September 17, 2018
I’ve been lucky enough to get to sit in the bleachers of the Primetime Emmy’s red carpet. It was a very hot September day in downtown Los Angeles when I was in the bleachers for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards. The staff for the bleachers made sure to have water available for us to drink to stay hydrated in the intense heat. The bleachers are also partially shaded so most of us aren’t in the direct sunlight.
If you ever get the chance to sit in the bleacher for the Emmy’s be sure to bring a small handheld fan and a phone charger or two. They only allowed us to bring a small clutch or a medium sized clear bag, and no “professional” cameras. If the lens can be removed, they consider that a “professional” camera. Some fixed lens non-SLR cameras they didn’t allow, either, but there’s some inconsistency there. I apologize in advance as I only had my older model smartphone to take photos with.
It can be very slow for about an hour or so once you are seated in the bleachers, and I highly suggest charging your phone and not using it during this lull. You are given a swag bag when you arrive at the bleachers which usually contains a People Magazine as they are usually one of the sponsors for the bleachers experience so you’ll have something to read. There will also be a camera crew or two filming the fans in the bleachers, often asking you to hold up a particular item from your swag bag for the sponsors or to just stand up and cheer excitedly for the cameras.
The bleachers are situated at the end of the red carpet so you are seeing the celebrities just before they enter the venue. It will start as a trickle, then it gets really crazy about thirty minutes before the telecast is scheduled to begin. Quite a few celebrities will wave and say hi to the fans when the fans start screaming their names. If it’s not during the rush, many celebrities will stop and say hi. Selfies are difficult because the bleachers are set quite high up. Some of the celebrities are willing (this was pre-COVID) to take your phone and do a selfie to get you in the background. I really enjoy watching the celebrities meet the people they are fans of. At this show the Queer Eye guys were really excited to meet Sandra Oh who was there with her parents, and they all took a photo together. It was great to watch them, and I don’t think Sandra Oh’s parents had any clue who these men were.
Fandom Ventures 