Crucible

Truly a home away from home for me. Fantastic comedy acts, burlesque shows, local music events, and classic EDM club nights straight out of the opening scene of Blade (no blood sprinklers sadly).Drinks are pricey, but *Generously* poured and taste wonderful. Combine that with an excellent culture of safety and accountability from the entire staff. Cant recommend this place enough.

So I think it’s funny that I went there having no pretense to what kind of a venue this was. I believe I caught a glimpse of a photo on the internet, and accidentally deduced that it was folk music night. All I want to say now is that the staff there, for me, ranks #1 in local friendliness, professionalism, and integrity. I had so much fun, and if I had more time here I would make this place a high priority to visit.

Nice size venue with fun art. Not cheap but not overpriced. Punk and metal friendly. Noticed a bunch of folks commented that they didnt like that the bar was not in the performance hall but I liked it. You could hear the bartender easier when the band is on and get a break for a second if you like. There isnt a door separating the rooms, just a cool artistic archway. Theres plenty of seating in both rooms so not sure why thats an issue for people.My only complaint is that they scan your id and keep your info in their database according to the door guy. He said that if they ever have a problem with someone they keep their info on file! Super creepy. I have gray hair so I dont usually get asked for Id but was happy to pull it out until that happened. Makes me think twice about visiting again . Also seems illegal to require that info and store it. What if they get hacked or have a disgruntled employee?!

Great venue for an intimate show. Saw IAMX at Crucible and it was a blast. Great bar, too. Solid cocktail menu. Got to love a place serving up absinthe. Would love to see a show at Crucible in the future and will definitely keep an eye on the performance schedule.

TLDR: Employee Spike intimidates guests (especially the women) and completely ruins the otherwise positive vibes of this club.In general I love the vibes of the crucibal. Most of the employees are super kind, the people attending are sweet, and the decor is super cool. I cant speak to the drinks since I am allergic to alcohol, but overall had a positive experience and enjoyed relaxing with my friends to some karaoke. Theres plenty of space.HOWEVER, there is ONE SPECIFIC employee who was very hostile towards the guests. He goes by Spike and runs the karaoke. Some things I noticed were that he would kick people off the stage for insane reasons. It would be things like changing your stage name, or requesting a song he didnt like and demanding it be changed. He was aggressive about it, too. He would get up in their faces and shoo them away. It felt very power-trippy since these rules of his were not displayed anywhere. Like he WANTED to scare the guests and was hoping theyd annoy him somehow so he could be justified in being rude. He sent me into a full panic attack just for changing my stage name from Hailey to hailstorm for a song. The harassment I received over a stage name change from this employee was atrocious, given theres no rules about changing what shows up as your stage name, and the name that I chose was totally appropriate. He was definitely looking for a reason to scream at someone, and found one with me. Someone named Holly was up next so he then yelled at me are you Holly too??! You cant just pick any name! and he booted that poor girls song too, even though she had nothing to do with me changing my name from Hailey to Hailstorm. Maybe he just hates H names. Im really not sure what his deal is, and I LOVE the vibes of the crucibal so I want to be kind. But the man running the karaoke is unstable and intentionally intimidated the guests, especially the women.He also seems to change the order randomly. Theres an online queue where you sign your name and request songs, but he orders them randomly. So there could be a line of 20+ songs, but then the 21st person so sign up could suddenly go next, or be put in 5th, or anywhere really. I was stuck in 11th place for 5 songs because of that, and after being patient for 3 hours or so I was immediately screamed at and forced off stage over a name. SO inappropriate.Overall I think the crucibal is a nice spot. Other employees were quick to help me calm down and dry my tears after Spikes horrible behavior. The rest of them seem SO NICE, so I hate to leave a negative review, and thats why Im giving it mid-stars. They seem so accepting of otherness, and I love places like that. I just cant feel safe returning as long as that Spike guy is still working there and harassing guests, and the rest of the group I went with felt the same. If you decide to go (and you should, because its a nice place), just try to stay clear of him.

This place is awesome. There are so many different kinds of people who attend the events here, and it feels like such a welcoming space because of that. The drink prices are very reasonable too.

Went to karaoke with friends and the dj was very rude. This was my friends first time going here. They made an account with songbooksonline, changed their username, submitted a song and noticed their username didnt actually change (a glitch in the website). They changed their username again thinking nothing of it, but when they went up for their second song, the dj accused them of cutting the queue because the name was different (but they werent placed any higher on the queue, in fact the rest of us were placed way higher in the queue for our second songs despite submitting our requests after them). When they tried to explain he just made passive aggressive remarks and then quite literally shooed them off the stage. He made sure to purposefully lean forward and make all of his comments directly into the mic for everyone to hear, and added to the embarrassment by loudly reminding everyone in a snarky tone not to change their username. Overall completely ruined the vibes and made us feel very uncomfortable, and if thats how first time visitors are always treated for honest mistakes then we probably wont be coming back.

