The Bowery Ballroom is a small place so you can get up close and personal with new bands or well-established bands that have been around for a while that just decide to play a gig there, which is pretty cool. There is not any seating, but that does not matter for me since I go there to see the bands, not sit down.

It is a very cool place to see a band play. Very little if any seating. Best to stay around the edges of the crowd in case you need to make your way downstairs. You can get really close to the stage if you want. Also..if you drive there, be careful where you park. There is parking on the streets but be very mindful of the parking signs or the band you're seeing might be a lot more expensive than you thought.

I like the vibe of this place. Cool lounge area all draped in velvet with a bar. The ballroom itself is spacious, with no seating and definitely gives you a chance to get up close to the artists.

I went to see John Brown's Body at the Bowery Ballroom, and brought a few joints along. Expecting a reggae concert to be ablaze with sweet smelling smoke, I was surprised not to smell any. But what the hell, the songs are picking up and most of the songs are about toking up, so my friends and I light up. The concert's sick, the bands got smoke effects, and the smell's giving it a real reggae feel ? sick concert.
Suddenly I get a shove from behind by the bouncer who proceeds to kick us out of the building. Their other bouncer, some dumb throwback roadie from Styx with a cutoff tee and lame tattoos stepped in to give his two cents, "What were you thinking a holes?" Ya, maryjane at a reggae concert. O M G. The staff here, reflective of the venue, is the worst. From the guy at the door, to the guy who checks your stuff, to the aholes who think smoking at a concert is ridiculous. A bunch of jerks, which seems to be the norm among new york city venue staff. They get good bands, John Brown's Body and Rubblebucket Orchestra were great, but Bowery Ballroom completely ruins that by catering to the upper balcony dining tables (filled with 40+) and stepping on the people down on the floor. OVERPRICED AND TRENDY

The Bowery Ballroom is nice and large with almost no seating. But the people who come here want to dance, not just listen to music. The crowds are usually large and enthusiastic. Its a fun place to hang out.