertainment!