I’ve tried a lot of little conveniences over the years, but this Hollywood Bowl box cup holder setup solves one of the most annoying problems once the dinner table comes down.

One of the great things about having a box at the Hollywood Bowl is being able to enjoy dinner before the concert. You set up the table, unpack the food and wine, and have a leisurely meal while everyone settles in.

Then the show is about to start.

The table comes down, the chairs turn toward the stage, and suddenly you realize something:

Where am I supposed to put my drink?

After years of putting drinks on the ground, balancing things wherever I could find a spot, or simply holding onto them for far too much of the performance, I finally found a surprisingly simple solution: clamp-on cup and phone holders.

I tested them at the Hollywood Bowl, and they work great.

Why Cup Holders Work So Well in a Hollywood Bowl Box

These aren’t specifically made for the Hollywood Bowl. They’re designed to clamp onto things like chairs, railings and other supports.

It just happens that the railings around the Hollywood Bowl boxes are a perfect place to use them.

Each holder has a large cup holder plus a separate slot for your phone. The clamp attaches to the railing, so the holder doesn’t take up any of the already-limited floor space inside the box.

Once dinner is finished and the table has been removed, your drink and phone are right beside you for the rest of the performance.

That’s such a simple thing, but if you’ve spent an evening in a Bowl box, you probably understand why I got excited about it.

Not Every Cup Holder Will Fit

One thing I learned while testing these: not every clamp-on cup holder will work on a Hollywood Bowl box. I tried several different styles, and the problem with many of them is the clamp simply doesn’t open wide enough to fit over the box railing.

That’s why I settled on this particular cup and phone holder. Its clamp opens wide enough to fit securely over the Hollywood Bowl railing, while still being easy to attach and remove. As a bonus, it has a separate slot for your phone.

If you’re considering a different holder, check the maximum clamp opening before you buy it. The cup holder itself isn’t the issue—the clamp is.

How I Set Them Up in a 4-Person Box

This is where they work particularly well.

For a 4-person box, I use four holders:

• Two across the front railing for the two people sitting in front.
• One on the left-side railing for one of the back seats.
• One on the right-side railing for the other back seat.

That gives all four people their own cup and phone holder without putting anything in the walking or seating area.

The photo below shows the basic arrangement.

It’s a much cleaner setup than having four drinks sitting on the ground between everyone’s feet.

What About a 6-Person Box?

I’ve also tested them in a 6-person box, and they work there too.

I’d actually suggest attaching them after you’ve arranged the chairs for the performance. That way you can see which sections of railing are easiest for each person to reach without interfering with the person next to them.

The setup that works best for me is three across the front, one on each side, and one on the back railing for the person sitting in the middle of the back row. Six seats, six holders—and it works great!

They’re Most Useful After Dinner

I wouldn’t necessarily bother with these while you’re eating.

When the table is up, you already have the perfect place for your drink and phone: the table.

It’s when dinner is finished and everything gets rearranged for the concert that these become useful.

That’s why I now think of them as part of the transition from dinner mode to concert mode: table down, chairs turned toward the stage, cup holders attached, and you’re ready for the show.

One Less Thing to Juggle During the Show

There are plenty of things you can bring to the Hollywood Bowl that are nice to have. This is one of those inexpensive little accessories that solves an actual problem.

I’ve tested these myself in both 4-person and 6-person Hollywood Bowl boxes, and they’re now something I’ll be bringing along regularly.

Your drink has a home. Your phone has a home. And neither one has to spend the evening on the ground.

See the Cup & Phone Holder I Use →

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