This is a TERRIBLE venue to see an Indie Band. It is really unfortunate when bands get too big for 9:30 club that their only real option in or around DC (aside from outdoor pavilions or Verizon Center) is to head to DAR. If you're a fan of 9:30 club - you probably like the intimate feel of the space, the general admission format, and the easy access to several bars that actually serve a decent selection of beer! DAR is the antithesis of this. Sitting down just doesn't feel right when you're seeing someone like Vampire Weekend or Avett Brothers. Seems to suck the energy out of the space. As far as DRINKS are concerned -- don't even bother. The lines for a beer are UNBELIEVABLE. If you're lucky enough to get a drink (or should I say crazy enough to stand in the line)- expect Bud Light to be your most exotic choice and be sure to do like everyone else does and be prepared to Double Fist - because you WON'T want to stand in that line twice. The only reason I'll give the places 2 stars is that the sound system is decent. Definitely prefer to spend my show $$ at 9:30 or Black Cat and get really sad when my Indie acts start getting too big because I know their next step is gonna be this place or Verizon.... Oh - one more tip - when booking seats in a BOX -- be aware: each box has 5 chairs in it and you are seated first come / first serve (General Admission within the Box) - so if you have a Box Seat -get there early to get the better seat. Also - BOX 39 - has the Sound Board right next to it and can lead to some limited views for the folks positioned in the back of it.... DAR REALLY should consider making that box only 3 or 4 chairs... read more

Attended Russell Peters Friday night stand show in October 2014. The venue had plenty of seats with many entrances / exits. The staff was friendly and helpful directing us to our seats. Multiple cash bars were located throughout the DAR with average prices. We sat in row E towards the middle of the stage. As a result we had a lively experience as Russell Peters made fun of folks right next to us! Fortunately we were not picked on and enjoyed the light hearted jokes on others. Based on this experience I would be willing to attend another show at the Dar. read more

I went to the DAR Constitution Hall for the first time this evening, and it was QUITE the experience! If you're a fan of the DC concert scene you are probably aware of the different kinds of venues that exist ranging from the infamous 9:30 Club to the oldie, but goodie of the Black Cat, and the enormity of the Verizon Center. And somehow, DAR Constitution Hall provides a WONDERFUL setting in terms of seating, sound, and stage that you can't find anywhere else. Specifically, I went for The Lumineers concert which is more of a folkie band so there was a good amount of foot stomping, clapping and singing along. Some were so bold as to dance! (NO WAY!) So, it was a refreshing venue to find myself in while enjoying some great music. There were bars on both the top and basement levels that were cash only bars serving what looked like your basic beer, wine, and some liquor. Generally, the prices were moderate (a beer was $6.50 for a Stella. Water bottles were $3. They had some food options - most people had grabbed the large pretzels or french fries. The only issue here was the LINES... for days. Between my friend and I it took us about 30-45 minutes to collectively get to the ATM to get cash and then make it through the bar line. I'd particularly recommend it for the price - I paid about $46 after fees to pick up tickets at will call and we had orchestra seats on the floor. When all is said and done I really did enjoy this show and the venue! You'll have to check it out! read more

Came to see Louis CK and this was my first time at this venue. Parking is really unavailable. I used an expensive nearby deck. Their drinks are overpriced and CASH ONLY! There is one ATM but it wont give you money off a credit card. Also choices for drinks were very slim. Seats are awful. Think turn of the century theater seats with small arm rests, straight backs and no leg room. Also the gentleman i sat next to was a bit husky and took up a lot of available space. He also kept shaking his leg the whole time and had an umbrella in his pocket that kept hitting me. Obviously the theater cannot control this but i think if they upgraded their seats this would be less of a problem. Also ladies room had no paper towels. read more