Where do I start, this bar indulges in so many fun interesting things and creates an environment where everyone is welcome and treated with respect. The venue takes security seriously and that’s amazing I know the people who frequent here are safe humans. This bar is not labeled as a lgbtq+ bar however a good majority of the crowd is queer and everyone is respectful. This place has done a great job at being more inclusive than some of the queer bars in Madison. Signs on the doors of gendered bathrooms saying use what makes you comfortable. Bar tenders asking for preferred names to call you by during events.As for events, you will fail to find a better dance scene in Madison the venue encourages you to be yourself and be wild when you are doing it. You see some of the most amazing outfits in the world here and the djs are always playing music that fits the event and encourages people to actually dance.Overall if you are a person who wants to delve into an alternative dance venue this is an amazing place filled with life where you can meet some of the best friends you will ever have this is the place :)

This is the best club in Madison. We are very comfortable at The Crucible. There are some many interesting events that take place here.

Ill never come back to this bar ever again. The karaoke DJ is absolutely rude as all hell. $13 for a basic captain and coke (double)? Seriously? Justify it when a bar down the street is $8. No, i didnt tip your batrender. Hes making his money on the back end. Atmosphere was lackluster to say the least. If this isnt your crowd, it isnt your crowd. I felt unfomfortable (even as a straight man) by the regulars there who were belligerent drunk on stage and stumbling around the bar like morons.A class-less bar with an even class-less scene. Absolutely abysmal and boring.

Went for their Fae Themed craft event. It was so magical, I loved the aerial dancer and all of the fun cosplays. ❤️

If looking for a dance club in the Madison area, look no further than Crucible. Their staff is outstanding and plenty of parking in the area.

This is my favorite place in Madison, maybe even on Earth. Id live here if I could. Drinks are great, music is great, dancing is great, staff are great, special events are great. Theres something just magical about the Crucible.

A nice and spacious club, especially for events. The bartenders are nice, and they have a decent selection of drinks.

Great safe club, drinks are very expensive so pre game! Make sure to check out the nights theme. It is dress code enforced :)

This place is super inclusive and an all around great place to be. I have never not had a good time there!

This place is epic and so much fun! 🖤✨️

This is a fun and inclusive atmosphere. I look around and see so many people comfortable and enjoying themselves. They have lots of events. I like that the events are very original, I specifically enjoyed experiencing the bdsm night. I’m happy to have found this gem.

Love Leather & Lace night. Solid drinks & a good dance space. The bathrooms are cold, need more stalls, and I havent loved the djs music choices for L&L. BUT all-in-all this is the space & venue Madison has needed for a while. Good successor to Inferno. Safe & friendly atmosphere.

Went to leather and lace and it was an incredible time and awesome group of people. No words to describe it. Definitely coming back!!!

Ive been frequenting the Crucible since 2021, its been a pleasure seeing them flourish and become more popular. The best nights are leather and lace, and the masquerade nights. A Madison gem, no other clubs like it anywhere near here.

Bar and dance venue offering a wide variety of entertainment, in the same night I saw a Burlesque show, a stand up comedian and 80s Dance night. Decent Non-Alcoholic drink offerings as well, had the Black Death Severed Lime sparkling water.

Always fairly empty (fewer than 50 people in a LARGE space), which makes it kind of weird.Good drink prices, but it can be hard to get service with all the regulars cutting line.They have a nice NA menu.

Fabulous vibe! Fun, hard working staff. Respectful and professional security. The best stage to sing karaoke anywhere around -- and yes, even the stage here is wheelchair accessible! Awesome live music and niche events. Even the art is one of a kind. Plus, to top it off, you can really tell the employees care about their club, too - its always well kept, clean, and attractive.

Love this place Nice Club friendly people They have a lot going activities. Made good friends 🙂🍷

The handful of times that I have been here, I was 1 of about 20-30 people there, on a weekend. This could be a cool place but I have never seen many people here. The dance floor area is very large with a raised stage and some tables and chairs lining the perimeter. The bar area is partitioned off from the dance area, which I do not like. IMO, having access to the bar without needing to enter another area from the dance floor would have been better. The bathrooms only have 3-4 spaces in each. There should be more if they are looking to accommodate more patrons. I may change my review, but so far, not really impressed.

