What a hidden gem. Attended the Joe Jackson concert on Father's Day. My first time at the Joy since the renovations. What an amazing, intimate venue. The sound was great, the staff so professional. Extra shout out to Brian for going far and beyond what you would normally find with a small issue. 5 star experience! read more

Attended the Joy Theater to see the comedian Mojobrookzz. This venue is not a comedy club. It's a theatre. So seating is very compact. No Food served. Only alcohol so it's good that we ate before coming. The staff processed everyone through the doors quickly once open and showed everyone to their seating in a timely manner. We sat in the Mezzanine which provided good view of the stage. read more

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We enjoyed this small venue a lot. Here for the last night of Future Islands show which was added last minute. We bought upstairs seats so we could spend time up and down. Small theatre, small stage, great sound and great gig. A short walk from the quarter. Everyone was friendly and polite and the wine pours were good value. Not a bad spot in the house to enjoy your faves. read more

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The show was great, but the theater was grossly overfilled. I'm pretty sure there were some overcapacity issues taking place. We had to practically stand in the lobby to see the show. Definitely not what I remember this venue being back in the day. read more

The Joy Theater - Alt-J - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

A New Orleans icon! We had an awesome time dancing the night away at the Joy Theater (one of New Orleans first movie theaters in 1940s, now a theater hosting concerts and shows). The security check was super speedy. There's an upstairs balcony with seats as well as a downstairs floor section for standing. Sadly there was no food being sold (was hoping for some popcorn) but they have a solid top shelf drink selection. read more

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There's nothing better than an intimate concert in a historic theater. Flew to NOLA to see Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real. Not only amazing talent, but a fabulous venue to boot. Going through the metal detectors was quick and efficient. You get a bracelet if you're of drinking age and a stamp if you want to exit and re-enter. Lots of security and all staff is very friendly. Two levels: floor with no seats, mezzanine with several rows of seats, all with a perfect view. You really can't go wrong no matter where you watch the show from. Three bars (2 on first level, 1 on second level) though I didn't have anything. Overall a great experience. Friends who live in New Orleans go to concerts all the time, but had never been to The Joy before. They said it's now one of their favorite venues, so hopefully they will keep booking good acts. read more

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Visited for the first time to see Lavell Crawford's show. The line was wrapped around the building about 30 minutes prior to showtime. The line could've moved quicker but I appreciate the metal detector process for everyone's safety. I had tickets on the bottom level. There was a bar in the lobby that was semi packed but one of the attendants informed us that there was another bar inside the 1st floor section. The bar was cashless option only. The seats were comfortable and not too close together. There are hotels in walking distance. I would definitely attend another show here. read more

The Joy Theater - a crowd of people standing in front of it - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Absolutely the worst venue I've been to in many years. The staff could care less about letting concert goers into the theater in a timely fashion and I had to wait over 45 minutes to get into a show, missing half the concert!!! In addition, we had seats in the first row of the upper balcony and the staff would not clear the isles so we couldn't see the band. This also creates a fire hazard as people should not be able to fill the isles. Total incompetence and will not be back to this place. read more

The Joy Theater - Here's the view you'll have from the upstairs seats! Total joke with people filling the isle! - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The setup was nice and lavell was funny and it was awesome because we had to lock our phone in cases because it was live streaming. The show was good my wife and I enjoyed. read more

The Joy Theater - the neon sign for the show - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I came here for the first time to watch Lucky Daye perform in his hometown. The line to get in wrapped around the block and they had a very slow security system to get in. I guess that is what is to be expected from a more intimate theatre. Overall, there is NO bad seat in this place!! You are close no matter where you are sitting. I was on the balcony and still felt like I could see the details in his clothing. A great experience overall! read more

The Joy Theater - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Visiting NOLA and walked to Joy Theatre on a Friday afternoon when they had a "no service charges" promo on and bought a ticket to an event that weekend. Lucked out with a seat up front to a great event! Nice people, friendly bar staff, big screens set up so could see the performers, had a great time. Don't know what further back seating was like but I really enjoyed my front seated row for the Croce Does Croce event. Easy walk (for me) from the French Quarter area on very busy streets full of people so felt safe as a solo traveller. read more

The Joy Theater - Croce Does Croce front row right side - March 2024. - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Attended my first concert here this past weekend for Rüfüs Du Sol and I had an absolute blast. The security screening and ticket line was painless and went by pretty fast. There are metal detectors and an usher who hands out 21+ wristbands when they verify your age with a valid form of identification. There was a bar available as soon as you walked in and there was another bar on the dance floor. Didn't have the chance to explore the upper balconies but an usher informed me one of them is accessible at no additional cost! Sound was great and I had a blast. Drinks were very fair priced for a venue space. I only saw one set of bathrooms which always had a long line but not sure if there were more bathrooms on other levels. Overall a solid time regarding the venue itself! read more

water was expensive but at least i got to mosh my little emo heart on and meet so many cool people read more

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I've been to the joy for a variety of events... movies, parties with stage shows, live music. It's a fun venue that's been restored attractively. Sometimes the floor is open; sometimes they have seating setup. And one time, it was bring your own chair... that was odd. The staff is friendly and bathrooms are mostly clean. There are a couple of bars around and the prices and quality of drinks have varied depending on the event and who was at the bar. Great place to see a show in a more intimate setting and if the floor is standing only, you can always rest your feet by heading upstairs, if it's open. Also there's often a food truck parked outside for your snacking needs. read more

Fabulous venue with a great sound system right in downtown. Saw the Drive-by Truckers here last night and it was a wonderful way to start off my musical journey in New Orleans. It was a relaxed atmosphere inside the club and everyone seemed to be having a great time too. If you get a chance to see a show here, I highly recommend it. read more

The Joy Theater - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I came here for the first time for one of Buku Fest's after parties. After an awesome Friday at Buku Fest, my friends and I attended BUKU Late with NGHTMRE, B2B, Slander, Ekali, Medasin, Wavedash, and Klutch. The Joy Theater was not what I expected it to be. I thought it would be sort of like a movie theater with seats everywhere, but there was a massive dance floor for everyone to get down and dance! There is a front bar by the entrance and another bar inside by the dance floor, so everyone can get some drinks without too long of a wait. For the event, there were plenty of water containers for everyone who needed water, which was greatly appreciated. The restrooms are small, so there can be a line sometimes. I did not go upstairs, but it seemed like a lot of people enjoyed it up there. I go to a lot of events, but this was probably one of the better events I have been to. It was my first time here, so I really shocked with the sound and the lighting of the stage. The sound was clear with heavy bass that shook the whole dance floor. The lights added such dramatic effects and had a bunch of lasers shooting from the stage which looked amazing. Everything was done perfectly for the artists' talents to be showcased on stage! I know everyone had a blast for this event! read more

I love this theater. I've gone to a few different things here. Every experience has been great. All the staff have been friendly and helpful. The bar has a great drink menu. There restrooms are a little small, but never had to wait too long. Parking can be a challenge, but it's New Orleans, it's to be expected. read more

I was able to finally make it back to The Joy last night, for the Ben Folds show, and it was a wonderful experience. I have always been impressed with the way they do things here- they are extremely good at getting people through the line and to their seats and everything is well organized. For the show, we were seated upstairs which has it's own bar space and bathrooms. If you can get a seat upstairs for any show, go for it; it is absolutely worth the few extra dollars. From where we were sitting (Row C) we had a fantastic view of the stage, sound was perfect and the seats were comfortable. We really couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

Prices are outrageous.. Staff members are rude. The general manager of this venue is a joke. No one has any training on how to defuse a situation much less the laws of what a bouncer is or isn't legally allowed to do. I will never spend another dime of my money with this venue after they threw my husband down a flight of stairs. I've never seen a worse solution to conflict and I've worked in the service industry for 15 years. read more

Staff members are rude and not knowledgeable. Bathrooms are small and filthy. Security is a joke and doesn't look out for customer safety. We had to lower crowd surfers over the rail because security wasn't there to catch them, and one of the security guards even came over to push one of them on the ground. Not a safe, clean, friendly environment. read more

The Joy Theater was the perfect venue for the Miguel concert! We made it to the line a little before the doors were supposed to open because we had general admission tickets. The July heat was doing its normal duty of pestering us all, but we survived. The space is pretty nice, its big enough and has some upstairs seating, but not too grand that it doesn't feel intimate. Two bars on level one and possibly one upstairs. Never waiting long at all to get a beverage which was awesome. Sound system and audio were on point all night. You know sometimes you feel like someone is howling in your ears all night. Only complaint is the box office. They don't open unless there's a show going on that night. I despise having to pay those "convenience fees" if I don't have to. Ten extra bucks to print my ticket out online? Seriously?! Its a bit outrageous. Needless to say even if you buy and pick up your ticket from the box office there's still going to be a charge. Blah. It's 2015 people....everything is ONLINE now. Other than that I had a great experience. Miguel certainly rocked the house! read more

The Joy Theater - Miguel in concert. #WildHeartTour - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Every time I've come here for a show, I've had a great time. I saw TNAF in 2016 and Elohim/Glitch Mob a few months ago. Even though these shows are big, the venue seems intimate somehow. And it's never hard to get a drink at the bar even though you'd think it would be crowded. Seats may technically be assigned but you can kind of go wherever and you can come and go from the venue as many times as you want as long as you go through security again, which is not a big deal. Bathrooms are accessible and clean. These shows usually draw a quirky but passionate crowd. read more

I've been to The Joy several times for concerts. It's a great venue for smaller artists who want a more interactive concert. There's seating higher up, but I always like to be in the standing room part of shows. Location has plenty paid parking lots that aren't too expensive. I love attending this venue! My only con is the drink prices. While the cocktail list was priced okay, it seems like they charge a full double price for a double shot cocktail...ouch! read more

The venue was nice. Went there to see my favorite singer Miguel. We had great seats in the balcony. VIP bar was great and not having to fight to get to the front or being next to someone close like sardines was great, however I would have went through that if I knew Miguel was going to jump of stage! Next time I'm buying general admission. read more

The Joy Theater - Miguel Wildheart tour - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I came here for An event and it was really fun. He played really good. We came super early because we thought that they were going to have a line and we didn't want to stand outside in the cold. Surprisingly, lines were quick, but it was probably because we came earlier than usual. We didn't like that fact that as the night went on, it became so crowded that people started to push one another. Overall, it was fun! read more

Oh theater with my name (sorta. They misspelled it, but that's OK). Not bad, not bad at all. It's a decent place to see a show. It's an old theater that's been not quite restored, but definitely updated and made decent. Drink prices: High. Very high. But it's what you expect at a music venue, right? Bathrooms: Pretty pathetic, as if you're in GA, you're stuck with the one set of bathrooms on the first floor so expect crazy lines. Sound: Bring earplugs. They crank it to unreasonable levels (my ears are still ringing). That said, at least the sound is *good*. Security: Meh. Last night I saw Gogol Bordello here. A large drunk man was a very obvious disturbance at the start of the show. Lucky me to be in his line of fire, as he bumbled through, literally pushing me out of the way (I was off to the side so as to avoid being surrounded by people) and by "push" I mean, violently. I watched him then go over to the trash bin in the back and figured he was about to throw up. There he lingered for a while, picking through the trash bin like the grizzly bear he was, before ambling back through the heart of the crowd. And I mean, he was a HUGE eyesore. There's no way security needed to be told by a girl who came out of the crowd to alert them that this guy was a nuisance. Next I saw him (the big bumbling idiot) CRAWLING through the crowd, as a security guy walked behind him. He was escorted to the lobby, where he stayed for a while (too long) on the floor. Why he wasn't brought outside and left outside is beyond me. Then there was the pot smoke. In this day and age where no one is smoking anything indoors, it's pretty fucking obvious when someone lights a joint. Then there were the several vape fiends. Look, I don't have anything against vaping. It doesn't bother me. I just couldn't help but notice security was off their game here in a big way. It's like they didn't really care about anything but doing the bare minimum. And finally, the way the sound crew handled the of the show left a lot to be desired, too. Gogol Bordello played a long set, true, true, probably 2 hours, but then, suddenly after what was to be their last song, they just turned the house sound on, loudly. WTH? No curtain calls? I get that they went over, but how effing rude. I've been going to shows for over 20 years and I don't think I've ever seen anything like this. If it had been part of the plan, well, it didn't seem that way. The band graciously did their bows and waves and got off, probably vowing to never return. Luckily the things they get right outweigh the bad, so three stars it is. The gal taking tickets was super nice and the people checking your bags etc. were respectful. Bartenders are quick and efficient. Sight lines are excellent. GA can sometimes be a nightmare, but that's not the case here. AND! There's the mezzanine with comfy seats if that's your thing. Finally, I appreciate the other type of events and activities (movies, yoga) going on here. read more

