Scoring a seat at a huge awards ceremony typically means you’re in a nominated project — or you’re attending as the partner or family member of someone who is. Yet there’s a behind-the-scenes group of everyday attendees who can end up inside the room without paying for a ticket.
These people are known as seat fillers, and their purpose is surprisingly simple: keep the camera-ready crowd looking full when celebrities step away from their places. If a star goes backstage, takes a bathroom break, or slips out to present an award, a seat filler quietly moves in so empty chairs don’t distract from the show.
Even though they’re meant to blend into the background, seat fillers have still had their moments in the spotlight — from Neil Patrick Harris roaming the aisle in 2015 to find one, to Amy Schumer accidentally confusing Kirsten Dunst for a seat filler during the 2022 ceremony.
It might sound like a dream gig for anyone who loves film, pop culture, or simply the novelty of being in the room. But according to a former seat filler, the role comes with strict guidelines — including one rule that feels like it has “Hunger Games vibes.”
Sharing his experience from this year’s Grammy Awards with People, Arjun Manjunath also outlined five key rules seat fillers were expected to follow.
1) You cover your own costs
Despite being there in an official capacity, seat fillers aren’t treated to a free trip. Manjunath said volunteers are responsible for everything from travel and accommodation to sourcing an outfit that meets the event’s standards.
The commitment can be intense, too: he described long stretches on site and the possibility of being called up with little warning. Still, he said: “Any opportunity that arises like this, I will jump at it. I will free my schedule if it’s something like this.”
2) No phones allowed
A major part of staying “invisible” is remaining off your device. Seat fillers are not permitted to keep their phones with them, reducing the risk of photos, videos, or attention-grabbing behaviour.
Manjunath said the Grammys required volunteers to hand over their phones in the afternoon, only getting them back once the ceremony ended later that night.
3) No eating during the day
One of the toughest restrictions was food. Manjunath said seat fillers were told not to eat throughout the day, with water being the only allowed drink — and were advised to eat heavily beforehand.
The reason is straightforward: the food laid out at celebrity tables isn’t for non-invited guests, and organisers don’t want seat fillers grazing on what’s been provided for the stars.
Manjunath said: “They tell you that it’s very strict that you’re not allowed to eat any of the food — anything that’s on the table.”
4) Dress codes are non-negotiable
Even though they’re not the headliners, seat fillers must still match the look of the room. Manjunath noted that women are generally instructed to wear darker colours and choose outfits that are formal without being overly flashy, such as a restrained evening dress or a formal pantsuit.
Men, meanwhile, are expected to wear a dark suit or a full tuxedo, depending on the event’s exact requirements.
5) Don’t approach celebrities
Finally, the rule designed to keep the atmosphere calm: seat fillers cannot start conversations with the famous people seated near them. The idea is to avoid adding pressure or creating awkward moments for nominees and performers.
Manjunath explained: “You can’t talk to them unless they talk to you first — only organic interactions. It was very dystopian. Very Hunger Games vibes.”
In other words, you may be in the room — but you’re there to be seen as little as possible.