After years of watching on TV, viewers may want to try their luck and test their knowledge on the game show
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Drew Carey with a winner on ‘The Price Is Right’. Photo: Sara Mally/CBS via Getty Images
The Price Is Right contestants are chosen with a little bit of luck and lots of passion for the value of everyday products.
At the start of each episode, the longtime game show challenges four random contestants from its studio audience to bid on the retail price of daily items. The winner goes on to compete in another price-guessing contest for a chance to win big. After six players have competed, the top two face off in the “Showcase Showdown” to clinch the final prize.
Bob Barker hosted the competitive series for over three decades until 2007, when he retired and Drew Carey took over. The actor told PEOPLE that he initially turned down the offer to lead The Price Is Right but changed his mind because he enjoyed the sentiment behind it.
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“One of the show’s producers asked me what my favorite thing to do was,” he told PEOPLE in March 2024. “I go, ‘I love leaving big tips when I go to restaurants.’ ‘Well, if you work on The Price Is Right, you’ll be able to do that all the time for a living,’ they said.”
In order to become a contestant on The Price Is Right, there are a few rules and regulations potential suitors have to abide by to be considered.
From the eligibility requirements to securing taping tickets and making a good impression on producers, here’s how to be a contestant on CBS’ game show, The Price Is Right.
What are the requirements to get on The Price Is Right?
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Drew Cary interacting with ‘The Price Is Right’ studio audience.Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images
Since The Price Is Right selects its contestants randomly from the studio audience, the first step to potentially compete on the game show is to attend.
Tickets are available “about a month in advance” of tapings via the On Camera Audiences website. Aspiring contestants must submit an inquiry for a specific show date and time to try to secure admission.
To apply, potential contestants have to be at least 18 years old. The form asks for personal information such as name, email address and phone number. After submitting, folks have to wait to be notified if they got the tickets.
Additional jurisdictions could prohibit participants from being chosen. Those who have appeared on The Price Is Right in the past 10 years or have been on four or more game shows in the past 10 years cannot participate. Candidates running for office are also excluded.
How much are the tickets to The Price Is Right?
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Drew Carey hosting the ‘The Price Is Right.’.Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images
Tickets to The Price Is Right are free, and two to three shows are recorded daily, according to the On Camera Audiences website.
After fans submit a ticket inquiry, they will receive an email stating whether they received a Priority ticket, Line Voucher or spot on the waitlist.
Having a Priority ticket means that entrance is fully guaranteed. On the contrary, those given a Line Voucher will be admitted to the general admission queue on a first-come-first-serve basis. So, admission to the taping is more likely if attendees arrive early.
Before heading out the door, though, guests must leave behind their cell phones and smartwatches. They’ll also need an ID and closed-toed shoes.
If viewers want to attend more than one taping per day, they’ll need to ask about availability when checking in to the event.
How do you get picked to be on The Price Is Right?
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Bob Barker speaking to the studio audience during his last taping of “The Price is Right” show on June 6, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.Mark Davis/Getty Images
Over 300 audience members are admitted during tapings, and only nine are called up for a chance to play games and win prizes. Those who are selected typically stand out from the crowd and make a good impression on production before The Price Is Right begins taping, per LiveAbout.com.
On The Price Is Right, it appears contestants are chosen by luck, but all audience members undergo a general preliminary evaluation before selections are made. Attendees are given name tags with identification numbers and individually interviewed by production, according to the outlet.
Former The Price Is Right contestant Dainon Haggard revealed on LinkedIn that his “enthusiasm” helped land him a spot to play on the show. After being called in for his brief conversation with a producer, Haggard said he had roughly “5 seconds to catch their attention.”
“I remember jumping up and down, almost yelling my response back to the producer who sat just 15 feet in front of me in a tall Hollywood director’s chair,” he recalled. “I was determined to get on the game show.”
Making a memorable impression during the short interviews with production is only one way contestants can heighten their chances of being called down to play on The Price Is Right.
Speaking to New York Post in 2013, former longtime producer Stan Blits shared that he approached and interviewed attendees waiting in line.
“I am looking for energy, sincerity and potential humor,” he said. “And if they can equal my energy or exceed it and maintain it, they are at the top of the list.”
Do The Price Is Right contestants get paid?
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Bob Barker hosting ‘The Price Is Right.’.Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
The Price Is Right contestants are not paid, but they have the chance to win money and varying prizes.
In the past, competitors have walked away with a car or two, getaway trips to destinations like New York City and Ireland, and items like a hot tub and 3D printer. As for monetary wins, a contestant named Michael earned over $260,000 in 2019, according to TV Insider.
If a player wins it big, they must fill out the necessary paperwork, including tax forms. According to NerdWallet, cash prizes, merch, cars and vacations can be taxed.