I went to an INCREDIBLE comedy show here in November 2014. I laughed hysterically through every moment of that show. But honestly, this venue sucks. First, my arrival: About 35 minutes before the show was scheduled to start, there were hundreds of people outside waiting to pick up their tickets. There was no option to print at home; everyone had to wait in line. I guess the point was to try to prevent scalpers, but it really made the process difficult. Parking was challenging as there is no lot directly associated with the theater or even next door. I parked about 2 blocks away and would have been a little perturbed about walking those 2 blocks at 10pm except for the obnoxiously bright Saenger theater lights. Back to the ticketing: This was definitely in the top 5 most stupidly executed will call booths I have ever seen. They had split it up into 3 sections alphabetically: A-J, K-S, and T-Z. I don't know who decided this, or how, but it lead to 1 absolutely empty line (how many people have last names from T-Z, I guess unless you invite every Thibodeaux in Louisiana); 1 almost empty line with 2 competent employees checking ID's and handing out tickets (K-S); and 1 monstrous line with 1 incompetent woman barely handing out 1 ticket every couple minutes. So here I am, 30 minutes before the show is supposed to start, at the end of this interminable line thinking I'm going to miss the show because of the sheer incompetence of whoever is "organizing" this theater. I finally got my tickets (really, this did not seem like a foregone conclusion) and headed inside and there were...no signs. No people to help me locate where to go. No signs. No nothing. Random doors, stairs, people walking around, NO. SIGNS. Ugh, how hard is it to have some flippin' signage people?? Literally a sign above the door that says "Section ____" would have been awesome. I figured out where my section was and could barely find my row because the lights were so low...because I was late...because they couldn't figure out how to distribute tickets...and the seats don't have numbers on them! Why assign seat numbers on the tickets if you don't have seat numbers on the seats? Literally who is in charge here?!?! How did they get this job? What is happening? As the show is about 14 seconds from starting, I just choose a seat that, statistically speaking, is probably close to where I was supposed to be sitting, and sit my butt down. Then realize I have about negative 1 foot of leg room to spread out. Ah! Nothing like watching a show while cramped up feeling like I'm flying coach on a cheap airline! The only reasons this place gets 2 stars instead of 1 are: 1) Awesome show, so clearly someone here is competent enough to book good acts 2) The seats (while affording no leg room) were nice and squishy so my butt didn't hurt at the end of the show I would definitely not go out of my way to go here, but if something I really wanted to see was playing here I wouldn't necessarily avoid it. I wish this place wasn't so sucky, that it didn't leave such a "blech" feeling. I wish I could like and recommend it, but I just can't. Shape up, Joy Theater. read more

