5 Rules You Didn’t Know Awards Show Seat Fillers Have to Follow (Exclusive)

Luke ChinmanFri, March 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM UTC

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Credit: Arjun Manjunath

When you look out into the audience of a major awards show, packed in alongside some of the starriest names in Hollywood are seat fillers: an exclusive group of everyday people who spend the evening occupying the chairs of A-listers while they have to step away for a bathroom break or to present on stage.

Though they are supposed to remain anonymous, a handful got a moment to shine during the Academy Awards’ live broadcast in 2015, when host Neil Patrick Harris spent a few minutes wandering the aisle in search of seat fillers in the audience to chat with.

And, of course, seat fillers made headlines during an infamous 2022 Oscars joke where host Amy Schumer pretended to think that Kristen Dunst was one — and not an actress nominated for her performance in The Power of the Dog that very night. (After receiving backlash, Schumer said in a statement that it was a “choreographed bit” and that she would “never disrespect” Dunst.)

Ahead of the 2026 Oscars, PEOPLE caught up with Arjun Manjunath — a 22-year-old content creator from Pittsburgh, Pa., and a seat filler at the Grammy Awards in February — who shares the five rules you might not realize about being a seat filler for a major awards show.

Seat fillers must pay for their own travel and accommodations

Credit: Arjun Manjunath

Though coveted, the seat filler position is entirely volunteer, meaning they are not compensated for the upwards of 10 hours they’re expected to work, and they have to cover the costs of travel and accommodations themselves.

For Manjunath, a full-time influencer, the costs to fly to Los Angeles for the Grammys with mere weeks of notice were not going to stop him, since the entire experience would make for great social media content.

“Any opportunity that arises like this, I will jump at it,” he tells PEOPLE. “I will free my schedule if it's something like this.”

Seat fillers can’t have their phone during the ceremony

Seat filler check inCredit: Arjun Manjunath

For seat fillers, there is a strict no-phone policy.

When seat fillers for the Grammys checked in at the Los Angeles Convention Center in the afternoon before the ceremony began, they had to give up their phone and couldn’t get them back until the ceremony was over.

This means that seat fillers can’t take pictures — both of themselves and of the ceremony itself — though Manjunath says he convinced a non-seat filler he met to take a picture of him in front of the Grammys stage and text it to him later.

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Seat fillers can’t eat or drink during the ceremony

Arjun ManjunathCredit: Sophie Hosna

Seat fillers have to give up more than their phones while on the job: Manjuath says that, while working the Grammys, he was not allowed to have any food or beverages, aside from water.

“They give you a warning,” he tells PEOPLE. “They’re like, ‘Load up on breakfast.’ ”

This was especially emphasized for seat fillers who travel down to the floor of the arena, where some of the biggest names are seated by the stage: “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,” says Manjuath.

Seat fillers must follow a strict dress code

Arjun ManjunathCredit: Sophie Hosna

The dress code for seat fillers is formal, and those who do not follow the dress code will be denied entrance.

Female seat fillers were expected to wear dresses that are “formal but not overdone” in dark colors or a formal pantsuit, says Manjuath, reading from an email he received ahead of the show. Male seat fillers had to wear a black or dark blue suit or tuxedo with a jacket and tie. (For Manjuath, it meant wearing his first tux since his prom night!)

“They were very, very specific in instructions,” says Manjuath. “They’re like, ‘We’ve had this happen in the past — please don’t do this.’ ”

Seat fillers cannot interact with celebrities unless the celebrity initiates the interaction

Arjun ManjunathCredit: Sophie Hosna

While the position gets them inside one of the starriest rooms in Hollywood, seat fillers are not supposed to approach A-list talent for a conversation.

“You can't talk to them unless they talk to you first — only organic interactions,” says Manjuath. “It was very dystopian. Very Hunger Games vibes.”

During the Grammys, Manjuath was temporarily seated at a table with Noah Kahan and managed to have a sweet moment with the folk singer despite the strict rules, encouraging him to get up and dance as Bruno Mars lit up the room with a live performance of his hit “I Just Might” mere feet away from their table.

And after the ceremony was over, Manjuath rubbed elbows with comedian Nikki Glaser, and saw plenty of other big names in the flesh, including Heidi Klum, Tate McRae and Chappell Roan.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”