Came here for a concert a few months back. I can't say too much for it, though I'm not one to really enjoy stadium caliber venues for concerts, I just really wanted to see this person live. Parking is a B****, you'll end up paying a pretty penny to get anywhere close to the place. The outside is a tad confusing...figuring out which door is the front entrance. Inside is a little difficult to navigate, I had to ask where the bathrooms were because there were stairs everywhere and no signs for them. It was clean, I'll give it that. I suggest getting really good seats if you want to see someone here though, otherwise you won't see much. I was up in one of the upper boxes, which was ok viewing-wise because we were at the front of it, but obviously we were pretty far away. All in all, it was an alright experience, but I've been to better. read more

So, where do I begin. I went to my first show at DAR to see The Kids in the Hall, Rusty and Ready tour. First and foremost, MAKE SURE YOU LOCATE PARKING BEFORE YOU GET THERE. The "Event" parking next to DAR is a joke as the attendant stated they closed at 8....right when the show started. So we drove around for a while looking for an open garage. Which I guess is impossible to find at 530 pm on a saturday. So, we finally found our parking, paid and walked to the venue. None of the attendants in Will Call or Ushers could tell us which door they would open to let us in. So we just kind of stood around for a while. Doors opened about 5-10 minutes after the time they said they would. No big deal though, that happens somewhat often. So, we grab our wine and our t-shirts and head to our seats.... At this point, I gave the usher my ticket, he stated that I was "Supposed to be upstairs but he'll let me sit down on the ground level." When I told him, no..I picked these seats out myself, I'm in the orchestra pit (ALSO CLEARLY STATED ON MY TICKET) he told me that I should consider myself "lucky that he's giving me a break." Pssshhtttt. So I went to another usher, showed them my ticket and they told me the SAME THING. When I showed the second person, whom is employed by DAR to show people to their seats that my ticket infact said "ORCHESTRA" on it in big letters, they finally directed me to the seat I had actually paid for. Not sure why they thought I wouldn't notice that they kept sitting me in the wrong spot, but whatever. On to the show, the Kids were fantastic, although DAR kept having sound issues. Two of the performer's microphones kept going out but they seem to have gotten that fixed. The show it's self was phenomenal. I only wish it had lasted longer. Lastly, after the show, we were waiting outside the back stage curtain to possibly meet the performers. The "Bouncer" if you could call him that let a group of around 10 people backstage to meet the performers, but would not let us know if they were coming out to meet the rest of us. After about 5 minutes we were asked to go outside, which we did. We stood around outside for another 20 minutes before we realized no one was coming and that we should just leave. We walked back to the garage and left. All in all, it wasn't a terrible experience, but it will take a lot to get me to come back to this venue. read more

To avoid duplicating efforts of yelpers repeating certain characteristics of this venue i'm going to attempt to point out the random, the quirky and perhaps somewhat useful tidbits about catching a concert here. Getting there: Don't fool yourself. There is a bit of a hike from the metro stop to this venue whether it be Foggy Bottom or Farragut West, so try to leave your clubitgirl shoes at home and come prepared with your footsyrolls to venture from public trans to the venue. I didn't drive but i think next time i will. Seems like the lesser of the two evils if you come early enough to roll around downtown hunting open spots like a crazed predator. the down side to that is having to leave the venue to pluck down more quarters to reserve your square and save yourself from DC traffic fines (btw, did you hear in the Washington Examiner they're going up in price starting this week? eeek!) Seating - I guess there could be bad seats but the venue is more smedium sized (not quite small, not fully medium) so you can pretty much get a good view from whatever angle. Ok maybe about 90% of the space has decent views...but i think the box seats would be the best. You're not on the floor at the mercy of those with big bonk heads shaking their hamhocks and blocking your view plus you're not way up yonder like i was. Seems like the best of both worlds - comfy seats with just enough view. Basement (where the foodz is) - Feels like a old fashion southern baptist church fish fry and just as hot as one too. Whats up with the A/C DAR?? The drink lines seem semi-impossible, but unlike what other yelpers were talking about people WERE able to bring their drinks inside the venue. Maybe they had a change of heart? who knows? Acoustics - well i'm not a musician but i will say at some parts it was a bit choppy and the levels seem off (record exec enough for you? kinda? no? close? Well FINE then! :-) The Let-Out - the best part of a event...when everyone departs en mass gotta love it. it just seems like it could be orchestrated and executed better, but maybe that's just my old militant stance coming out. ha read more

