The decked-out Grammys stage. (Kaitlyn Durocher/Neon Tommy)

Hundreds of lucky audience members dress in their best attire for a night of entertainment and excitement, and also in hopes of spotting some of the many celebrities who flock to the awards show to see and be seen. Here’s a glimpse at what you might not know about music’s biggest night, from an attendee who saw it all go down:

Before the Show

The hours before the show goes live are chaotic, as celebrities slowly pour into their seats and organizers usher audience members to the correct areas and brief them on what they are and are not allowed to do during the show. Cameras and taking pictures are prohibited for the attendees standing in the mosh pits right below the stage. 

What You Don’t See

During performances, only one section of the stage is being utilized, but in reality the is full stage is three times that size.

For example, fun.’s performance of “Carry On”, during which water poured down on the band, may have looked messy for performers following their set, but the majority of the stage remained completely dry.

The Staples Center, where the show was held this year, has numerous different levels of seating - up to 9 levels in some areas - but half of the seats aren't filled because of the venue’s huge size.

Mystery Guests

Throughout the show, the camera may pan past an unknown person, leaving viewers at home wondering who he or she is. It may be surprising to learn that many of the attendees seen on TV aren’t celebrities, but are in fact just extremely lucky seat fillers. 

A seat filler is someone who takes the spot of a celebrity when he or she gets up and leaves for any reason throughout the show. This is done to avoid empty space being shown on camera. 

Once the celebrity returns, the seat filler gets up and is escorted to another seat within the center. 

Almost all of the nominees are seated near the front of the venue in order to walk up on to the stage quickly if they were to be announced as the winner. But celebrities are everywhere on Grammys night. From walking to the bathroom to sitting in their section, finding stars is easy.

Performances and Commercial Breaks

Another thing many viewers do not understand about the show is that when it cuts to commercial, the people in the audience simply sit there. The producers put old clips from past Grammys on the screen while people rush around trying to get to the seat they are filling or attempting to make it to the bathroom. 

Behind the scenes there is a lot going on. The audience is told when to start clapping and is even cued to start singing certain parts of performers’ songs. 

The 55th Grammy Awards was a place where artists came together to celebrate music and the power it has on our world, emotions, and lives. The show highlighted some of the greatest performers of our time and even payed tribute to the late great artists before them. Both on TV and behind the scenes, the biggest night in music was a success for everyone.