Four Things I Learned While In ‘The Today Show’ Audience

Being part of a live national TV audience is actually easier than you'd believe.

I spent the weekend in Times Square in New York City. While there, I went to the top of the Empire State Building, saw Wicked and checked out the 9/11 Memorial.

There was one thing though that I was kind of interested in doing that I didn't think was even possible, seeing The Today Show live.

I thought there was a process, like tickets or a years long wait. Well, there's not. I RSVP'd on The Today Show website but when I showed up the morning of I didn't get asked for it, so that the first thing I learned.

1. You don't need to RSVP, just show up.

A little backstory, I went to New York with my wife who just so happened to be there for work. Well, her work thing was Monday morning, so I was by myself. There were friends, families, scores of old ladies, and one dude by himself, me.

2. You don't need a group of people or an outrageous costume idea to be part of The Today Show.

This also just so happened to be the beginning of Broadway Week. I got a chance to see Phillipa Soo from Hamilton fame now in a new show, Amelie, do her thing. As cool as that sounds, it was abruptly cut short. Why?

3. What happens on the plaza is not always what you see on TV.

That's kind of a no-brainer, but the Amelie performance wasn't seen by anyone else except those in attendance (The Today Show ended up airing something different.) It didn't seem like a dress rehearsal but who knows. However there was another thing I did learn that day, The Today Show team steps out often to greet fans.

4. If you want to meet your favorite Today Show personality, there's a good chance you will.

I showed up at 7 a.m. and got what I thought was kind of a ho-hum spot. Turned out, I was just to the left of the Today team during one of their segments. As soon as they were done, they turned around, met some fans, signed autographs, took selfies, etc.

I left New York City shortly after getting a chance to see The Today Show live. If you're going to New York, check it out. It's free, and super easy to be part of the show.

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Sweet Lenny is the brand manager of 97ZOK and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Rockford. Catch him afternoons 3 to 7 on 97ZOK. Follow him on Twitter and like his page on Facebook.