Anthony Bourdain was great but the hall was too hot, the fire alarm went off during the show, the wine and beer selection was suboptimal and they didnt have enough mics set up for the q&a session. Would certainly see Anthony again but I would not come back to DAR for a show. read more

They usually have a multitude of shows here, I've been to several concerts: Trey Songs, Monica, comedy shows...it varies. I think they have food in the basement as well but I've never tried it. Facilities are decent but lines are long. Getting into the theater is usually a hassle, parking sucks and the process is just slow. Where you should be or go to get your tickets isn't clearly marked. Sound is good, seats are comfortable on the floor or in the boxes but upper levels you're packed in there like a sardine. read more

OK I had to wait until I'd been to Constitution Hall a few times before reviewing it. I've decided that I really like this place. Last night I went for an acoustic set of Foo Fighters/Frank Black and it was the perfect venue for that type of show. I can't imagine it being better anywhere else. DAR isn't annoyingly huge like the Nissan Pavilion, Merriweather or even the Kennedy Center, but it was nice to have a seat and just sit and watch the show. Maybe this is a sign that I'm getting old. I definitely prefer sitting in the orchestra pit for shows here, though. I was once on the upper tier and though I could see the stage well, it's always better to be close to the action. This place is always really clean, too. It's metro accessible but I can always find parking a few blocks away from the venue. The beer lines can get pretty intense, and I always have to double-fist and then chug bc I don't think you can bring booze inside. read more

An absolutely amazing venue. Parking in the area was also surprisingly easy. I was shocked as to how well kept and how helpful the staff were. You can feel the history and the grandeur of the venue. I went for a comedy show, so I can't say much about the acoustics, but I hope to be back to experience a concert. read more

My wife, a friend, and I had box 20 for the Belle and Sebastian concert about a week ago. These boxes have five loose chairs just sitting in a space that was never intended for more than 4 chairs. Lucky for us the other two ticketholders never showed up. The view from the boxes is great, as you are very close to the stage but still over everyone's head in the orchestra. Everytime I've been here the sound quality has been great for the headliner and horrible for the opening act. Not sure why. Also, they really need to set up a bar or two in the concourse. You shouldn't have to go to the basement to get a drink. Overall though it's a beautiful venue for a concert and within walking distance of several metro stops. read more

I saw A Perfect Circle here last night with Red Bacteria Vacuum opening. Both bands were wicked good, except APC played a few too many covers from their 3rd album-- but that's an entirely different subject! It was my first time visiting, and with many other venues, I think your experience largely depends upon where you end up sitting in the venue. For me, I sat in the Orchestra pit and had a blast. Just about everyone around me stood for the entire concert and that added a lot to the experience of at least attempting to rock it out with the band as opposed to being confined to your chair. On the other hand, I observed everyone sitting in the boxes and tiers sitting down throughout the whole concert-- A Perfect Circle is definitely not the kind of band you'd want to sit through, as I'd imagine with any concert besides an orchestra. Pros: - clean, classier - close to Foggy Bottom means the neighborhood isn't sketchy like other venues in DC - assigned seats - good sound system, above average acoustics - good sightlines from the Orchestra pit as the floor is slightly raised Cons: - quite a walk from Farragut West Metro about 15 min. About 8 blocks, but kind of sucks when you're walking back from the concert b/c your feet are aching. - only one bathroom open - layout of the lobby promotes chaos when attempting to purchase beer or over-priced band merchandise - assigned seats deters greater crowd participation - no camera policy (at least for this show) - the way the venue is structured, sitting on the tiers and box seats isn't as fun as in the pit Overall, it's not a bad venue. I wouldn't be hesitant to see a concert here again. Just be sure you sit in the pit and towards the front stage, otherwise yes, you'll feel like the concert is lacking. read more