What was once a make out theater in my youth has been transformed into a state of the art music and multipurpose facility with some of the best acoustics I have heard in a long time. We were treated to a movie and followed by a concert and both were presented well and they had a full stocked bar with a food truck parked outside and they allowed you to bring the food in which was great. I am excited to come back here again soon. read more

My first experience at the Joy Theater was pleasant. We came to see Tegan and Sara, and opener Torres. This is a nice little intimate venue and it seems that all the seats are pretty good. We got the balcony Row B seats 1,2 and I was so happy I didn't get general admission (standing only!) Next time I will get mezzanine seats which are a little closer than balcony. I really love smaller venues like this it's so much easier to see the stage. Please note, it's very cold in here. Also, they do not serve any food, bummer. read more

I just performed there a few days ago. It's not as big as I though it was. Although the green room only stocked beer, I was still happy with the venue. At the bar the drinks were cool. Affordable and strong. The service was quick. The only thing I didn't like was they served the champagne in a plastic cup! I'm a casual girl but don't do that. Ever. What we loved were the $4 King Cake Shots!! I ordered them for my friends because it was posted on the bar and cheap. I didn't expect much. Most king cake flavored things just taste like icing and sugar in a cup. I expected to hate it. But I Loved It! #HighKick They were perfect, we got 2 more rounds! Now I have to buy tickets to some cheap show to get more King cake shots!! Dang! I'm sure they are only served during Mardi Gras but I now have faith that this venue serves great shots. read more

Growing up in New Orleans, the Joy in my mind was for the most part just a dilapidated shell of a former theater. It always looked like a sad blight on the corner and a reminder of "what used to be". I'm sure back in the day when Canal Street was the Cultural Center of New Orleans and a shopping mecca back in the days of Maison Blanche and Krauss department stores, the Joy was a beacon of style and class...but time had it fall into dis-repair. It's just a joy - no pun intended - to see it restored to that former glory. I've had the chance to enjoy this venue in 2 different set-ups. I went to a concert and sat in the front row of the balcony and it was a great venue for a smaller intimate concert. I like it much better than House of Blues for the same size event. I also went to a party there where the first floor was an open space with bars, food stations and scattered hi-boys. I love that this venue is a theatre that also easily doubles as open party flow event space. I'm an event planner and happily can recommend the Joy for a unique venue for a meeting held theatre style or for a really fun and different networking social or party. Event planners like me are always looking for ways to shake up a boring business meeting or conference and this place easily fits the bill. I'm already thinking of ways to use this space in the coming year!! I'm thrilled that Yelp had the Bloody Bash party there at Halloween so I could experience it for myself. Thanks for that! read more

I saw "Foul Play" as a girl. The best pat of the movie was when Chevy Chase kissed Goldie Hawn in the morning afterglow, and a kid yelled, "OOOH! He didn't even brush his teeth!" I can say this place must have gotten a Sonic brushing, 'cause it's way cleaner than it was back then! I love the random events that take place here: yoga, worship services, live music, and other oddities. read more

We frequented this establishment for a Yelp event related to Halloween, dressed as a zombie and zombie hunter. Product: This event was centered around a bloody mary tasting contest, but was not the only thing available. There were donuts and other confections available as well. Many of the drinks were great, but some were too salty for my palate. It was a nice treat. (4 stars) Service: Employees worked the entrance, and I think they were also cleaning up as we went along. There were some non-bloody mary drinks available at the bar upstairs, and service was timely, if not outright lightening-fast. The competitors in the competition, as well as other businesses showcasing their wares, worked their own table. (3 stars) Facilities: The Joy is a refurbished old theatre that has recently reopened after being rehabilitated. The outside has a definite Art Deco theme to it, down to all the neon lighting, reminiscent of the high days of New Orleans culture in the early 20th Century. One could easily imagine a flapper or a mobster and his doll walking into the place. Inside, there was an open floor past the entranceway, though I imagine they put in chairs for some events. There is a nice, large stage for performers, and TVs for those who may not immediately be able to see the stage well. Upstairs is even nicer, with stadium seating and a full bar area. (5 stars) Overall: A great event, and one that I hope occurs again. I rather like the venue, and it is above average for event venues in the area. I would recommend shows here, depending on the event taking place, of course. (4 stars) read more

