Was M.I.A. & LCD Soundsystem show at Avalon; now just a rant about shitty venue policies
Normally this space would contain a quick review of the M.I.A. & LCD Soundsystem show from tonight at the Paradise. But unfortunately, I have nothing to write about, because I left before the first act even went on stage. Here’s what transpired.
First, the doors were were originally scheduled to open at 7:00pm. But because the Avalon needs to turn into a nightclub in the evening, the show got pushed up to 5:30 doors (6:30 show), which meant I had to go straight from work.
I showed up to the Avalon at 6:00, and got in line. After having my ID and bag checked outside, I went inside to the lobby and bought my ticket. Once a ticket was purchased, I was led through a turnstyle into the hallway leading to the main concert floor.
I was stopped on my way to the main ballroom by a security guard, who informed me that I needed to check my bag. Having come straight from work, I had my newly purchased Powerbook with me, and wasn’t about to check it in to a coat check for the evening. As far as I was concerned, the Powerbook wasn’t going to leave my side.
The security guard wasn’t having it. He stated that it was policy for males to check their bags (girls didn’t have to), and refused to let me in to the show. He tried to convince me that my bag would be safe in the coat check, but realistically, I knew better.
I used to work at a nightclub, and I can attest to the lack-of-security of items left in the coat check. Nearly every night some poor person would leave without their coat or their bag or would claim that items were missing. Typically, more than just staff members go in and out of the coat check room, and so anything can happen.
At this point I was left with only one realistic option – exit the building, hope to run into a friend outside with a car, and try to stash the computer in the car.
This option presented its own challenges, namely that I wasn’t comfortable leaving my laptop out in a car, and doing so required logistical arrangements after the show in order for me to reclaim my bag. Not terribly inconvenient, but not as ideal as simply keeping my bag by my side.
But then another problem arose – the Avalon staff member at the door wouldn’t let me exit the building to drop off my bag in a car. Apparently they have a firm “no re-admittance�? policy that they were just sticking to. So this left me essentially stranded in the hallway of the venue between two security guards – one that wouldn’t let me enter and another that wouldn’t let me leave.
At this point a couple of thoughts occurred to me. First, when they checked my bag outside I told them I had a laptop and they made no effort to inform me that I’d have to check my bag. Had they told me this prior to passing through the turnstyle, I would have been able to anticipate the situation and prepare accordingly. I asked a staff member who seemed to understand my situation (though not very empathetic) and he informed me that they intentionally don’t post signs because people would claim they were sexist (since their policy only applies to males).
I asked this same staff member what he proposed I do. He suggested I:
- Call a friend who was also attending the show, and have him drive to the venue and park somewhere
- Have him stand in line outside and go through security
- Have him come as far as the turnstyle and then physically pass the bag over the turnstyle to him to take back to the car.
- Have him return to the venue, wait in line and go through security a second time, and finally enter the venue.
I tried convincing him how utterly foolish and inefficient this was, but they weren’t budging. So I called a friend and waited in limbo – in the venue but not quite in the ballroom.
I got to thinking about the sorry state of “security�? post-911, and how it’s really just inconveniences with nearly nothing in return. I also started thinking about how little the staff members at Avalon were willing to flex to assist me, their customer.
I’m not saying that they should have made an exception, but I’ve worked the doors at a nightclub. When put in the same situation (namely being approached by a customer who requires assistance), I would consider the individual scenario and make smart judgements, not blindly cite policy. Usually this consisted of simply remembering a person’s face and ensuring them that they’d be allowed back in. I didn’t get this from the staff at Avalon, and in fact, didn’t receive so much as eye contact.
Now, your average yuppy-ish, Powerbook-toting type might have got angry, demanded to speak with someone, or raised a stink. I’d never do that. Instead, I considered the situation, and made a decision. I had already paid $15 for the show, but the security of knowing a $2000 laptop was safe is worth considerably more to me than fifteen bucks. I also knew I didn’t want to give Avalon any more of my money, since (in my mind and based on my experience) they hadn’t done anything to earn any more money. So I cut my losses, and went home, having resolved not to give any more money to Avalon. Bear in mind that I withdrew $60 before going to the club, planning on blowing it on drinks & bartender tips. Not a lot, I know, but a nice chunk of change for one night.
Call it capitalist revenge (e.g. the “I’ll take my business elsewhere�? approach) or call it unjustified paranoia on my part. I really don’t care. I feel bad for the artists (namely M.I.A.) whom I wanted to see and support financially, but the truth is that the venue-related bullshit concertgoers have to go through makes it almost not worthwhile.
And I haven’t even begun to talk about Ticketmaster’s level of customer service. That’s another rant for another time.
The bottom line is this. We the consumers need to come up with a concert-goers bill of rights. And venues need to work to meet our expectations if they even plan on making all this worthwhile. I have no doubt that the artists agree with the fans; it’s the venue owners, ticket sellers, and concert promoters who are really ruining what used to be a good thing.
Then again, maybe I’m just getting old.
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Yeah that place reminds me of a gulag. After you left and we went in it was more of the same. We, knowing not to bring a bag at this point got past the search guard okay. But all night we observed just stupid customer service on the part of their security guards.
*you can’t go out in the side ‘yard’ with a beer. security checks for drinks (including waterbottles) before allowing you out. This leads to people belligerently drinking just to go outside. Plus there were rats.
*you can only stand in one spot, marked by absolutely nothing. A guard will show up and tell you to move.
*you cannot sit in certain spots, which are not marked by anything. If you move a chair somewhere where you are not supposed to you will be told to move.
*when leaving a guard checks you out while ‘courteously’ opening the door for you.
It’s not the way to a concertgoers heart. Plus security guards wearing black blazers, black pants, and black shirts and an earpiece walkietalkie makes me feel like the secret service is there.
Found your site looking for show reviews. Although bigger capacity is always great for the artist, I hate it when rock shows are at Boston danceclubs (eg. Avalon, Roxy). The club always cops that Eurotrash attitude BS on nice little indie rock kids. Ridiculous.
RE: your capitalist revenge. At least a chunk of your $15 went to MIA/LCD and not all to Avalon. In fact, by not seeing the show, Avalon lost any chance of making any additional money, whereas the artists got what they came for so to speak.
That sucks Jarred. I agree 100% about Avalon. Avalon does not treat concert-goers with the respect we merit as customers. This is what happens when a monopoly controls most music venues in a town. The Lyons brothers own, get this, 25 bars, restaurants and clubs in Boston. This includes: Avalon, Big Easy, Harvard Gardens, Lucky’s Lounge, the Paradise, Sonsie, the Modern, Embassy, Axis, Jake Ivory’s Dueling Pianos, the Tiki Room, and Bill’s Bar, amog others. These guys are in it for the money, nothing more. Try boycotting a Lyons brothers venue, and you end up stuck in your room. Actually, a group tried boycotting these guys, but I’m not sure how successful they were. This is their link.
I’m waiting for an anti-trust court case to happen, but the good ol’ American tradition of trust-busting seems to be dead. Also, maybe musicians need to be made more aware of the venues they choose. A concert goers bill of rights sounds like an excellent idea.
I agree Marcelo. I feel out of town acts suffer the worst. The musicians themselves probably don’t realize the good vs. bad venues in town. On the other hand it’s the booking agencies that should be aware of the venues, and I would imagine a lot of them are. An alternative would be to press the issue on the venues, which aren’t necessarily evil, they just are getting severely out of touch with their bread and butter. Or at least some of us. Perhaps a good start would be to find out how many people feel like this and why?
doh. that was me in the previous comment.