The first time I saw Saturday Night Live (SNL) on TV was in 1978. TV was very different then. I lived in a small Saskatchewan town with no cable service, only CBC North providing news, hockey and Canadian comedy and drama options.
That year, I vacationed in Honolulu. Saturday night of vacation week, I decided to enjoy hotel cable-vision. What appeared to be a newscast popped on, a newscast with a laugh track. The anchor people were dressed appropriately, discussing current events, but making jokes. A commercial transition screen eventually displayed the show’s name: NBC’s Saturday Night Live. I watched and was hooked.
Through the next 30 years I remained an SNL fan. I read that NBC held a lottery each August for tickets. Starting in 2010, I entered annually.
Finally, on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, there it was – an email from SNLticketing@nbcuni.com. The tickets were for Sept. 30, opening night of the 2017/18 season with Ryan Gosling hosting and musical guest Jay-Z. Also, a mere six days away. Logistics: it takes a day to fly to the East Coast. That means departing Vancouver Friday. SNL ends at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Likely not going to feel like flying home that day, so Monday flights home and off work until Tuesday.
I shared what I hoped was good news about “free” SNL tickets with my husband. He smiled as he does when I want to go somewhere: “Of course we can go, if you really want to.” I phoned the NBC number to confirm.
A few computer clicks later we had flight and hotel confirmations. The following days were a blur of getting organized. A sleepless Thursday night, a 3 a.m. Friday airport shuttle, two flights and six hours later, the Manhattan skyline appeared outside our jet window.
We arrived at our Manhattan hotel Friday at 8:30 p.m. With no sleep the night before and a day of travel, I needed to crash. Asleep by 10 p.m., we awoke Saturday at 4 a.m. In-room coffee was a godsend. We scanned tourist brochures, making plans for the day, then headed to Central Park. Late September weather was perfect to circumnavigate this must-see location on rented bikes. Later, we walked to Carnegie Hall and Times Square.
Restaurant meals in Manhattan are amazing, but pricey. We discovered that eating in bars during Happy Hour meant equally good food and reasonably priced drinks. For $90 US, we had drinks, a beautiful four-course Italian meal and great conversation with the staff before going back to our room to get ready for the 10 p.m. SNL admission.
We dressed in business casual attire and walked 11 blocks to 30 Rock by 9:30 p.m. Twenty-some other ticket lottery winners were already there. Within seconds an NBC page checked emails and picture IDs.
More ID and email checks, a trip through a metal detector and we reached the ticket desk. Wrist bands were affixed, and we were handed two tickets in an envelope with a random number. We were directed to the Peacock Lounge with huge video screens showing SNL skits. About 150 others joined us there. At 10:15 p.m., seating was announced by our envelope numbers.
We were among the last to be seated in famous Studio 8H. They take your tickets. Your only souvenirs are your wristbands and envelope. We got good seats: second row, balcony stage left, with a side view of the main stage (with the SNL Band, and where the monologue and Weekend Update are performed) and an unobstructed view of the musical guests’ stage. The SNL band played throughout the seating process.
Standbys were seated next, in the row behind us and the far left wing. Maybe 30 got in. These people waited at the entrance and were escorted in about four at a time. When all seats were filled, the page doing seating gave the door staff the cut-off sign. Those still at the door saw it close in front of them.
Michael Che came on stage and did stand up, sprinkled with the normal MC announcements about emergency exits, no photos, etc. He introduced Keenan Thompson, who sang a rockin’ rendition of Gimme Some Lovin’, backed up by Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon and Melissa Viasenior. The women wore sequined black mini-dresses and had wicked dance moves. Then the stage crew started assembling the Oval Office set. I knew Alec Baldwin was there. At the end of the opening skit, he shouted the phrase I was waiting for: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
The 90-minute show whizzed past. One of the most interesting parts was the commercial breaks, with crew zipping about, changing sets. Another surprising thing was the host’s handler. After each skit involving host Ryan Gosling, the same staffer ran up and grabbed him by the arm and shuttled him where he needed to be.
Attending SNL is well worth whatever it takes. Our impromptu three day vacation to New York cost $2,000, and that was with points airfare and one free hotel night. Want to go? Here’s my advice:
Enter the ticket lottery by emailing snltickets@nbcuni.com, once, every August. NBC states multiple entries from one email address are rejected. Make sure the name you use in your email request matches your ID. Watch your email, but be prepared to wait for years.
Keep your passport current and save travel loyalty points. Tickets awards are date specific. Requests to change dates are not accommodated. If you do win, you could receive very little notice of your show date.
Obey SNL’s rules!
Must be over 16 years of age to attend.
Arrive by the specified time; if you’re late, your seat goes to a standby.
Take a small purse and don’t shop en route to the show. If you are carrying large bags, you either lose them or lose your seat.
No food, drink or photos allowed! I would have loved a picture of us in Studio 8H, but not enough to risk losing our seats. Glad we had a big dinner, as the check-in process and show takes four hours.
New York can be a pricey place, with the added cost of US exchange. Street vendors, take out and Happy Hour eats can save dollars. Ditto for coffee or drinks in your room.
NYC is a walking friendly city. The famous taxicabs are available, but sensible shoes and some study of the transit system can get you just about anywhere, including between Manhattan and the airports.
Groupon or LivingSocial deals can save you on meals and activities. Be aware of locations (NYC is a huge area) and other restrictions. CityPass or NYC Go-Card can be money savers, if you have the time and interest to use most of the tickets included.
Save where you can and splurge elsewhere, because you will want to!