It's the anti-TARDIS. It's much smaller on the inside than it looks on the outside. Having said that, it's a beautiful venue and if the staff during the latest Yelp even help there (Either the bloody blash or the bloody bash, depending on the #hashtag), It's a very nice space. Yes it's beside a very questionable strip of Canel/Elk, but the venue itself is really quite nice. It reminded me a bit of a smaller version of the Fox Theatre in Detroit. I am reviewing this seperately from the event Yelp hosted here. I made sure I studied it for just itself. P.S. If the staff is the same all the time as it was the night of the event, then they were not only efficient, but amazingly graceful, even for the cheap a-holes who didn't tip. Yes. I saw some of you elites not tipping. For SHAME. FOR SHAME! read more

Theres really nothing nice about this theater. First, its in a sketchy area and the shood step up security like the Sanger did. Instead, their own staff seems questionable. The door man chatting it up with his buddies smoking a cigarette. The stage is small and the theater doesnt have any charm. Overall, unless its something you really want to see, I'd pass on going here. read more

The best sounding venue in New Orleans! Any and every band sounds the best that they can be live. it is an enjoyable and beautiful space to attend a concert. Everyone that works there is incredibly nice. The drinks are a bit more expensive but they are made strong! I wish they had concerts here more regularly. read more

Very cool venue for hosting a party. The open floor on ground level makes for a great space to do whatever you want, plus the bar in this area is convenient. The stage up front, well, it's there to be put to good use. The balcony up top makes for a good little area too, and is especially good for a "VIP" section, with it's own bar and facilities. And last but not least, the bar at the front door. It just greets you like an old friend. For the event I attended recently, the place was clean and had friendly staff who chatted if they had time. And there were plenty of staff to keep the place clean and running smoothly all evening. read more

Not a JOYful experience at the JOY theater at all. I bought VIP tickets to see Bootsy Collins. I paid extra for the tickets so we could have reserved seats. When I get there the security guards are telling everyone that it's open seating which it wasn't. We then had to argue with an ass to get him out of our front row balcony seats. Poor management here. When I asked security why they were telling people it was open seating, the guard said "because the lights are dim and people can't see the seat numbers". If I book weeks in advance and choose specific seats I expect that to be honored. I run music clubs and this is not good service at all. By the way: if you do purchase VIP tickets which do come with a free drink, make sure you pick up the drink ticket downstairs before you go upstairs otherwise you're in for attitude from a miserable bartender. No one told us we needed to get a special drink ticket. read more

This is a great old theatre on Canal St. they don't make them like this anymore! If your lucky you can find one that someone has restored to its original beauty. It is a wonderful place to see a band! Small and intimate! It reminds me of the State Palace Theater. A run down theater down the street that had seen better days where bands would preform at in the 90's. What's great about the Joy is they don't have permanent seating on the first floor in front of the stage. It's general admission, standing room only. That way you can move around when seeing a great band and your not get stuck behind that really tall person that blocks your view of the stage. If you prefer to sit you can go onto the balcony area and have a great vantage point. They have two large bars downstairs one when you enter the theater and one on the floor level heading towards the stage. When I walk into old theaters like this I can't help but think about the people who attended performances in times long past! read more

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I went here for a storytelling event, The Moth... You know what this is if you are a fan of NPR or their Podcasts. In my opinion, I think this was the perfect theater for the event. The Joy Theater isn't large like the Saenger Theater and not super small like the music room at Snug Harbor or House of Blues. Decor is on the modern side but not overwhelming that it distracts your from what's on stage. Some might get sketched out by the neighborhood, but lets be real the CBD is a mix. Keep calm and enjoy yourself, you're a hop and a skip from some good bars and eateries in the quarter once your show is out. Have some fun. read more