I really like seeing shows at DAR. I saw Bright Eyes here in 2005 or 2006 and The Strokes, too. This venue is very beautiful, and definitely has a very 'Washington DC, federal-important' look to it. I like places in this city where you really feel like you in are DC, not anywhere USA. For Bright Eyes I was in a little balcony seating area with plush seats and great views. No one seemed to care as I sipped from my flask. The strokes tix weren't quite so good...really far away in the nosebleeds. Still, it was awesome. Don't bother trying to drive, that is why DC has such a great metro system. read more

I've seen a variety of entertainment shows in a variety of settings. I have seen 2 shows at DAR so far. I've seen Kathy Griffin and, recently, I saw Duran Duran, which was fantastic. Initially, I didn't know what the experience would be with a live band in that venue. I was pleasantly surprised. The acoustics were very good. You could hear every instrument clearly and Simon's voice was excellent and radiated the entire venue. Also, every seat was a good seat. I wasn't on the ground floor, but where my buddy and I sat was nonetheless a good seat. We could see the stage. The energy of the place was intimate enough to really get everyone excited! Another plus is that it isn't far from the metro. The staff was very nice as well. I like DAR. I can't wait for the next experience. read more

I remember my high school graduation being held at DAR Constitution Hall and it felt really grand and spectacular, so I recommend this venue for ceremonies like high school graduations. It's in Washington, DC in a nice area. read more

3 stars for the DAR acoustics. (if you're an acoustics engineer like me you'd understand- wakka wakka) 4 stars for the DAR bathroom and a whoping ZERO stars for me for going to see the Pixies there. You have to sit down?!?!? What was I thinking? YOU CAN SIT DOWN & LISTEN TO THE PIXIES?! I squeaked the whole night through bouncing in my seat. read more

Depending on the type of show you're attending, Constitution Hall can be just the right venue. Here are the types of events I've attended here over the years: - My high school graduation: good venue - Josh Groban: mixed--he sounded better at Lyric Opera House - Smashing Pumpkins: I've seen them play four times (including 9:30 Club) and this was the worst show. They tend to play their shows loud and this is not really the type of venue to try that sort of thing. - Brother's high school graduation: see "my high school graduation" - Sarah McLachlan: surprisingly good acoustics I've sat in the near front row, had floor seats way in the back, and sat maybe 10 rows from the box seating. If you have the money, the box seats are the way to go. Being an old school venue, the floor seats are not at an incline, so it sucks if you are a shortie, like me, or stuck behind my 6' 2" boyfriend. They could use some jumbo-trons, but I guess that's not classy. The seats, though, are very comfy... so much that most people didn't stand for the Pumpkins concert. It must have irked Billy Corgan because the moment we did stand up for "Today" he stopped the music and made us all sit down and "relax". It's a pain to find parking. Metro-wise, it isn't too bad and is a short walk from Farragut West and Farragut North. There's a Potbelly's on the way to the venue for a quick bite. Security is hit-or-miss. There was no bag check for Sarah McLachlan but security was tighter for the Pumpkins and Josh Groban. Another gripe I had was during intermission for Sarah McLachlan, they had opened all the doors and cigarette smoke seeped into the auditorium. Bathroom lines are long. I recommend going before the show starts and just holding it until you get home. Like I said, it's alright, but it's not my fave venue. Warner or the Lyric Opera House can kick DAR's ass any day. Just my humble opinion. read more

The Second Glass Wine Riot was held here 10/21/2011. What a great idea. Plenty of space for all of the wine pushers. Plenty of space for the educational seminars. And plenty of space for all of the (drunk) patrons to stagger around. Oh yeah, there was a perfect spot for the photo booth to be set up. I love Constitution Hall. I've been here many times for concerts and speaking events and complained about the seating arrangements. With the wine riot, I had a front row vantage point for ever sip. Holding the Wine Riot at DAR Constitution Hall is as good as it gets. read more

