UCB Comedy Club
Where to Watch Comedy as a Student on a Budget?
Upright Citizens Brigade
Upright Citizens Brigade, more commonly known as UCB, is a comedy training institution, but also puts on hilarious shows with some of the best comedians in town who perform sketch, improv, stand-up, and experimental comedic performances. There is live comedy every day of the week, and my personal favorite show is watching SNL cast and writers perform improv on Monday nights for $10-$15. UCB is located in the Union Square area, which makes it a convenient walking-distance venue for NYU students to watch comedy at. Although there are no student discounts, you can watch some of the best comedians in NYC take on the stage minutes from campus.
The Stand
The Stand, located a few blocks north of Union Square, is my favorite place in the city to watch free stand-up comedy. I’ve seen various A-list comedians both performing and watching comedy there, so that makes it all the more exciting. Every Monday night Aaron Berg, a bold insult comic, hosts ‘Frantic’, a free stand-up comedy show featuring some of the funniest people in the city (up-and-coming comedians, club regulars, and even some SNL stars like Marcello Hernandez and Emil Wakim) Also, if you want to get ‘insulted’ as a crowd member, sit in the front, and Aaron Berg will happily roast you…! Overall, The Stand is a great place for students to watch free and quality comedy in New York City.
The Red Room at KGB Bar
The Red Room hosts various comedy shows throughout the week, but my most frequented is a $10-$15 show every Tuesday in the heart of the East Village called “Tuesdays at The Red Room” with Emily Wilson and DJ Good Attitude. I like to say that Wilson does ‘comedy for the girls’, because of her spunk and charm that she delivers flawlessly to her audience. The show often has comedians that I’ve seen on SNL, my TikTok ForYou page, or even at other open mics around the city. Much of the show is stand-up comedy, but there’s sometimes musical acts, and there’s almost always karaoke after the show, which Wilson encourages her audience to participate in. The Red Room is great for students who want to discover new comedians, watch some of their favorites, and overall enjoy an entertaining night full of laughs.
NYU Comedy Clubs
NYU has various sketch, improv, and stand-up clubs where students can watch fresh and funny comedy for free, with shows happening at different points throughout the month. Many of these comedy clubs have bred successful alumni, from Donald Glover to Rachel Sennott. If you want to watch sketch, check out Hammerkatz or Etch-A-Sketch. For improv, go watch Dangerbox or After School Improv perform hilariously spontaneous comedy. Lastly, if you want to watch NYU stand-ups take the stage by themselves, NYU’s stand-up group, Astor Place Riots always puts on a fabulous performance for students. Most NYU comedy troupes have Instagrams, so follow them to keep updated on show dates throughout the school year!
Where to Perform Comedy?
I must confess, NYU students are some of the funniest people in the city, and I think more of us should take the stage and hone in on our own comedic acts at open mics and clubs around town. Oftentimes, mics will have participants pay a small fee around $5 to perform, but sometimes this comes with food or drinks. Some of the most frequented open mics around the city by young adults are The Comedy Shop, located on Thompson Street, seconds from campus. The Peoples Improv Theater (PIT) also offers various mics throughout the week that are great for comedians to experiment with their set. Tisch’s Dramatic Writing also offers a safe space for students to practice their jokes during their ‘open mic nights’ held at select nights throughout the school year. Overall, there are infinite opportunities to get involved with live comedy at NYU and in New York City, and there’s no better time to do it than now!
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