damnlines.comdamnlines.comA subterranean Greenwich Village stand-up institution whose shows sell out online fast enough that a capped standby line regularly forms outside its MacDougal Street door.
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Comedy Cellar's own reservations page states that online booking requires a name, phone, email and party size, caps parties at eight in the MacDougal Street room (four at the Fat Black Pussycat room), and enforces a two-item food-or-drink minimum per person — rules the venue frames around the fact that shows routinely sell out in advance.
When a show sells out, the venue's site explains that a capped standby list opens for walk-ins: 20 to 30 spots depending on the show and room, with sign-ups starting two hours before showtime at Village Underground and Fat Black Pussycat, but only one hour before showtime at the flagship MacDougal Street room. A Tripadvisor reviewer's standby explainer describes the resulting scene as a line that forms around the corner near Minetta Lane, with door staff walking the line to collect names once the prior show clears out.
Timing matters most on weekends: a Lemon8 guide from creator @yourbrooklynguide advises arriving roughly one hour and twenty minutes before Friday and Saturday showtimes for a real shot at a standby spot, while Tripadvisor reviewers report that only about ten standby names typically get called into a packed Saturday-night show, versus noticeably better odds on weeknights.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: Online booking via the venue's own reservation system; parties capped at 8 in the MacDougal St room (4 at Fat Black Pussycat); two-item food/drink minimum per person; shows often sell out in advance, per comedycellar.com.
Walk-ins: Yes, via a capped standby list (20-30 spots per show); sign-ups open 1-2 hours before showtime depending on the room, per comedycellar.com.
There's no official posted wait time, but Comedy Cellar's own site caps its standby list at 20 to 30 people per show, with sign-ups opening one to two hours before showtime depending on the room. Tripadvisor reviewers describe lining up around the corner near Minetta Lane roughly an hour before doors, and say only about ten standby names typically get called on a packed Saturday night — weeknights are reported as noticeably easier.
Yes — the venue's site describes an online booking system that takes name, phone, email and party size, with parties capped at eight in the MacDougal Street room and four at Fat Black Pussycat. Comedy Cellar's site notes that shows routinely sell out online, which is why the standby list exists for walk-ins.
Yes, via the standby list once a show is sold out: Comedy Cellar's site says sign-ups start two hours before showtime at Village Underground and Fat Black Pussycat, but only one hour before showtime at the MacDougal Street room. Spots aren't guaranteed — the venue's own guidance says to arrive early for the best chance, and Tripadvisor reviewers say weekend nights fill the list fast.
Comedy Cellar caps standby at 20 to 30 people depending on the show and room, per its official reservations page. Tripadvisor reviewers report that on a busy Saturday night only around ten standby names actually get called into the room.
Yes — Comedy Cellar's site states guests must be 21 or older, though it notes exceptions may be possible for an 18-year-old accompanied by a parent if arranged in advance by email.
Sources: Comedy Cellar — official reservations page · Tripadvisor reviewer — Comedy Cellar standby line explainer · Lemon8 guide by @yourbrooklynguide — 'How to See Comedy Cellar NYC on Standby'