Love this place. Great venue for everything from live music to burlesque, drag, and other alternative entertainment. Extremely LGBTQ+ inclusive.

A good place to consider for an alternative dance scene. The clientele were respectful and fun. The music and events vary but tend to gravitate towards industrial and other darker dance music. LGBTQ friendly and open vibe for non-traditional identifications. They have a coat check and lockers. Spacious bathroom lots of space to walk around, sit and chat, or dance on the large dance floor. Beers on tap, neat cocktails, specialty drinks. At this time they only offer bags of chips for food. I hope they change this since there isn’t much food nearby and drinkers need food. I am definitely going back!

Cool place but drinks are too expensive

Great space for dancing and live shows. The performance space is separate from the bar space. You can go from one to the other without crossing the dance floor. When someone spilled their drink on the dance floor, it was mopped up promptly. There are lockers presumably for personal items. The womens bathroom had complimentary feminine products, safety pins, and bandaids.

I went last night on Feb 29th. It was circus themed this particular night with sword dancers, fire players, and other great entertainment. The whole place felt magical and everyone was super nice. Hands down the best night Ive had in awhile. Filled up on popcorn too, it was great.

Do NOT buy VIP, youll never see the stage. VIP seating is the farthest away from the stage behind the dance floor. Bathroom had no heat, like sitting on an iceburg. Bartenders where excellent, they get this place an extra star. Strange layout, bar is in a different room from the stage.

Crucial awesomeness - just what Mad Town needs. Fantastic club experiences - different scenes on different days suit a variety of tastes for people who love clubbing - fetish nights, Metal nights, goth, etc, even those who need a more mild sensory experience. Truly ideal!

Ive been to the Crucible on a few slow weekday nights and a few very busy weekend nights, and have always had a good time thanks to the friendly people at the door, the ever-changing unique events, the fun decor, and the awesome bartenders who you can tell truly want you to have a great experience there. Be sure to check out their events page as there seem to be options for everyone!

Decent hole in the wall. Great for dancing and loud music. Nice bar. Definitely hard to spot in normal traffic. Overall great spot to shake a leg!

This is a super unique club. Pheonominal staff. Ive been to many events here, never disappointed. Safe, fun, friendly. Great drink selection. And pizza now too!

I saw an event on Facebook that I was interested in, not knowing anything about Crucible. It seemed like it was going to be a good time so me and group of friends went. It was DEAD. $5 cover and no entertainment. Not easy to bar hop from either, which is unfortunate because we did not want to stay.Wish I could give more stars but the place (or at least the San Junipero night) was a dissapointment.

Nasty staff very intimately security followed me 2 the bathroom when I had use it made me feel unsafe not first I have been treated horrible will not go there ever again it is shame its a great place for shows and bands and loves the karaoke nights

Hands-down my favorite club in Madison. Fun vibes, much respect and a very safe atmosphere for all. It feels like a community.

Performed for my first time in years with Lady Laughs Comedy. Fantastic spot. Perfect in my opinion. And the music in the background let me know this is a place I need to visit

Great place to go experience all the spice of life.

WERQ is awesome with Tre and there is always something going on there! Never a dull moment and the shows are outstanding! Great staff as well!

Giving Crucible five stars because from what I could tell they have a wheelchair accessible stage for performers. Large bar area and lockers as well.

The best place to party in Madtown!

Great place. Great staff. Will definitely be going back

My favorite place to go to for shows & Karaoke night! Super chill, comfy environment

Safe, fun, friendly place. Very diverse offerings. Love the masquerades and dancing space.

Couldn’t believe I was still in Madison, Wisconsin!!! FIRE!!

The space is nice & big with a large dance floor. Overall a good successor to Inferno.

As far as I can tell this is the only bar in the city worth going to besides Woofs.

Great atmosphere and incredible service. Karaoke in Wednesdays is the best in town.

Great clean venue for seeing heavy bands. Nice staff.

Great people and great music. The best thing thats happened to Madison since the Inferno.

Had a great time tonight ! Fun safe place

Pretty chill

Good music, shows, atmosphere

The worst bar in Dane County, terrible customer service.

Nice spot for a fun evening of music and dancing

Awesome club and awesome atmosphere in the place.

Very safe, very open.

Saw DRI.. need I say less!! 🥳

A great place to dance!

Madison needs to dance and this is THE place to do it!

A great place to have fun.

I had fun.

Coolest new club in Madison!!!

Home 🖤💜✨

Cuz it’s nice

Love!

I ❤️ The Crucible!

Trivia night

Stellar venue

I had an excellent time 🤠❣🍺