The Original Recipe Band...We have really mixed feelings about our experience with them…read more Unfortunately, more negatives than positives stand out, which is our reasoning for the 2 stars instead of the neutral 3 stars. We were recently married in Hill Country, and felt very strongly about having a live band rather than a DJ at our wedding, mostly because all of the weddings that stood out in our memories had awesome live bands to make the reception memorable. We did a lot of research on bands, which definitely took a lot of time. Getting married in the Austin area leaves a ton of options to sort through! What originally attracted us to the band is that they were large, seemingly flexible in accommodating our wishes, offered a great price, and despite not having many online reviews, they provided us with a list of emails to previous clients who we were able to email us references. While the "booking" process what relatively easy, once we did book, our impression of the band manager, James, started to decline. While he was initially quick to respond to us when we were scouting them, once we booked he took months to get our signed contract back to us. I had to email and encourage him multiple times. I come from a family of lawyers and have always had the mentality that nothing is final or confirmed until it is in writing, so waiting so long to see our agreement in writing made me uncomfortable. James often commented that he was preoccupied with moving forward with other endeavors professionally and home repairs, and that this was the reasoning for his delay, which I found to be unprofessional. Let me throw in some positives: They were accommodating of our song choices for special dances. We arranged to have one of the band members play guitar for our ceremony. His name is also James (a different James than the manager) and he was very prompt at responding, kind, and his ceremony performance was excellent. The jazz/piano music for the cocktail hour were appropriate. When it came to the reception music and orchestrating the order of events, the manager, James, seemed to have no idea what was going on despite having had been emailed a timeline for the evening and order of events. He initially kept coming up to me (the bride) and asking me what was next, etc. Keeping him organized and on schedule was the last thing that I wanted to be doing at my own wedding. We had two wedding coordinators and he didn't even think to go to them first with questions without my prompting. When James was speaking and introducing speeches, etc. he was very mumbly and difficult to understand. After the first dances were over and it was party time, instead of playing music that would get people out on the dance floor it was still a lot of jazz and swing music...not exactly what's going to get 20 and 30 something's out on the dance floor. After asking our coordinators to have them step it up a bit with the music, things did get better. Another thing of note was that the transition between songs felt like it took forever. A song would wrap up and guests would just be standing and waiting for the next song. It made it difficult to keep the momentum going. A few guests would even shout out, "Come on! Let's keep it going!" Overall, it was not the experience we were hoping to have with our band. I feel like the band really sets the vibe for the night and it wasn't exactly the upbeat party atmosphere we had in mind. We had amazing experiences with all of our other vendors, but we would not work with ORB again.

Original Recipe Band performed at my daughter's wedding in January 2011 and did an outstanding job…read more Our guests commented repeatedly about how great the band was and how much fun they had. They played a variety of music and kept everything lively. Our guests were out on the dance floor dancing and truly enjoying the event. In addition to the actual performance, my experience with James Fenno in engaging the band, selecting the music, and working through the details of the schedule of events for the reception was exceptional. He is professional in his dealings and responsive to communications. I have to say that having Original Recipe Band perform for the reception really made the event successful. I highly recommend them to anyone planning a wedding.

Best bet is to get season tickets. I've found more and more the shows that focus less on the…read more"greatest hits" and more on the "off the beaten path" selections.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra is the oldest performing group in Austin, Texas, USA. It was founded…read morein 1911. The mission of the Austin Symphony Orchestra is to bring live symphonic music to the people of the Austin area through community orchestra concerts, to provide enjoyment and enhanced musical appreciation and knowledge, to provide an avenue of artistic growth for regional performers, and to encourage continual musical study for area musicians. The symphony hosts entertainers who specialize in jazz, swing, and other brass supported musical disciplines. Thing Two and I have been here on multiple occasions to support the orchestra. Each performance is unique and timeless. Patrons who attend the symphony are allowed to bring in their own food/picnic baskets to enjoy while in attendance. The alcoholic drinks served here are at premium costs, but that is to be expected at venues such as this one. Thing two and I have also had the pleasure to meet Peter Bay (Music Director and Conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra since 1998) on several occasions. I appreciate the time he has taken with Thing Two and others who have stopped him after shows to educate them and get them more involved in music. If you are looking for a fun night out with family or for looking for date ideas, Austin Symphony Orchestra should definitely be a consideration.

