Bums In Seats Meaning

(plural only, idiomatic, chiefly Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) Spectators, passengers, or customers in attendance at a venue or other place where people assemble.

Example: 1989, Rob Carrick, "Wardair offer urged executives to pay $18,000 for year's travel," Toronto Star (Canada), 28 Feb., p. B8:
  [A]nalyst Doug Galbraith of Runzheimer Canada speculated the airline came up with the card because it was simply "in need of getting bums in seats."
2000 October 6, Daniel Girard, “Ottawa to double Canadian film funding”, Toronto Star:
  "It's all about bums in seats," Copps said in a downtown Vancouver theatre. While Canadians' movie going is among the highest in the world, films made in Canada […]
2007, "Meet the pro-wrestlers of Auckland," New Zealand Herald (New Zealand), 26 Oct. (retrieved 31 Aug. 2010):
  Wrestlers and promoters began to realise opportunities for gimmicks with broad appeal which would be used to put bums in seats.
2010, "Former Liverpool and Leeds star Robbie Fowler on the move again," Daily Mail (UK), 27 April (retrieved 31 Aug. 2010):
  â€œHe's a quality player and puts bums in seats.”