by Eddie Brawley

Created on: January 06, 2009

If you're looking for traditional stand-up comedy in New York City, be prepared to spend some money. Most stand-up comedy clubs charge a cover of $20-$50 and enforce a two drink minimum for shows throughout the week and on weekends. This gets you admission to shows that include touring stand-up comics and performers from television and film. The oldest and most respected of these venues are Caroline's on Broadway (Times Square), The Comedy Cellar (Greenwich Village), and Broadway Comedy Club (formerly The Improv). Less notable, but still perfectly respectable, stand-up clubs include Comix, Stand-Up New York, The Laugh Factory, Gotham Comedy Club, and New York Comedy Club. A non-discriminating customer could go to any of these venues on any given night and be entertained by a talented comedian with respectable credentials. You could probably also catch your favorite stand-up comedian here when he or she comes to town, whether that be Sarah Silverman, Darrel Hammond, or Patton Oswalt.

When it comes to comedy, however, New York City has much more to offer than stand-up. There are several theaters that cater to the more "alternative" comedy scene, including the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, the People's Improv Theater, and the Magnet Theater. These theaters are often called "improv theaters" because they are home to some of the best improvisational comedy to be found anywhere, but each has a schedule filled with stand-up, sketch, and any kind of experimental comedy that doesn't quite fit into any of these categories. These clubs usually charge $5 or less for weekday shows and no more than $10 for weekend shows with no drink minimum. Most performers at these theaters are less established in the entertainment industry, but shows do often include regulars from television and film.

For example, probably the most popular comedy venue in New York City is the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Every night of the week you can catch performers or writers from 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Onion, or any number of comedy platforms performing improv or sketch. Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday nights, UCB even has free shows featuring these same performers. Shows at these theaters are usually more intimate but less polished. This is because performers are almost never paid, but choose to perform for the pure enjoyment or to work out new material.

There is still another class of comedy venues in New York City, which also caters mostly to the alternative comedyy scene. This is made up mainly of bars that also have comedy shows, including Pianos (Lower East Side), SoundFix (Williamsburg), Union Hall (Park Slope), or Parkside Lounge (Lower East Side). Any night of the week you should be able to find a quality show at one of these venues. These are where up-and-coming comedians hone their comedy voices and where the already established comics go to mess around and try things they wouldn't dare do on Letterman. There are usually drink minimums here, but a much hipper and more relaxed atmosphere.

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