Justin Bieber Fans Brave Blizzard For 'Saturday Night Live' Tickets

The blizzard approaching New York City has reduced the number of Justin Bieber fans lined up on 49th street hoping to get standby tickets for his appearance on "Saturday Night Live." But as of noon on Friday, 20 to 30 die-hard fans remained, vowing to stay put despite the less-than-subtle suggestions from security.

“He has swag, that’s worth three nights of blizzard," Dana Arcizy of New Hampshire told The Huffington Post.

"Security was trying to convince us to leave. I think they don't want to be working in the snow," she said. "They were like, 'You don't really have a good chance of getting tickets. You are probably going to be ordered to leave.’ But we made it this far, why leave now?”

“We are staying, not listening to security," said Arianna Mina, who had already been waiting for more than 11 hours. "I’m hoping to get these tickets. I’m so cold, but I don't care about the rain. I would do anything for him."

“They made us take our tents down,” screamed Allyssa Johana, who looked too distraught to talk as she started to dismantle what little protection she had from the rain.

“I’m here because I have an extreme case of Bieber fever,” said Carla Alvarez of Los Angeles. "The only other person I might do this for is Michael Jackson. He was Justin’s biggest idol."

"I’ve been here from last night at 9 p.m," she said. "I’m willing to do another overnight for Justin.”

Fortunately, Carla and her friends won’t have to wait another night, as the show will be breaking with tradition and issuing tickets early.

“Because of the blizzard we are handing out standby tickets later today, around 11 p.m.,” revealed one "SNL" insider. “Normally, standby tickets are given out at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning.”

While each person waiting is given a standby ticket, the number of standby ticket holders allowed in to see the show varies each week. "SNL" tickets are free and distributed by a lottery system each August. Those lucky enough to win tickets to one of the season's 21 episodes are admitted to either the live show or dress rehearsal. Everyone else has to wait on the street.

Update: "We will start giving the tickets out at 6 p.m. intermittently until 11 p.m. tonight (in addition, we always pass out soup to the stand-by line in cold months and will be doing so today," says an "SNL" spokesperson.