Transparent criteria. Same rules for every list.
How we rank
Every A1 list ranks on one number and says which one at the top of the page.
How venue lists are ranked
Each Boston-area venue list uses exactly one number from foobos.net: total upcoming shows, upcoming music shows, or upcoming comedy shows. Most first. Ties go A–Z by venue name. We show the top 8. Nothing else changes the order — not room size, not transit, and not payment.
Who's included
Each list has one entry rule, stated under its title — a city or neighborhood, a capacity range, a posted bag policy, or words in the venue's foobos.net description (for example, "jazz" or "stand-up"). Every venue that passes the rule is ranked by the same number.
- Ranked by — the one number that sets the order
- Who's included — the one rule that decides who is on the list
- Check yourself — showtimes and policies on the venue's own site
Contractor lists
Contractor lists are paused until we have real, licensed firms to list.
What money does not buy
Paying A1 Lists buys a labeled Sponsored · Paid feature (feature story / list presence on business chrome). It does not buy organic #1, ItemList order, or a score. Sponsored placements stay outside the editorial roster and use rel="sponsored" on outbound client links where applicable.
Criteria changelog
| Version | As of (ET) | Change |
|---|---|---|
criteria-2026-10-07.1 |
2026-10-07 | Initial public how-we-rank: license + geo + specialty for contractor P0; foobos-cited venue criteria for Boston culture when live |
criteria-2026-10-07.2 |
2026-10-07 | Venue lists rank on one foobos.net count (total, music, or comedy upcoming shows), ties A–Z, top 8; every list states Ranked by and Who's included. Contractor lists paused until real firms are listed. |
We update this table when inclusion rules or sort keys change.
FAQ
How is each venue list ordered?
By one number from foobos.net: total upcoming shows, upcoming music shows, or upcoming comedy shows, depending on the list. Most first. Ties go A–Z by venue name. Each list shows the top 8. The Ranked by line at the top of every list names the number it uses.
Who makes a list?
Each list states its rule in the Who's included line — for example, venues in Cambridge, or venues with a listed capacity of 200 to 800. Every venue that passes the rule is ranked by the same number. We don't add or remove venues by hand.
Does paying A1 Lists change list order?
No. Inclusion and list order are not for sale. Paying buys a labeled Sponsored · Paid feature story on business pages (/pricing, /how-it-works, /sponsored/…). Sponsored placements stay outside the lists.
Where do the venue and show numbers come from?
From foobos.net, with the as-of date at the bottom of each list. Show counts are the upcoming shows listed there on that date.
What about contractor lists?
They are paused until we have real, licensed firms to list. We won't publish a contractor list without them.
What should I check before I go?
Showtimes, tickets, and bag rules on the venue's own site. Counts and policies can change after the as-of date.
Why can’t I find this page in Google yet?
A1 Lists is in soft launch and hidden from search for now.
Example lists: Top music venues in Boston · Most active Boston comedy rooms · Things to do in Cambridge: live music & comedy