This place is absolutely awesome! I don't think there's a single seat in the whole place where you don't have a great view. I was in the third row, right near all the equipment, but I still had an AWESOME view. It was extremely loud though. The acoustics = best I've heard. I saw Panic at the Disco here last night, and even though I'd, of course, EXPECT them to sound awesome anyway (LOL), the acoustics just amplified how great they were. It was such a great show. The location was very safe and easily accessible. The ushers were helpful. I would DEFINITELY come back here. P.S. Rock on, Panic!! read more

TERRIBLE. I just saw A Perfect Circle and here is my review The staff is terrible. the entire time during the show, I had 2 bouncers stand in front of our group staring at our rows searching for cameras and cigarettes. its pretty hard to enjoy a show when you have a 6 ft tall dude mean mugging you. * note we no anyone around us was even doing anything The lines for beer are absurd. At least 1 hr. The staff is going about as slow as humanly possible. They clearly do not care at all. The bar is cash only.... BUT THE ATM DID NOT HAVE CASH!! So the entire show I could not even get drinks if I wanted to. I told a staff member and got a stand offish response of " Yeah we know" No smoking anywhere in the venue. They will not even let you outside on the balcony. The sound was really good, but the venue was so terrible in other ways that the entire night was already ruined. In summary, The show was Waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy overpriced ( $80), the lines for alcohol were terrible, the staff was terrible, they had a cash only bar and no working ATM, so no alcohol... no smoking, and bouncers mean mugging the crowd the entire show. DO NOT GO HERE EVER IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. read more

Parking is a nightmare and the acoustics are awful. Good thing is that there isn't a bad seat in the house and its easy to find.

I hate this venue. Yes, there are good performers. No, the acoustics are not good. The hall is shaped like a box. There are huge speakers at the front which give lots of static. Sorry but whoever you guys are talking about the good acoustics, you have not been to a real concert hall. If you're not in the first ten rows you won't be able to see anything or hear softly spoken words. If you're in the front, bring earplugs. If you're in the back, bring binoculars. This place is really stodgy and does not encourage audience discussion or interaction. There are long rows of seats with not enough leg room or cushioning. Whenever I saw my favorite artists here it was not without groaning first. read more

DAR is ok for some concerts, but for others it is TERRIBLE. Seeing Neil Young there was good, but other shows like Ween, Widespread Panic, and others, were all terrible. DC is really missing the 'medium' size venues that would really help out the music scene. DAR is too big for some bands to fill it and too small for big bands. The Sound: horrible for louder bands. It really doesn't provide the sound you quality you want from a venue of this size. The inside: I like the seating styles there, but its not fantastic. Its shaped in a way that would be good for bands that are more "sit down" types, but not for more rock bands. Overall: Its ok, as my review says, but not my favorite. read more

Good venue for a comedy show *cough Aziz* ...good times. DOn't know how you get box seats though, they weren't even listed as an option when we got our tickets. Here we thought we were front row in the balcony, put our feet up type of thing, but there's a whole walkway in front of us with then state box seats (with 5 people in them) going all the way around. read more

In the balcony seats, if your tall or wide, the seating will not be comfortable. I cannot emphasize this enough.

uh uh. I've been here a few times, but I am never going back. Simply put, not that great sounding, overpriced, and you can't even bring your drinks to your seat. Also the bathrooms are REALLY far downstairs from the seats. Long drink lines are also common, and walking through the lobby is just a pain, there's no room. The seating is comfortable, but usually to get seats on the floor is costly and not that much better than on the side. There are also areas of the place where you will just have horrible views. The venue also doesn't get people involved or create an intimate setting, because everyone is just on their ass, of which half of them well be texting every 5 seconds during the show (seriously why the f**k are you even here?). I made a habit in the past only going here if it was someone I desperatly wanted to see. After my last show I decided it's just not worth it no matter who comes. Costs too much for what you get. Won't be returning. read more

