Benson's main rock club, opened in 2007 by the founders of One Percent Productions, with a big stage, a full bar and a mix of touring and local acts.
The Waiting Room Lounge sits on Maple Street in the middle of Benson, Omaha's walkable bar and music district. Marc Leibowitz and Jim Johnson, who founded the promoter One Percent Productions in the late 1990s, opened the club in 2007 so they had a room for the local and touring acts they were booking. The building started as a car dealership in the 1920s and spent later decades as a lounge and a pub before becoming a music venue.
The calendar covers a wide spread: punk, emo, indie and garage rock, tribute bands, R&B and DJ dance nights, and the occasional wrestling show or cult-movie event. One Percent presents many of the shows, and other regional promoters book the rest. Age limits are set show by show, so you will see all-ages concerts alongside 18+ and 21+ nights. A 2015 profile in The Reader put the capacity at more than 400 people (a press estimate, not an official figure).
The room is open, with a stage at one end and a dance floor in front of it. The club renovated in 2010, removing a dividing wall and raising the ceilings, and added a Nexo sound system and LED lighting in 2012. The full-service bar runs a 26-handle tap system with a rotating list of craft beers, and the club posts its current taps on its website.
Tickets are sold through Etix links on the club's event calendar. Recent listings have mostly fallen in the $15-$35 range depending on the act and whether you buy ahead (based on recent calendar listings; prices vary). Benson has plenty of bars and restaurants within a few blocks, which makes it easy to grab dinner first or keep the night going after the show. Reverb Lounge, owned by the same team, is around the corner.
A small Benson music room behind a mid-century cocktail lounge, run by the team behind The Waiting Room, with tiki drinks up front and intimate shows in back.
Ticket prices vary by show; recent listings mostly about $10-$30 (based on recent listings); sold via Etix
Nearest CityLine stays: Charming Benson Home - Sleeps 5, Hot Tub! (0.6 mi), Vintage Modern Mid-Century Gem (1.8 mi) · See all rentals by distance
Omaha's Benson neighborhood, centered on the Maple Street corridor, is known for live music, bars, art and the monthly Benson First Fridays art walk.
Free entry
Nearest CityLine stays: Charming Benson Home - Sleeps 5, Hot Tub! (0.6 mi), Cozy Dundee Apartment (1.8 mi) · See all rentals by distance
Two neighboring Midtown city parks: Elmwood Park, with a pavilion and playground, and Memorial Park, with war memorials and a rose garden.
Free entry
Nearest CityLine stays: Cozy Dundee Apartment (1.3 mi), Vintage Modern Mid-Century Gem (1.3 mi) · See all rentals by distance
Hours and prices come from The Waiting Room Lounge’s official information and can change, so confirm on their website before you go. Back to all things to do
