Was going to give this place 3 stars cause there's big pros but also lots of negatives to the experience. However, getting overcharged on my last visit (no matter the amount, cuz it's a small amount) didn't sit well with me, so it's down to 2 stars.
I've been to 4 shows in the last couple months and my biggest take away after 4 shows is: your experience will be largely influenced by where you sit. Let's get into it.
PROS:
1. TALENT: I've been to Rene Vaca, Lady Bunny, Concrete and Chona E. Everyone and their openers are always a hit and some do meet and greet after. A+ for the talent.
2. LOCATION: Having a Laugh Factory out of LA traffic and so accessible is such a pro. Parking is easy and DTCo has a lot to offer.
3. SIZE: The venue is so small that anywhere you sit ON THE BOTTOM, it's gonna be a good view. The GA seats are sufficient.
4. STAFF: The staff has always been very attentive and friendly to us. The layout is tough for them and the'yre trying to get 2 orders in for everybody so, we get it.
CONS: They all tie in to each other.
1. LAYOUT: This places biggest downfall is the layout. Which effects the seating, comfort, experience, everything. Basically, the place was renovated as performing arts theatre in the early 2000s. But it wasn't meant to have wait staff going up and down INTO the aisles taking orders and giving food/drinks. With everyone mandated at least 2 things, you can imagine. Every time the wait staff had to go into an aisle, if a person had long hair in the aisle in front, it was pulled. As much as they staff tries to not, the up and down becomes a big distraction. They're IN the aisles, so it's either blocking a view or you're hearing them take an order. They can't crouch down, there's no space. Sometimes they're trying to take orders from 2 aisles down.
2.COMFORT: The seats are old, hard to sit on and more than 1 are broken. A lady sat on her seat and yelped cuz it broke when she sat down. The guy was like "is it broken?" and yelled out at his staff that this seat and another a row below are broken so they don't sit people there. On top of that, they add restaurant style chairs on the sides so if you sit there, you're randomly 3 inch taller than everyone else and there's no cup holders. If you get a drink that is pour over ice, you're holding 2 cups for as long as it takes to finish them. It's giving greedy with no consideration for the experience.
3. SEATING: Pick your poison. The best experience in terms of distractions is the VIP tables at the front but they cost more and you're gonna get a lot of attention on you. GA is affordable but distracting with wait staff, uncomfortable and very hard to get in out for restroom. balcony VIP booths is less distractions more private but the angle is too sharp to see the act unless you're at the edge of the couch, so uncomfortable seating. Any balcony seat beyond the booth, you're watching the monitor. Cant speak on those sniper seats all the way to the edge but they seem the best option, but they're very limited and i think the highest price.
LASTLY, the reason it went down a star. I heard them start to close out and they just present the total. So I grabbed the menu and did quick math. The total was higher than estimated, so I took off a little from the tip and got a receipt printed. The root beer is on the menu as $6 but rang up as $8. It's a small amount but it's telling. What else are they potentially jacking up cuz customers are paying blindly. It's dishonesty and I didnt like it. read more