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    Martin Lawrence Tickets

    Arena stand-up · Martin and Bad Boys star · rotating guest comics

    Martin Lawrence came up through New York comedy clubs and Def Comedy Jam, and after years of Bad Boys sequels he is back to headlining arenas as a stand-up.

    By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated How we research

    Upcoming Martin Lawrence dates

    Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

    Martin Lawrence, comedian first

    Martin Lawrence is an American stand-up comedian and actor, born April 16, 1965, in Frankfurt, West Germany, where his father was serving in the US Air Force. A Martin Lawrence ticket today buys an arena stand-up show: an hour of new material from the headliner, usually preceded by a set or two from guest comics. The 2024 tour was billed as his first comedy tour since 2016, so the live show is something fans have waited years to see.

    His family settled in Landover, Maryland, when he was seven, and he was a Mid-Atlantic Golden Gloves boxing contender as a teenager. He started doing comedy in the Washington, D.C., area, moved to New York on the advice of comic Ritch Shydner, and worked his way into The Improv. That club work led to his first acting job, as Maurice Warfield on What's Happening Now!! (1987–1988).

    From Def Comedy Jam to Bad Boys

    Lawrence's comedy profile and his screen career grew together. The milestones that matter for a ticket buyer:

    • Def Comedy Jam: Russell Simmons picked him to host the HBO stand-up showcase, which gave national exposure to comics such as Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle, Bernie Mac and Cedric the Entertainer.
    • Martin (Fox, 1992–1997): the sitcom he co-created and starred in became the flagship of Fox's Thursday lineup and won him NAACP Image Awards in 1995 and 1996. Many fans in an arena crowd know him first from this show.
    • Stand-up films: You So Crazy (filmed at New York's Majestic Theatre in 1993, released April 27, 1994, unrated after an NC-17 dispute), Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (filmed at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, released August 2, 2002) and Martin Lawrence: Doin' Time (2016).
    • Film: Detective Marcus Burnett in Bad Boys (1995) and three sequels with Will Smith, plus Big Momma's House (2000), Life, Blue Streak and Wild Hogs (2007).

    He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 20, 2023, and won a 2025 NAACP Image Award for Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

    What a Martin Lawrence show is like

    Expect observational, high-energy storytelling built on physical comedy and characters, the same skills that drove Martin. Tour announcements for the 2024 run described a fresh hour that "finds the funny in everything from family to culture." Lawrence put his reason for returning simply: "Comedy gives me that instant gratification."

    The bill is a package. Guest comics rotate by city; announced names for the 2024 tour included Deon Cole, Gary Owen, Rickey Smiley, Ms. Pat, DC Youngfly, Desi Banks, Jess Hilarious, B. Simone, Chico Bean, Adele Givens, Mojo Brookzz and Benji Brown. Your city's lineup can differ, so check the event listing. The material is adult, with frequent profanity; his first stand-up film was rated NC-17 before its release, which gives a sense of the register.

    Tours and stand-up milestones, dated

    • 1993 to 1994: You So Crazy, recorded before a sold-out New York crowd.
    • 2002: Runteldat, recorded in Washington, D.C., released theatrically by Paramount.
    • 2016: Doin' Time, his most recent stand-up film before the current era.
    • Y'all Know What It Is! Tour (announced May 8, 2024): a national arena tour of nearly 40 cities planned through April 2025, launched after the June 7, 2024 release of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Early stops included Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on August 3, 2024, and Lenovo Center in Raleigh on September 6, 2024.
    • Y'all Still Know What It Is! Tour (2026): the continuation, including a March 21, 2026 show at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, a theater-size room rather than an arena.

    For dates currently on sale, use the event list on this page or the official tour site.

    Where to sit for stand-up in an arena

    Comedy depends on faces and timing. In an arena, most of the crowd watches the video screens, so the aim is a seat where the stage and a screen sit in the same view.

    • Floor seats near the stage: the only place you read his expressions without the screens. Arena comedy floors are usually set with folding chairs on a flat floor, so a tall row ahead can block you; rows past the middle of the floor gain little over the lower bowl.
    • Lower-level sections facing the stage: the best balance of view and value. The rake (the incline of the seating) clears the floor crowd, and the main screens are straight ahead.
    • Lower-level sides near the stage: close, but at a sharp angle. Physical comedy plays to the front, so side seats see more profile.
    • Upper level: the jokes carry fine on a good arena sound system, but the screens become your show. Pick center sections over high corners.
    • Theater dates: in a room like Hard Rock Live, nearly every seat is close enough to see him directly; front mezzanine often beats the far sides of the orchestra.

    How demand for his tickets behaves

    Lawrence tours rarely, and the 2024 run came eight years after his previous comedy tour. That gap, plus a Bad Boys release the same summer, drove early interest.

    • Presales come first. Venues and promoters often run presales ahead of the public on-sale; the Hollywood, Florida, date ran a venue presale through the casino's social channels two days before general sale.
    • Weekend nights sell fastest. Friday and Saturday shows in large markets tend to be the most competitive.
    • The supporting lineup matters. A strong guest comic on a given night can lift demand for that date.
    • Resale tracks the room. The closest floor rows and center lower-level sections hold value longest; upper-level seats usually soften as the date nears unless the show is near capacity.

    Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee. Some comedy shows require phones to be locked in pouches; check the venue's current policy before you go.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Martin Lawrence still doing stand-up?

    Yes. He announced the Y'all Know What It Is! arena tour in May 2024, his first comedy tour since 2016, and continued in 2026 as the Y'all Still Know What It Is! Tour. See the event list on this page for current dates.

    Who opens for Martin Lawrence?

    Guest comics rotate by city. Announced names have included Deon Cole, Gary Owen, Rickey Smiley, Ms. Pat, DC Youngfly and Benji Brown, so check your event listing for the lineup.

    Is a Martin Lawrence show appropriate for kids?

    It is adult comedy with frequent profanity. His first stand-up film, You So Crazy, drew an NC-17 rating, so check the venue's age policy before bringing a teenager.

    Where are the best seats for a Martin Lawrence arena show?

    Lower-level sections facing the stage offer the best mix of view and value. Front floor seats show his expressions directly, while upper-level seats rely on the video screens.

    What stand-up specials has Martin Lawrence released?

    His stand-up films are You So Crazy (1994), Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002) and Martin Lawrence: Doin' Time (2016).

    Sources