The Price Is Right: How to Be a Contestant

The Price Is Right has thrilled television audiences for decades with its high-energy pricing games, colorful sets, and the iconic call to “Come on down!” If you’ve ever dreamed of hearing your name, running to Contestants’ Row, and spinning the Big Wheel, here’s exactly how you can become a contestant on America’s longest-running game show.

Step 1: Get Tickets to a Taping

The first step to becoming a contestant on The Price Is Right is being part of the studio audience. The show tapes at Television City in Hollywood, California. You can request free tickets online via the official site: on-camera-audiences.com.

Tickets are free and available in advance. Some standby tickets are also given out on the day of taping, but early arrival is recommended. Keep in mind that eligibility screening takes place before the taping begins, so being in the audience is necessary to be considered.

Step 2: Meet Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as a contestant, you must meet the following criteria:

Be at least 18 years old
Be a legal resident of the United States or its territories
Not have been on the show in the past 10 years
Not be affiliated with Fremantle Media, CBS, or any advertising agencies involved with the show

You’ll be asked to bring a government-issued photo ID and sign waivers upon arrival.

Step 3: Dress for Success

Audience members often wear bright, customized T-shirts with fun slogans, game references, or birthday/anniversary shoutouts. It’s not required, but it does help you stand out. Producers love contestants who are high-energy, enthusiastic, and dressed with flair.

Think: neon colors, glitter, big smiles — and leave formalwear at home. The show is playful and loud, so your outfit should match that tone.

Step 4: Go Through the Pre-Show Interview

Before each taping, every audience member goes through a quick screening interview with a producer. You’ll be asked:

Where you’re from
What you do for a living
Why you want to be on the show
A few personality questions

This is your moment to shine! Be enthusiastic, expressive, and authentic. The producers are looking for contestants who will be entertaining on stage and who bring energy to the show. Be yourself, but don’t hold back your excitement.

Step 5: The Selection Process

Contestants are selected before the taping begins. While it may seem random when names are called during the show, the producers have already made their picks based on the pre-show interviews. Your name could be called at any moment — including partway through the show, as new contestants are needed when someone advances from Contestants’ Row.

Only 9 people are selected to play pricing games each episode, so even with hundreds in the audience, your odds are better than you might think.

Step 6: Know the Games (and Practice!)

Once you’re selected, the excitement moves quickly. To improve your chances of winning, it helps to study past episodes and understand the mechanics of popular games like:

Plinko
Cliff Hangers
Any Number
Punch-A-Bunch
Cover Up

Practice estimating everyday retail prices — household items, vacation packages, new cars, electronics. Price awareness is key.

Step 7: Spin the Big Wheel and Make the Showcase

If you win your pricing game, you’ll spin the iconic Big Wheel. The two contestants closest to $1.00 without going over advance to the Showcase Showdown. This is where the biggest prizes — including dream vacations and new cars — are won.

Finalists must bid carefully, because overbidding disqualifies you. Watching prior Showcase bids can help you hone your pricing instincts.

Summary

Becoming a contestant on The Price Is Right starts with showing up — literally. From grabbing your free ticket to dazzling producers with your personality, every step is a chance to stand out. The game favors the bold, the loud, and the well-prepared. If you love excitement, aren’t afraid to celebrate wildly on national TV, and have a decent sense of what things cost, your name just might be the next one called to “Come on down!”