Saturday Night Live paid its audience members $150 each to get around state COVID-19 rules
"SNL" paid live audience members as employees after Saturday's season premiere https://t.co/giTGw7RbOE
- TheWrap (@TheWrap) October 6, 2020
According to a report by The New York Times, Saturday Night Live reportedly paid its audience members $150 each in order to comply with NYC’s coronavirus restrictions.
The show, which hosted its season premiere on Saturday, needed to pay audience members because live audiences for media productions are only allowed if the people in attendance are paid cast, crew, or employees. The audience must additionally abide by a 25% capacity limit with a maximum crowd of 100, with 6 feet of social distance maintained at all times.
Sean Ludwig, who attended the SNL season premiere with seven friends, said they all received a check for $150 from Universal Television. “We had no idea we would be paid before we were handed checks,” Ludwig said. “We were all very pleasantly surprised.”
Would you risk getting Rona for $150?
Had an incredible time tonight at @nbcsnl. Here’s the kicker: we didn’t know it until after but we were PAID for our time, likely to meet New York State’s requirements for only paid staff to be in the audience pic.twitter.com/Qp3XmFBjLB
- Sean Ludwig (@seanludwig) October 4, 2020
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