Simple Studios

Manhattan, United States

3.6

Open now

19 reviews

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 212-273-9696
Website:
www.simplestudiosnyc.com
Address:
134 W 29th St 2nd Fl, Manhattan, NY, 10001
b/t 7th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas
Chelsea
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
440 ft28th Street (1)
600 ftChristina's
940 ft33rd Street (PATH)
Categories:
QR code
Download QR Image Download vCard

Map

Streetview

Activate map

Bussiness info

Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Manhattan) 16:57 Friday, 29 November 2024

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm

Description

Specialties

NYC’s best rehearsal studio for acting, singing, dance, improv, casting and much more. Call us today for more info!

Amenities at Simple Studios Includes*:

–Actors’ Equity Approved Space

–Blue Video/​Photo Backdrop Wall

–Free Wifi Access

–Full-​length mirrors

–Pianos

–White Photoshoot Backdrop

–TV/​DVD Player/​Projector

–iPod Docks

–Tables

–Extra Chairs

–Personal AC/​Heating Units

–Extension Cords

–Music stands

–Assorted concessions available

–Storage space (not guaranteed — please ask!)

*Not available in every room so please make sure to specify your needs when booking!

History

Established in 2009.

Simple Studios was originally built to house the growing number of classes at the People’s Improv Theater (PIT). However, instead of creating «PIT Studios» we decided to build a new all-​inclusive brand incorporating all of the things we wanted rehearsal studios to be: clean, orderly, and efficient, with hardwood floors, stage lights, and, most importantly, an amazing and friendly staff.

Simple Studios truly was built by artists for artists, and, to this day, the staff is made up of artists and creatives. The brand, from inception, has helped other small businesses and artists grow while still under the Simple umbrella.

Meet the Business Owner

Ali F.

Business Owner

Ali Reza Farahnakian studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at ImprovOlympic. He was a founding member of the UCB with whom he helped to create the critically acclaimed show Virtual Reality. At The Second City he was part of the Jeff-​nominated show The Revelation Will Not Be Televised (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he also received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-​man show Word of Mouth was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. He has worked on The Steppenwolf Mainstage in Chicago and BAM in Brooklyn. Television credits include Law and Order, All My Children, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, 30 Rock (3x), & Louie. He has been in many commercials and films, 3 of which have gone to Sundance. In 2002 he he founded The Peoples Improv Theatre and opened Simple Studios in 2009. Spread The Word!

Related places

You might also consider:
110
ft
The PIT Loft
154 W 29th St 2nd Fl (Chelsea, Midtown West)
130
ft
Krowne Vocal School NYC
146 W 29th St 3rd Fl (Chelsea)
170
ft
Folksbiene Yiddish Theater
135 W 29th St Rm 504 (Chelsea, Midtown West)
320
ft
Sound Clash Recordings/Rehearsals
150 W 28th St Ste 803 (Chelsea)
320
ft
Ted Bardy Acting Studio
939 8th Ave Ste 506 (Chelsea)
380
ft
Peoples’ Symphony Concerts
121 W 27th St Ste 703 (Chelsea)

Nearby

Near this location:
1
ft
Ikea Delivery & Assembly
134 W 29th St
1
ft
Karaoke Champ
134 W 29th St Ste 904
1
ft
Gavrilov Dance
134 W 29th St
1
ft
Central Office Solutions
134 W 29th Street Rm 803
1
ft
NY City HouseKeeping
134 W 29th St
1
ft
SJC Products
134 W 29th St