Nice venue. Beautiful from the outside, inside isn't quite up to par. Acoustics and sightlines were good not great. Credit to the bartenders for taking an excellent photo of my GF and I. read more

DAR Constitution Hall - Roger Waters - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I hope last night will be the final concert I attend at DAR Constitution Hall...at least for the next 30 or so years. The drinks are incredibly overpriced. An hour into the show they ran out of wine except for chardonnay and white zinfandel, which is basically the same thing as running out of all wine. Also, the bars accept cash only. They have two ATMs but one was broken so the line was about 25 people deep. My husband actually left the venue to find an ATM down the street. I find sitting in the balcony brutal. Most of the crowd was between 25 and 35, but from the way we were behaving you'd think we were all 60 at a Celine Dion concert. If you stand you piss off the people sitting behind you, so everyone was sitting basically the whole time despite the show having pretty good energy. If there's a band I'm desperate to see, I'll only consider going if I can get seats in the orchestra -- the people down there stood for most of the show. Unfortunately, DAR is much too nice to have a legit pit so everyone has a seat. A couple of positive notes: I have been to two concerts here and both times found that the sound is fine. Also, I saw Anthony Bourdain when he spoke there and DAR was a perfect venue for that kind of thing. It would be great for a comedy show as well, but I still prefer Warner. There are much better venues for concerts. I just have to hope and pray that bands I want to see do not play at DAR when they come to DC (please, please go to the 9:30 Club!). read more

I went to DAR for a Sheckys event and the set up was awkward for the type of event and the amount of people. We were basically in the hallways for the main part of the event which made it hard to maneuver around and really see what the vendors had to offer. One part of the event was on the stage of one of the concert rooms which gave you a great view of the performance area (which is why they get two stars instead of just 1). Parking wasnt as bad as I expected it to be which is always a plus when doing anything in DC. read more

I saw Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris there. Easy venue to get in & out of esp. if you are lucky enough to find nearby street parking like we were. Sight lines were quite good but unlike some others who thought the the acoustics were great, I found them terrible at this show. I don't know if it was bad mixing, a bad sound system, bad acoustics or a combo of all the above; but in any case I could barely hear the vocals. They were totally overpowered by the instruments. I'm sure the hall is fine for certain types of music or live performances, but certainly not in this case. I saw Mark later at Wolf Trap (rear orchestra section) and the acoustics were GREAT. read more

Bring cash if you want to buy anything. No card readers and no ATMs. The building itself has character to it and will do great for just about any show. read more

Attended a high school graduation this week. Awesome location, nice venue but the reason ratings are so low was poor training of the security team. They were still in concert mode thinking fans would rush the stage. It's one thing to say that a person is having a bad day, BUT what are the chances of 75% of their staff having a bad day? My child attends an upscale northern VA school. It was shocking to hear/visualize the aggressive treatment fellow visitors were dealt. read more

I've been to this venue for 2 very different occasions and therefore had 2 very different experiences. The first was my brothers high school graduation. I would say it's fitting for an event such as a graduation where people are a little dressed up and you can see the stage, very nice. The second was for a hip hop concert.... just weird. Didn't fit the artist at all. The seats we got were crammed in a corner on the lower level and it was just awkward for a hip hop concert where you want to be up and dancing. I think it was a mistake for whoever planned that. I've parked in a parking garage close by and I was also lucky enough to find parking on the street of DAR. Unfortunately I got a ticket because it is 2 hour parking M-F until 6pm but you still have to pay the meters until 10pm. Yup they got me, I hate you DC parking. Probably the most annoying was we got to the venue for the concert, before we went to our seats we got a drink from the bar (which was RIDICULOUSLY over priced) as we head to our seats the woman stops us because you're not allowed to have drinks inside the seating area. How dumb. I get it, there is carpet and people spill, still a dumb rule. read more