It's official - immersive theater has arrived in Austin, thanks to NunaMaana…read more I discovered NunaMaana through Ballet Austin about a year and a half ago and have been going to their shows ever since. Seeing a NunaMaana show is like nothing else in Austin. Think of New York's Sleep No More - but instead of terrifying and creepy, tons of fun with vibrant colors and beautiful dancing. Oh, and lots of laughs. I love watching the show unfold and seeing people open up as the performance progress - by the end, even the stodgiest of folks find themselves getting involved in the story and playing along. I cannot recommend NunaMaana more - they provide professional entertainment mixed with quintessential Austin friendliness.

NunaMaana and its performances are easily one of my favorite things about Austin. Their…read moreperformances are not something you go to see, they're something you go to DO, to experience along next to the performers and other audience members. Their shows range from funny with characters that have you laughing, to heartaching with pieces that reach from the souls, to intricate with stories that unravel throughout the show and will have you eagerly awaiting what will be revealed next. It is not a sit down and watch the stage type of show -- the stage and characters are around you. They will interact with you if you are interested, and you can get to know each characters' unique stories moments before they all come together for another energetic dance (which they'll teach you a couple of, too!). Every show is such a different theme, you never know what you're getting into -- from hip hop to indie rock, from soft romantic tunes to booty-rockin' jams. Settings range from masquerade balls to medieval kingdoms, glow parties to out-of-this-world get togethers with lawn games. I would recommend this to anyone, and that's the beauty of it. Go for a girls night out and get dressed up to match the theme. Bring a big group of friends and play some cornhole in between dances. Go for a date night and have some drinks while eating delicious cupcakes left at the tables while mingling with the characters. Bring the family and kids can dance right along with the young dancers in the show giving out lollipops and glow sticks. These shows are creative, magical, and make you forget the outside world. They are all different enough that you never know what you're getting into, but the surprises are always such a delight. I highly recommend.

Today I got the opportunity to visit the Austin Independent School District (AISD) performing arts…read morecenter for the first time. The building is huge and aesthetically pleasing. There is also a large parking garage nearby (free parking). AISD student art work is prominently displayed throughout the building. I was at the performing arts center for a Alvin Alley dance workshop. This dance group travels throughout the world featuring modern dance, ballet and Afro beat movements. During middle and high school years we got the opportunity to see the Alvin Alley dancers every year. Their performance was elegant, rhymic and exquisitely executed. I remember being in awe of their toned bodies and breathtaking athletic and graceful moves. I remember also thinking how beautiful their ballet moves. Today's Rhythm and Movement workshop was engaging, authentic and very enjoyable. I loved that the workshop was diverse - ages 6 to 70+ years old, from all walks of life and different ethnicities. Look forward to the Alvin Alley dance performance next week...

I've been to multiple productions here in the past 6 months. I'm reviewing the facility, not the…read moreproductions. The theater complex is conveniently situated at the edge of the Mueller development. Parking is covered, close, convenient, and FREE. Productions here are reasonably priced with tickets typically in the $10-15 per person range. Concessions are often run by boosters; while limited in their offerings, water is not $6 a bottle like it is at UT productions. The space is modern and attractive. In terms of comfort, I found the Black Box theater to be the less welcoming of the two. Seats are difficult to access in the risers, and I do not have mobility issues. The seats themselves are comfortable however. In sharp contrast, the main theater is very accommodating and comfortable. If accessibility is it all an issue I would check to see which theater your production is in before you buy the tickets. Highly recommended.

My husband and I booked DJ Jeff for our wedding and we're so glad we did! I will admit initially I…read morehad my concerns because opposite from what we usually saw in DJs, Jeff was very laid back and seemed more serious. The only reason this concerned me was that I was expecting someone with ridiculous amounts of energy and enthusiasm exuding during a meeting. I'm glad I did not let that perception get in the way. Jeff IS very professional and meticulous. His music website where you input the songs you want/don't want/etc is very detailed and made us think about things we never would have before. When it came down to the actual event, he KILLED it!! We had many Indian songs which he wasn't too familiar with, but he nailed every bit of it. When we first met, he asked us to send a few Indian songs over and he would make us a mix - he mixed them so seamlessly into more American rap and pop. Our friends after the reception said he was one of their favorites

I booked Spacecraft Entertainment to run a karaoke room at a client's corporate event and had an…read moreamazing experience working with Jeff. He was extremely easy to work with and accommodated all of our needs which were not simple. He also had everything needed to transform a basic hotel conference room into a fun karaoke room. I highly recommend using his services for your karaoke, DJ and entertainment needs!