19 reviews of Simple Studios

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Bronx, NY
The most affordable studio space ever. Studios are clean and spacious. Easy to book. I left my really expensive headphones here one day and took 3 days to get them back because the front desk didn’t care to call whoever cleaned up the day I left them. She waited till they would be at work next. She didn’t care about the urgency of asking and finding out if they were found and put away somewhere. That’s why i’m giving them 4 stars. One front desk person ruined it for me. The third day I called, another front desk person helped me and actually called the person who had worked the evening I left my headphones, rather than continue to have me wait till they were at work again, and they told her where they put them and she called me back a couple hours after and told me they were recovered. The person who cleaned up the room, tucked them away safely and told her where. So I was able to get my headphones back. I was so mad I thought someone had stolen them instead of returning them, that I decided not to go back there to rent studio space and rather went elsewhere. But once I got the headphones back, I felt comfortable going back again.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
In short:
Clean and well organized. Your groups name is displayed on a tv with the time slots.
Piano was a bit out of tune but musical stands were available. Be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs AFTER the elevator.
Would come back? Yes
Place rating: 4
Fort Lee, NJ
Pleasant and professional staff. I was able to book a room for a group rehearsal a day in advance. Medium size room, $ 29/​hour, was just right for an 8 people dance practice. You pay extra if you need to rent a stereo.
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
Great for rehearsals, classes and small auditions. They don’t do open calls, and if you’re expecting a large crowd, they make you book an extra room for overflow. Nice variety of studios that have mirrors and pianos. Very cheap walk-​in rates.
Place rating: 2
Manhattan, NY
You get a room and that’s it! Give them your money, get in, get out, and don’t ask too many questions!
When booking during peak hours, it is required to reserve a minimum of 2 hours. This is not mentioned on their website. Ok, fair enough. I get it.
Upon booking, the sales person will ask you if you have any room requirements. I asked for a clear room. When I got to my room I had to clear out trash, a table, and a room of chairs. I KINDLY asked the front desk lady if the table and chairs could be removed from the room. She told me that the chairs have to stay in the room and it is the customer’s responsibility to clear the room for their needs. I asked her to at least have the table removed while I took care of moving the chairs to the back of the room. The clock on my room reservation was ticking. She gave me the look of DEATH while she ran into the room and snapped the table up.
I come from the world of hospitality and managing event and meeting space is my day job so I’m guessing that my expectations were way too high.
This is a bare bones operation and I get it but why so rude? I’m giving an extra star for affordable pricing and central location.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
I’ve been booking rehearsal space at Simple Studios for at least 3 years. It’s easily one of or possibly the best for the area. The staff and management are really helpful, the rooms and common areas are clean and well cared for; unlike other rehearsal spaces that charge the same price but feel like you’re in a closet or in someone’s forgotten dirty basement.
Pianos are available in some rooms, as well as mirrors (which can be covered with a curtain). All rooms have a clock (very convenient for timing rehearsals), ceiling fan and dimmer lighting, in addition to regular florescent lights; to simulate stage lights. Some people are often confused as to why there isn’t a heater in the rooms on the perimeter of the space; however, the AC doubles as a heater. I think its also great that they offer a large, wheelchair accessible, single stall unisex bathroom.
Best of all it’s only a few blocks south from Penn Station and most other trains; so you don’t have to deal with the mayhem of 8th ave, times square or the theater district; like the locations of other rehearsal studios.
The only thing that kept this from being five stars is the price but you absolutely get what you pay for; so let’s go ahead and call it 4 ½ stars.
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
Very nice studio space & the rates are pretty reasonable in comparison to other places (at least from from what I hear). Convenient location, pretty easy to get around and they have bathrooms you can get to easily. No complaints here.
Place rating: 5
Woodside, NY
I’m an auctioneer (livestock and fine art reproductions) and take rehearsing pretty seriously. I’ve tried every rehearsal space in New York City and have found no better balance of value and comfort than at Simple Studios. Clean, quiet rooms; a friendly and professional staff; and stage lighting in every room.