We saw Amy Schumer here last night and the show was pretty great.... she is hilarious and certainly knows life as a single thirty-something. The venue is gorgeous and the layout was perfect for such a large group of people. It never felt claustrophobic in the lounge areas or in the anterooms. The acoustics are stunning. The décor is beautiful and fitting. The temperature left something to be desired. It was overly warm where we were seated and a distraction from the show. Most of us were waving our tickets in front of our faces hoping for a breeze. The staff was pretty terrific and very helpful. Everyone from the gentleman who took my ticket to the staff resting who rose to help me navigate multiple drinks and the door were a delight. I will return. This venue hosts a variety of acts and shows and I'll be looking for another opportunity for a night out in DC at this truly beautiful and very classy host to all kinds of performing arts. read more

I attended the John Legend concert at DAR Constitution Hall last night. This was not my first time here. I've been to one other concert at this venue, and graduated from high school there as well. It's a really unique venue that for the most part has a lot to offer. I would say that there is not a bad seat in the house in terms of view of the stage/experience watching whatever you're there for. Last night, I sat on the floor in row R and was pleased with my seats. I've set upstairs where the seating is more of a stadium design and remember the leg space lacking. The only thing I found really annoying about sitting on the floor is the fact that when anyone walks in the aisle in front of you, it takes them forever to move and not block your vision. The floor is not angled very much so your view is obstructed and rather often too! They have security staff to try to move people out of the aisles but it's not terribly helpful. The acoustics in this place are really good which makes concerts really enjoyable! The security staff working at the doors were really nice and helpful, which made your experience coming and going easy and nice. There are bars set up on the main level and then in the basement. Prices are pretty decent and if you're willing to tip the bartenders (AS YOU SHOULD), they will hook you up with your drinks! They often have food vendors set up selling food in the basement as well. The main bathrooms are in the basement which is a bit of an inconvenience but they have plenty of stalls so that makes up for it. I always try to go before the show so I don't have to worry about running downstairs during it. Ticket prices here are great, and like I said not a bad seat in the house. It's an easy walk from the Farragut metro stops, and I understand there are some parking options close by. Also an easy walk are lots of bar/restaurant options to hang out at before heading into the show! read more

I have been to Constitution Hall several times. Like most, Ive been here for my high school graduation, several Immature concerts (yes, Immature) and a few comedy shows. I actually like Constitution Hall, its far from my favorite but its an ok venue. The ushers are always polite, the ticket collectors are always speedy and service at the bars is friendly. I would stay away from the food though. I'm not sure what they even offer but this doesn't strike me as a safe place to eat. Parking is janky - like people park there permanently and you should simply expect to park a few blocks away. Lighting, temperature, sound and all are up to par. BUT the screens (on the sides of the stage) need serious updating. They are really bad quality. I recently went for a comedy show and felt really bad for those that had to depend on the screens. My advice is to get close seats, pay the extra cost and you'll be just fine. read more

I've been here twice, the hardest part is parking!!! Otherwise it's a cool older venue and I enjoyed seeing America's Got Talent 2010 with Jackie and recently seeing Ravi Zacharias and the CS Lewis Institute here. It's pretty easy to get around once your in, and the seats are old and tight for a big guy like me but I've been in worse. Overall it's a cool place and I will go back when someone is there I want to see. read more

