I went to a show last night at Ground Zero, despite hearing bad things about the space before my…read morefirst attendance. My experience was worse than the rumors I'd heard about it.
I was first mildly annoyed that I approached the counter with my debit card in hand and asked for a drink, which was mostly ice, and was only told after the drink was handed to me that the bar was cash only and encouraged to go to the ATM. I had to leave my drink unattended at the bar to go to the ATM to pay for it, which was not only unsafe but inconsiderate of the bartender to have seen me with my card and waited to tell me it was cash only (not like she was too busy to have mentioned it before then) and she didn't apologize for that not being communicated. I was still polite and tipped her a dollar anyway.
The opening artist was experiencing some very petty and immature drama from the sound technician. His songs kept cutting out in the middle, the microphone continuously stopped working and needed to be replaced part way through the set, the tracks were being played out of his setlist order and several songs were skipped over entirely. The artist was patient through most of these errors as he communicated about them over the microphone, until the sound guy decided to just play his last song early. The artist noted this was supposed to be the last song and sang it anyway, then asked he at least could play one other song that was skipped over before he got off stage. The sound guy had his computer screen projected next to the stage the whole time (also a weird move, like at least show some visuals or something other than your generic computer screen), so I saw that he had the song requested on there earlier but he was claiming he never received it or the ones that were skipped. We all watched as the artist sent a track again, then the sound guy began to play it but then began messing with the controls on the microphone. The artist at this point was visibly upset and made a joke about how he was being treated before he got off stage.
Off stage, the sound guy approached the artist and claimed he didn't have all the tracks and that the technical difficulties were not his fault, yelling that the artist should instead be thanking him. The artist brushed it off and started to walk away as the sound guy yelled "we'll see if you ever play here again" and the artist called him a "fat f*ck" and went to talk to the next band who praised his set and were confused by the sound guy's attitude and rude behavior. A few moments later, the VENUE OWNER who had never previously introduced himself to the artist, ran up and put his hands around the artist's neck and started screaming threats to him. The artist exclaimed that he didn't know that guy and to get off him. Other artists who were performing got between them and made efforts to protect the artist who was being assaulted. This was insane to witness. The complete lack of professionalism from the venue owner was disgraceful. He should have approached to ask what was going on before reacting, especially before reacting with violence. The venue owner forced the artist outside without any of his belongings and wouldn't allow him back inside.
I followed the commotion to the parking lot where other staff members threatened to fight the artist and his fans, some staff members threatening to pull out guns. I am a petite female and I yelled at one particular staff member (who was trying to start a physical altercation with the artist and his fans and who seemed clearly intoxicated or high), I asked what the staff member was on and encouraged him to back up and not behave irrationally. This staff member, a tall white man with facial hair and a large belt buckle, got in my face and threatened me as well. I will give props to the female staff member with long dark hair who tried to calmly help deescalate things, though she was yelled over by the other deranged and violent staff members. I and some others helped the artist by getting his things from inside the venue despite being harassed during the process before leaving.
The whole situation shows a complete lack of professionalism by most of the staff and especially the venue owner and sound technician. The business was dirty and falling apart, tile crumbles underfoot in the women's bathroom, the tables and floors were all sticky, the stage was dusty and cluttered... I could go on and on.
If there's some kind of conflict happening, a venue owner should not enter the situation with violent behavior. The violence was entirely started by the owner and other staff members while the others acted in defense and frustration. This trashy venue isn't worth giving your time and money to, I will not be returning for any other events. What is a vanue without artists? If this is how a venue treats it's performers, this venue doesn't deserve to exist.