If you want to know what's better than cheap tickets, ask a seat filler and they'll tell you (or read this, and I will too!).

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What Do YOU Think is Better Than Cheap Tickets?

by Lu, OTL City Guides & Seat Fillers

If I ask you, “what’s better than cheap tickets?” how would you answer?

My guess is that you’d say “free tickets.”

Ding, ding, ding – that’s the correct answer. And, do you know that free tickets are on the table? Seat fillers don’t receive cheap tickets. Instead, they receive free admission.

I wanted to take a bit of virtual real estate to fill you in on how seat filling works and how OTL Seat Fillers receive not just one but also pairs of free tickets.

When things sound too good to be true, they usually are, but not in this case. So, I hope you’ll read through the following questions to see how 100% complimentary is possible and, oh so much better than cheap tickets!

What is OTL Seat Fillers?

OTL Seat Fillers is a free tickets club that partners with arts and entertainment communities across the United States and in London. Venues receive private seat filling, and members receive private invites and access to all kinds of shows, events, and activities.

Who can be a Seat Filler?

The new community seat filling concept extends to everyone 18 and over across the US and London.

You say that seat filling opportunities are better than cheap tickets. How?

OTL Seat Fillers and other community seat fillers, like members of SeatStir and PlugIn Vegas, never pay admission. Instead, event promoters provide complimentary tickets in exchange for members privately filling those seats.

Free Tickets, Not Cheap Tickets, What’s the Catch?

There are three catches, but seat fillers don’t seem to mind.

1. The first is that OTL is a membership club and, as such, charges membership dues. However, monthly dues are incredibly affordable in the $10 to $15 range (£4 to £6 monthly in London). Dues cover all tickets (2 or 4 per show depending on the plan).

2. Another catch is that members must attend everything for which they make a reservation. OTL’s partners count on the seats being filled.

3. OTL isn’t offering paid tickets or even cheap tickets. It’s not a ticket broker. So, there’s no guarantee as to how many shows are posted monthly. One day there might be nothing available, and the next day a particular city might have three different events from which to select.

Why would a venue offer free tickets (instead of cheap tickets) to OTL Seat Fillers?

There are many ways to purchase full-price or cheap tickets, but the seat filling concept is different. When a promoter or box office manager can tell that there will be some open seats for select performances, it makes sense to turn to seat fillers.

OTL privately posts the show and builds a will-call list for the venue (all at no cost). Members who attend typically purchase concessions, pay for parking, or buy merchandise. So, it’s a win-win.

How do OTL Seat Fillers pick up their tickets?

OTL Seat Fillers make their reservation from within the private members-only area. But the venues distribute their own tickets.

So OTL members stop by the Box Office (or other designated location) right before the show. They present their identification and then receive their tix just like paying patrons.

Do seat fillers sit with their family and friends?

Yes. Today’s community seat fillers aren’t like award show seat fillers. Their party is seated together, and they’re there to enjoy the show – not move around from place to place.

• OTL Seat Fillers Memberships
• Seat Filling for Event Promoters
• OTL City Guides
• Event Calendars on OTL City Guides

Where Can I Find Cheap Tickets?

While you’ll only find free tickets as an OTL Seat Filler, there are plenty of places to purchase some cheap tickets to shows in your area.

One place to start is the event calendar on OTL City Guides. You’ll find a nationwide US events calendar and a UK version, both powered by Evvnt, that’ll lead you to inexpensive tickets.

Another suggestion is to visit a site like Brown Paper Tickets. It’s an excellent resource for smaller community shows, events, and activities.

How Can I Get in on Seat Filler Tickets?

If you enjoy live shows and events and want to take advantage of complimentary admission, you can join a free tickets club.

OTL Seat Fillers covers London and many major markets across the US. Plugin Vegas is the go-to for Las Vegas residents. And, if you live in Baltimore/DC, Cleveland, Minneapolis, NY/NYC, Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh, you’ll want to check out Seat Stir.