I saw Raped Clarity at the Gemini and was fairly impressed with the space and how they use it. When…read moreyou first enter, you arrive at a very professional ticket and snack counter, and paintings and photographs by a local artist adorn the walls. I enjoyed a nice Malbec while surveying the works, which seemed to exemplify a simple, contemporary style infused with elements of pop culture - such as you would find in greeting cards and cartoons. Some of them were quite clever, and even the photographs somehow speak to the modern style and popular ambitions of this theatre's proprietor. Despite my fine first impression, there were quite a few problems. Seating is unfortunately folding, metal chairs - but at least they were the padded kind. The stage itself was quite good - raised a foot or so above the floor, with adequate space and entrance portals, and decent sound - but the lighting was barely adequate and could not possibly be useful in most, true theatrical productions. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of Raped Clarity was marred by the lack of quality lighting. Finally, the script itself has problems, with incongruities that tend to distract one's attention as the action unfolds. Glaring examples include an inconsistent, unprofessional, and even unethical psychologist character. If this were a minor, peripheral character, perhaps the problem would not exist or it might be insignificant, but this is a central character that helps drive the action throughout the heroine's journey. Some minor problems with props may have simply been mistakes during the particular performance I attended, and these might not necessarily be blocking and choreography errors. The dialogue, in general, is problematic, with some vocabulary and word choices that seem inconsistent with the characters who deliver them and the situations in which they are delivered. By far the best performance in this production was that of the heroine's father, an archetypal southern working man and alcoholic. This character functioned as both an anti-hero and comic relief, and was oddly endearing. The heroine's mother was also a good performance, and contributed some fine, comic moments, but the character was fraught with some of the aforementioned dialogue problems. Raped Clarity is a work in progress and may very well be autobiographical, representing the author's sorting out of her own psyche after experiencing rape. I find, in fact, that the only way that I can reconcile the various characters and situations of this play is to consider them as symbolical. Indeed, I conclude that each character and situation represents an aspect of the heroine's - and perhaps the author's - own mind as she works toward recovery after a violent rape. This is the only way Raped Clarity makes any sense to me.

I was recently in a play here, and was very impressed with the Gemini playhouse. The facilities are…read moreclean and well-maintained, and though it's a bit tricky to get to, a quick phone call to the friendly and helpful owner Anita will set you straight. I would highly recommend the Gemini for shows, rehearsals, and events.

I saw Inishfree Irish Dance Studio perform at the Austin Celtic Festival (Nov 6, 2016) and at the…read moreSt. Patrick's Day festival at Pioneer Farms Austin (March 17, 2017). Their dance performances were impressive and wonderfully varied. They have both ladies and gentlemen; children and adults; solo, line, and group sets; wear hard (jig) and soft (ghillies/reel) shoes; have standard uniforms and fancy costumes; and dance to traditional and popular music (think "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance"). Their Irish dancing was the highlight of the festivals for me. My only previous exposure to Irish dancing was at my Catholic school in San Francisco, CA where we had elaborate St. Patrick's Day festivals where everyone sang traditional Irish songs, all the teachers and older students did the group dances (on very limited school dance instruction), and students (many quite young) who had actual Irish dance training performed for us in their elaborate costumes. I haven't seen Irish dancing again until very recently with Inishfree Irish Dance. It renewed my love of Irish dancing, which I feel is the best kind of dancing: it's more upbeat and rhythmic than ballet, more traditional and formal than jazz, can be done solo/paired/grouped and doesn't require a dedicated partner like in ballroom or country dancing, can be spontaneously done in limited space to a live band or precisely performed on a big stage to an audience, and doesn't require any special equipment (though proper shoes and flooring help). Inishfree Irish Dance Studio Austin is open year-round with weekly classes. You can start anytime, with a free trial class (with their permission), which I readily took advantage of when I signed up at their info booth on St. Patrick's Day. They have separate classes for kids and adults, and they tailor instruction to meet individual students' needs and skill level. Their instructors are certified by the World Irish Dance Association, they all have extensive Irish dancing experience (including placing at The World Irish Dancing Championships and performing in Michael Flatley's dance productions), and they've been teaching here for over 15 years. Their instruction is geared toward competition, performance, and enjoyment, so they're an excellent place for anyone interested in Irish dancing, from beginners/hobbyists to advanced/competitors. I can't recommend them highly enough!

Local theater troops are a blessing... and this one tucked into the loving and welcoming First UU…read morechurch on Grover is no exception. With performances 3 times a year, the team draws upon classic and contemporary, professional and locally crafted material - always professionally staged and performed.

Phenomenal performance of Incorruptable!…read more I was really amazed by how well the show was cast, directed and the overall production. There was never a dull moment. It was filled with quick wit, brilliant acting by the two older monks. And a lot of promising performances by the rest of the cast. Truly an ensemble. I can't wait to see what they are working on next!