Ughhhhhh. Such a gorgeous venue, such incompetent service. I came here last week to catch Anthony Bourdain on his Hunger Tour. We arrived around 7 for a 7:30 show (doors opened at 6:30) and we were immediately struck by how incredibly long the lines to get in were. We had tickets off of Groupon which - according to the website - once printed, were good as tickets. So we stood in line for a solid 15 minutes only to get to the front, have the woman look at our papers and say, "oh you have to go to Will-Call." She scanned our ticket codes anyway, and then rudely waved us back outside to wait in yet ANOTHER ridiculously long line. There were dozens of other people in the same confused predicament as we were, all who had arrived in plenty of time before the show began but were now dangerously close to missing the opening. Well, at the front of Will Call there were several other management issues. There were two lines - one for TicketMaster and one for Groupon orders - but neither of these were marked so of course I got in the wrong one. Once in the (third and final) correct line, a gal came in from the Hall and cut in front of me, saying that she needed a new ticket because they had issued her one with a seat that DID NOT EXIST in DAR Hall. What?! Apparently she wasn't the only one, either. At one point one lady behind me started asking if she could speak with a manager because there was such incredible ineptitude amongst the scanners and ticket issuers. Now, it is quite possible that some or a lot of the blame lies with Groupon and how they issued their tickets, but even so, the people working just seemed like they couldn't care at all about providing helpful or expedient service. The ushers inside were scarce and the one we could flag down to help us find our seat pointed us the completely wrong direction. (I usher at a major theatre downtown so I know what the expectations are!) DAR Hall itself is gorgeous and a great venue to hear a speaker or listen to a concert, but make sure you get here in PLENTY of time because no matter how many people are still waiting for their tickets, they will apparently go ahead with the show! By the time we took our seat, we missed the first 15 minutes of the show. I felt so bad for everyone still waiting in line outside to get their tickets (not exaggerating when I say there were probably close to 100 people still waiting to get in after the show started). read more

I have been seeing bands here on and off for a couple of decades now. Last show I can remember was Ted Leo and Death Cab. This venue used to be OK but in recent years has not been my favorite place to see bands, mostly because of the staff and the way the place is set up. This is one of those venues that's really not used to handling a rock show crowd, a lot of the staff are old and probably way more at home with some easy listening artist or a comedy act or something. There's definitely a feeling of "omg this is our Grand Old Historic Venue, don't you dare mess it up." Plus there is just way too much staff. I don't know whether this place is trying to support the DC economy or what but you don't need that many ushers watching you. I have actually had the most fun here sitting in the bleacher seats just to the left of the stage. These are sold as "obstructed view" online for some weird reason. To me "obstructed view" means a post in the way or something. Maybe it is a problem if you want to see the band or its light show or something head on, but for my money it's a lot nicer to be close and have a side view of the band up close than be way in the back geting watched by ushers and the band is far away. The acoustics in this place are good enough that you don't have to worry about it sounding crappy if you sit to the side, so don't be afraid to do that. (Or to put it another way if it sounds crappy to the side it's probably going to sound crappy anywhere in the hall.) Last time I was there, you could not drink at your seat which is BS. Even the Warner, arguably a much more historic and beautiful venue (now; I can remember seeing the Cure there in 1985 or so when it was skeevy) lets you buy a drink in the lobby and take it to your seat. It's not like I have to drink at every show I attend and I know that a lot of people who go to DAR shows are underage anyway because of the type of bands booked, but there are times when I'd like to have a little something, and given that the drink line is usually light years long (thus guaranteeing no one is going to get that many overpriced drinks as they would miss the whole show if they did) I would like to take said drink to my seat to consume. I understand they may have changed this recently so if that's the case, I rescind my comment. As someone else noted, this venue is not really the type where you can "rock out" and I think this affects some acts more than others. I know i would have enjoyed the Pixies reunion more if we'd been allowed to get crazy and dance near the stage like at a "normal" rock show. When you're seeing something more mellow, sitting in one's seat might be OK. An awful lot of yuppie families and burb-teens frequent these shows also - it's not a normal "rock show" audience or atmosphere. There were two blah-looking parents (not the kind of parents who look like they hit a lot of rock shows, you know what I mean) and three of their kids of different ages (the oldest one being about 16) sitting in front of me at the Death Cab show, it was like we were at the ball game or something. On top of that they all left well before the show was over. I guess it was a school night. Mm-hmm. The layout of the venue is freaky - it's like a big square and the lobbies really don't have enough room for you to do all the stuff you need to do in a lobby, especially when a show is sold out. Finally, do take the Metro because finding parking in this neighborhood has always been a hella gigantic pain in the butt. read more