Earlier this summer I found out that through my Chase Ultimate Rewards, the by-product of having a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, that I could buy tickets to sit on the red carpet of the Emmy Awards for $150. The Emmys just so happened to be occurring on the exact Sunday I was going to be in L.A. visiting my friend Meagan, and since I could buy two tickets, we made plans to go.

It was quite the process let me tell you. After buying tickets we had to undergo background checks, then RSVP, then get our official tickets and parking pass, all before even making it to the event itself. We were told not to wear black, white, or vertical stripes. Also no clothing with any branding on it.

Neither of us quite knew what to expect, but we were a bit surprised when we were told to meet at the parking garage at 930am. Wait…the Emmys don’t start until 5pm. Sooo why are we here so early?

Regardless, we show up when we’re supposed to, not wearing black, white, or vertical stripes, bags packed with snacks, and all sunscreened up. What do we see when we get there? Lots of people wearing black, white, and vertical stripes. I think one person was even wearing black and white vertical stripes. Rebels.

We were greeted by Emmy staff members, who told us we were to go into the ‘special line’ because we were Chase Ultimate Experience members. Fancy.

We were placed in the very short line, and when we finally got moving towards the Microsoft Theatre, about an hour later, we were given two full goodie bags of swag, then ushered into the first row!

After looking through our swag bags, which contained some snacks, a Nalgene bottle, a magazine, phone charger, make up, a t-shirt, and a seat cushion, it was about 11am. At which time we realized this was going to be a very long day.

The Emmy Awards start at 5pm, which means the red carpet would start up around 230pm (actually it was more like 330pm). Also it was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so while there was a sheer ‘covering’ over us, it was hot as hell sitting there for so long.

Sweat was pouring off us and we had to be on camera for multiple things throughout the morning. There was FoxSports going on off to our left, giving constant highlights of Sunday football games, we had E!News going on in front of us (we literally had a staff member sitting in the stands directing us when to clap, cheer, ooo and ahh), then EXTRA came over to shoot some B-roll for their own programs, and we had marketing people seemingly constantly asking us to take pictures with their merchandise. I posed for a picture with a half-eaten McMuffin, a ThinkThin protein bar, and a McCafe iced coffee. Nothing is truly free I suppose!

While it was interesting to see behind the scenes of a huge awards show production like the Emmys, after sitting there for hours in the heat it was getting a bit old. We were given catering from Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant nearby, but the heat unfortunately killed our appetites.

FINALLY, after sitting there for a good 4-5 hours, actors started arriving. Now the people around us were very nice, and we’d even make friends with the girls sitting next to us, but when celebrities started showing up? People started LOSING THEIR MINDS. Especially the girls sitting behind us.

It was incredibly awkward, and all we could really do was laugh. I mean, it really was hysterical in a slightly mortifying way. At least both Meagan and I were on the same page a.k.a. not on the celebrity worship train. There was so much screaming, and shrieking, and ‘OMG I LOVE YOUUUUUU’. The actors were great sports about it though.

Some of them played it up to the camera

Some got a bit sassy

But overall, they were just a bunch of GORGEOUS human beings.

The best moment of the afternoon was definitely when Meagan saw Zachary Levi and yelled ‘NERD HQ’! He got super excited and came over to give her a high five.

Though even they were feeling the brutality of the L.A. heat that day. I saw lots of them with spray fans, and a few even stopped to ask us if they were providing us with enough water. So sweet.

Our favorite people, however, were definitely the group of older ladies just down the row from us. They would loudly yell at the actors to stop so they could take a picture, thank them, then turn to us and ask who the actor was. Almost every single time. It was hilarious.

Thought to be fair, Meagan and I had a bit of the same problem. There were quite a few people that we were like ‘Ummmm….ahhhhh…urrrrrrr….have a good evening?’ We joked that everyone should have signs with their names and the show they’re affiliated with.

Then it was 5pm and the Emmys started, so we were finally released!

It was an incredibly long, hot, and tiring day, and while it was fun, it was definitely a ‘I did it once and probably never again’ type of experience. We can say we did it, and we have some fun stories to tell from it, but I don’t think I’ll be putting myself through that kind of day again.

Have you ever been a part of a similar event? Have a different experience than us?

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