It’s hard to find the right conditions for perfecting your art in NYC. Hard – or Simple.
Place rating: 4
Long Island City, NY
Great space for people who need rehearsal space.
If you can somehow manage off-​peak hours for your rehearsals, Simple is a significantly better investment. Same day rehearsal spaces are $ 15 (much more tolerable than the $ 25? pre-​reserved space.) They don’t call us «starving» artists for nothing right?
But if you’re looking to sing, act, or dance, Simple is a great place and conveniently located for all.
Plus, they accept credit cards (with no additional fee!)
Place rating: 5
Toronto, Canada
Love this place! Always choose Simple Studios when I hold auditions or run rehearsals. Super clean. Great location. Everyone’s really friendly. $ 15/​hr. Can’t go wrong!
Place rating: 5
Stony Point, NY
Came here for an audition for Americas It Girl audition and the building was amazing! So much utilization for so many different companies. The space is so cool too
And the people are very helpful and nice. Not to mention I got the job!
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
Individual classes privately ran all day. Studio provides low costs rooms that benefit the independent performance teachers across the city. GREAT PLACE
Place rating: 4
Greenwood, NY
By far the cleanest, nicest, most spacious and well-​taken care of practice rooms I’ve found in NYC. They are expensive — but you get what you pay for!
Place rating: 3
Manhattan, NY
Convenient walk-​in rooms for $ 15 for anyone who needs to practice with their theater, sketch, or comedy team. On a Sunday there was no problem getting a room or extending for another hour. The girl at the desk seemed really grumpy right off the bat, but for $ 15, I’ll take it.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
I love this studio. Big, spacious and clean. Spoke to Eric and he was super helpful. My theatre company uses Simple Studios frequently and we’ll keep coming back!
Place rating: 1
New York, NY
THE WORST PLACE AND THE WORST EMPLOYEES!!! So I booked a room and they even sent me my invoice, when I showed up a week after for my practice They had no record of my reservation. When I showed them the email, they where «sorry, I guess you are going to have to find somewhere else! Mind you that they even told me that the person using the room I booked and was assigned to me on the invoice email, had booked the room that day! I should have learned my lesson, because when I booked again and asked what was the cancellation policy, they said 48 hours. I called back two hours after to cancel and the Dutch bag that answer told me that they don’t give refund, only credit. A piece of information I was NEVER told this time or the time before. When I said that I was not informed he basically called me a liar! Like their was no chance in the word they would ever mess up … they will even fight with you and defend their case even though they had no clue what went on. This wasn’t a case of «the customer is always right», I just was. I was never told about the policy even thought I asked very clearly what their cancellation policy was and they had more than a chance to tell me. They couldn’t handle their mistake because they are so full of themselves! They are extremely over priced and they think they are a perfect company that NEVER takes responsibility. Guys! Go to Champion studios or the network. They are much nicer people and don’t have Egos working there
Place rating: 1
Manhattan, NY
Called on Friday about reserving Saturday night space and spoke to Sergio. He said he’d call me back after he checked with his manager because they were closing at 10 that night. Never called back. I showed up at 8 to rent a room and the door is locked. i call up and they tell me that they’re «…closing early, sorry.»
Place rating: 1
Woodside, NY
I booked a room a couple of weeks in advance, specified what I needed and felt great about it. The space is really lovely.
Got there to use the room and they had given it to someone else. I was left without that room, put into another which didn’t fit my needs. After asking for a discount they gave me one but I will not be going back.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
A great place to hold casting calls, rehearsals, and auditions. That’s obvious. Some other suggestions on how to use their rooms: birthing children, training award-​show dogs, photographing clowns and other circus creatures, having an «intimate» date (is that what they call it nowadays?), practicing your falun gong without getting egged and meditating Buddhist beliefs. Options are not limited to the above.
The rooms are very spacious; gleaming wooden floors, plenty of wall outlets, clean amenities and bathrooms. The halls are artfully decorated and there are plenty of comfy couches for your waiting guests to sit on. I believe they also have rooms that have a piano in case you need to seduce your «intimate» date or whatever.
Prices are very reasonable, $ 20 an hour for weekends and after 5PM, weekday rates 9AM — 5PM range from $ 20−34/hr, depending on the size of the room.