What Audience Members Need to Know Before Attending a Taping

1058 West Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60607 -- West of I 90/94 and North of I 290.

Parking is not provided to audience members by Harpo Studios. Ticket holders will need to park on the street or in commercial lots near the studio. Be prepared, depending on the day and time of taping, for the extra time needed to walk to the studio, and the extra expense of parking lot fees.

For ticket holders who will be attending a morning taping, expect to arrive by 7am, and those for afternoon tapings by 11am -- or earlier in both cases to avoid being last in line. If a winter taping is on your agenda, be ready for the possibility of harsh Chicago weather.

Oprah's audience is known for looking the part -- people almost look like they have been hand picked to fill the seats. Because of the lighting used in studio tapings, stay away from white and beige -- it is too reflective. Make the trip special on by going out and buying a new outfit for the taping.

If you wanted to use this once in a lifetime chance to get a picture with Oprah, don't expect to get one with your own camera. Cell phones, pagers, video recorders, cameras -- and anything else along those lines -- are not allowed in the studio. Leave them locked up in the car or hotel room to avoid the time and hassle of having to check them and pick them up before leaving.

• Make sure to remember to bring photo ID -- you won't be allowed in if you don't have it.
  
  
• Prepare yourself to go through a security check. To make the process run smoothly, bring as little as possible with you to the studio.
  
  
• Don't bring a birthday card for Oprah, or a gift you picked up in green -- her favorite color -- that she would just love. Nothing of this kind will be permitted into the studio and there will not be the option of having them hold it at check-in.
  
  
• Eat before you go -- and something that will hold you over for a number of hours. You will not have access to food of any kind in the studio -- unless you are lucky enough to land in a show taping that has samples!
  
  
• Relax, have fun, and remember, there are many people that would love to be in your shoes!