
When the lights go down and the spotlight shines on the stage, it's time for action. And regardless of what type of performance you're putting on—a comedy show, a dance recital, a musical, or anything else—finding the perfect venue for your event is vital to its success. After all, Boston is a place that allows one to shine. It's a glorious city, with places like Boston Common and Public Garden as prime examples of marvelous locales.
Are you looking for the best place to show off talent? That's where the Giggster app is one very handy addition to your smartphone. With a huge selection of unique and creative performance venues in Boston, you'll find spaces to suit all genres and styles of performing arts. From black box theaters and humble dance studios to grand theaters and auditoriums, here's how to find your ideal Boston performance venue.
Just like a scene shop or costume shop, the Giggster app offers endless creative possibilities for producers and performers. It offers a unique mix of one-of-a-kind venues where you can showcase your talent, connect with your audience, and put on a show that well and truly stands out from the crowd.
Searching for a venue that offers eye-catching extravagance and opulence? A high-energy nightclub with spectacular light shows and a high-end sound system is the ideal dance performance space.
Embrace Boston's storied past when you rent a former opera house that blends historic charm with contemporary flair. When the venue has a unique character you won't find anywhere else, it immediately adds a special touch to any event.
Maybe an art gallery could offer the perfect space for your orchestral performance or dance recital. With light-filled spaces and flexible layouts, galleries are wonderfully versatile venues.
From cozy homes to converted industrial warehouses and lofts, you'll find a diverse range of performance spaces on the Giggster app. It's just a matter of finding a venue that offers the ambiance you want at a price you can afford.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Our curated selection of performance venues offers endless possibilities for creative exploration. There are 23 unique and inspiring spaces to choose from, and your perfect setting is just a few taps away on the Giggster app.
Hassle-Free Booking: Booking the site you want is simple and stress-free. Compare the features and prices of performing arts venues with ease, and contact the venue host directly if you need to ask any questions.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: If your plans don't proceed as arranged, you can take advantage of free cancellations within the first 24 hours after making a booking. However, you will need to book at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled event date.
Platform Protections: Protect yourself against the unexpected when booking a space by opting in to our damage, liability, and cancellation insurance protection packages.
Musicians, dancers, singers, artists, athletes, actors, and more can all showcase their incredible talents in a wide range of performing arts events.
Dance Rehearsals – Practice Makes Perfect. It takes hours of sweat and hard work to nail a seamless group movement performance, and that's where a rehearsal venue like Renovated Waterfront Industrial Loft with Dual Cyclorama in Historic Boston Ice Cream Factory is an excellent fit.
Plays – Treading the Boards. Treat theater patrons to a classic Shakespeare play or a modern favorite in a black box theater or much grander auditorium space.
Concerts – Making Musical Memories. From intimate acoustic performances to ear-busting rock shows, concert venues range from the underground to the iconic, the cozy to the expansive.
Yoga Classes – Relaxing and Inspiring. For something a little different, a dance studio offers all the space and the relaxing environment you need to lead a room full of students through their yoga poses.
Training Sessions – Room to Learn. Whether you've got an expert speaker delivering a lecture or you're engaging in a workshop that calls for hands-on demonstrations, you'll find performance venues to suit on the Giggster app.
Look for these key features when shopping around to find the right performance space for your needs.
Know what atmosphere you need. Start with a clear idea of what ambiance you want in a performance space, how that will affect the audience's mood, and what sort of connection you want between the performer(s) and their audience. This could vary greatly depending on the type of show you're hosting.
Make a checklist of essential facilities. Put together a detailed list of your must-have venue features—a box office, comfortable seating, a location close to the Harvard campus, space for backstage rehearsals, capacity to accommodate a large audience, or anything else.
Don't forget the importance of location. Look for venues that are located somewhere close to central Boston and easily accessible to your target audience.
Make sure the price is right. Your budget will also be a key influencing factor in your choice of performing arts venue, so use the price filter to make sure you only compare locations you can afford.
To ensure that your performance is a creative and box office success, check out the pros and cons before deciding where to host your event.
Advantages
Boston combines historic charm with modern venues and technology, so it's easy to find venues to suit a wide range of performance styles.
With its myriad cultural institutions and strong educational roots, Boston is the perfect setting for any creative arts performances.
If you're producing a musical, artistic, or sports performance event, you'll find plenty of talented professionals to work with in the Boston area, not to mention lots of options if you're looking for a scene shop or costume shop.
Disadvantages
The best performance venues book out a long time in advance, so you may not get your ideal space if you don't start planning early.
Hosting an event in a major city like Boston can be an expensive exercise, so you may need a larger budget than expected.
Finding a venue with enough seating to suit your predicted audience size can sometimes be a difficult juggling act.
Dance show or theater performance, comedy gig or circus—no matter the type of event, there's a long list of jobs you need to tick off your to-do list for a successful occasion. Check the list below for a rundown of key tasks.
Make a Plan – Start by putting together a key plan for your performance. Outline what it will involve, what sort of experience it will offer to your audience, and how much money you have to spend on the production.
Choose a Venue – Compare black box theaters and performance sites across Boston to find your ideal space. Whatever you want in a venue—such as a box office, ample seating, a dance floor, an intimate room, already built backdrops, or anything else—shop around for a space with everything you require.
Spread the Word – Whether you're inviting guests to a special event or launching a marketing and advertising campaign, make sure you're spreading the word to an interested target audience well in advance.
Book any Extras – If you need to hire or buy extra equipment and supplies from a scene shop or costume shop, do so now.
Get Ready for Action – After months of rehearsals and fine tuning, now there's nothing left to do but take to the stage and put on a memorable show.
Do your bank balance a favor and use the tips below to help you cut costs on your next performance.
Know your space requirements.
Make sure you have a clear idea of exactly how much seating capacity you need in a venue. This will ensure that you avoid paying extra for a venue that's too large for your needs.
Use the price filter.
Giggster makes it easy to filter property search results according to your price range. Use the filter to ensure that you only ever compare Boston venues that aren't going to blow your budget.
Check the fine print.
Read property listings closely for full details of everything that's included when you book a space. While Venue A might have a higher upfront price than Venue B, it might end up being cheaper in the long run when you take into account the additional equipment hire costs you'd need to meet for Venue B.
If you're ready to put on a show-stopping extravaganza, download the Giggster app and start comparing the best Boston performance venues now. From pre-show meetings to information sessions to the actual performance, the right venue means everything will flow smoothly.