Review Sweatshop - Brooklyn

Ed Meek

This is my go to for band practice as it's hard to beat the $15-20 rooms. Most spaces are well-appointed with full drum kits, guitar and bass amps, and PAs. The pricier rooms often have pianos and keyboards. Now and then there are equipment issues, but the staff is pretty helpful. One drawback is that the sound deadening could be better, and things get pretty muddled in many of the concrete-walled rooms. Paying so little to use full drum kits is great, but some of the kits need a tuning, and it's hit or miss whether you get a good one. Nonetheless, I will continue to go here, and I recommend it.

Val Bess

What a gem. The Sweatshop has been around for quite some time and has never let up at being a cheap, effective, and wonderful option to jam out with your friends in the city. With rooms ranging from $15/hr up to $35 (or $40?)/hr, you call in a few days before you want to play, and you're set. Most of the rooms have two guitar amps, one bass amp, any number of mics with overhead speakers and a mixer, and a full drumkit, so all you need to do is bring your guitars and sticks and you're ready to go. Some of the rooms have keyboards too. It's a fantastic place to go to jam for a few hours with little hassle and you can even hang out outside of the rooms either before or after you're done if you want to chill a bit longer. Smoking/drinking is allowed. My band has been frequenting The Sweatshop for years ever since we lost our practice space (Hurricane Sandy damn you!!) and it's been a dream. Always a great time. There's a bar or two right next to it and a grocery store one block away so you'll have everything you need. The office also provides extra guitar straps/cords to borrow if you happen to forget yours (for free) and you can rent some stuff from them too.

Z Jadwick

Best staff & prices in the city. No uptight bs, just a great place to rock out

Joe H

I've spent many hours here through the years with different bands. As a drummer the sets are above average. Complete with cymbal felts, wing nuts, etc. The PA systems are nice in the several rooms I've been in. Highly recommended.

Skie Rocco

If you need a place to jam and you don't care what it looks like, this is an economic option. You get your own room, plenty of options from super simple, to the more user friendly rooms with equipment ready for you. the rooms are pretty sound proof, so you can't hear other's rooms. But if you're in the hallway, you can hear everything. Not the cleanest of establishments, but it's just a place to practice.

Will Ford

From the moment you see the place till the second you walk into the office, your faith in the probability of acquiring heroine seem very high. While this place looks like a dump it's great for artists to meet up in the nyc area, all of the essentials are there for you just need to sit down and play (I'm a drummer), I'd bring your own cymbals if you have because they have base line b8 cymbals in all of the studios. Bottom line is this place doesn't look all that great but I'm not there for the sights I'm there to play, this place helps you achieve that with ease and at a cheap price too.

Rob Conger

the folks at Sweatshop bust their humps. the rates are reasonable. the equipment is in pretty darn good condition. the deli is one block, the pita palace is two. As is the L and decent za. what's not to love? Edit" pita palace was closed, is reopened (haven't been yet), but the Sweatshop is back and the AC blows cold. godspeed, local music rental Mecca.

Rob H

Been rehearsing here for years. Very grungy and the community of musicians that has grown around it are all great people. Equipment is taken care of and the drumkits are complete. Staff is knowledgeable, and don't mind turning a blind eye to enjoying yourself while playing. *wink wink* Bottoms up!

Owen Percoco

This is a great place for band practice. From it's strip down, minimalist, punk rock aesthetic, too it's easy to handle pricing, too it's easy to reach location, it's hard to beat. It's a two second walk from an L train stop.

Lyra Wakefield

Great place to practice. Lots of good options for gear and setups. Prices have increased since was there last. Booking online is a new thing and I don't really care for that part so I'm taking off a star for that.

Em Bash

Great spot to practice. It’s in a good location and there’s tons of rooms. I’ve been coming here for years and it’s still being run in the same great way. I will continue coming here as long as it’s open. Looking forward to my next visit.

Jozelle Anderson

Sweatshop is great for what it is, great equipment and lots of rehearsal rooms. They're a bit overpriced for their small rooms. Def been to rehearsal studios that have a better hourly rate with more space.

Will Rockefeller

Prices are good. Equipment is usually good. The PAs could handle a bit more. Most of the rooms are too small to sound good but you can't beat the prices.

Greg S

Studios for all sizes of bands, but they will never give more than 3 mics. Equipment is better than most studios in the area but not great.

Marco Sánchez

I love coming in here. The rooms are always clean, they have a great array of amps, high ceilings, AC, and nice guys in the office.

Neil Kelly

Been rehearsing at Sweatshop since it was located on Metropolitan Ave. Variety of rooms and rates. All rooms have air conditioning, so Sweatshop is merely a catchy name, not an apt description of the climate.

Greg

Go here for the band practices all the time. Parking isn't bad. Rooms are cheap, staff is young and helpful.

Anthony Ortiz

Great place. It smells. The equipment is decent. The staff pretty chill. It's a cool rehearsal studio.

E. M

Great place to practice. They have a wide variety of room sizes available and top notch helpful staff.

Bridgette Kidd

I have been following sweatshop online for a few years now and I was such a fan of their progress online, I finally got to visit in January. It's one of those things that you have such High expectations for (like meeting a celebrity,haha) you are nervous to be let-down. no way, sweatshop was everything and more than I thought it would be. The minimal design and open space, greys/black beautiful. The baristas were very welcoming to me, and my coffee was quality. I am soon opening my own coffeeshop void coffee co in Charleston, WVA. So, I traveled to New York to visit several different spots. Sweatshop was my best experience in the entire city. The barista's kindness combined with my killer drink, made my visit, not only enjoyable, but unforgettable!!Thanks to sweatshop, keep doing great things! Highly recommend

Elise Morris

After travelling the US for 2.5 weeks and being a Melbourne coffee snob I was so excited to be recommended this place by a friend who said his friends opened it. Took two trains and a walk to get down there from Times Square and omg it was worth it. Amazing coffee, good food and great vibe. Well done guys!!!!

Ken Gallacher

Great coffee, great food and great community atmosphere. Bringing the Aussie cafe experience to Brooklyn - a perfect match.

Irene Bluett

Enjoyed reading a menu with references to our hometown Melbourne! Coffee was good. Food too. We visited to say hi to Luke from Bruce Church but he was boarding lol. Glad we dropped by.