Anna C.
Yelp
The concert itself was amazing because of the band and only because of the band. The setting is intimate and gorgeous, however, that's where it ends. The debacle to get inside the doors was the worst I've ever experienced. I've gone to 8 concerts this year alone and all were at different venues. So, I'm not new to delays that can occur, hiccups along the way, and expectations that can vary from venue to venue.
Myself, my daughter, and my sister lined up around 4:45 for a show that had doors open at 7:00 and the show would start at 8:00. The line wrapped and wrapped around the corner with some fans lining up 5-6 hours prior. Given this information, most venues would begin the precheck of bags and screening earlier than expected.... Not the Roxy! They waited until 7:00. They had only 2 lines for standard ticket holders and 1 for the VIP. The standard ticket holders sloooowly made their way to the front. When we got up there, we discovered that 2 people on each side were searching bags and then there was another screening for a metal detector. I totally appreciate their desire to be safe. However, EVERY SINGLE person made the detectors go off. Then they would randomly go off without anyone even coming within proximity. Again, not their fault, however, their lack of preparedness was absurd.
Our line came to a halt while another line beside us that had not waited continued to go through. They finally stopped that line and moved ours over to the functioning metal detector. However, this was only after one of the members of the security team chewed out a patron repeatedly in front of everyone else. No sooner had we switched lines that this detector stopped working. Eventually we were moved back to our original line but only after everyone else made it through again.
Ironically, no sooner had we switched lines that this detector ONCE AGAIN malfunctioned. We stopped waiting for direction and switched lines back to our original line. Finally we made it through only to have myself and my daughter separated since her lightstick had batteries and required further investigation.
By this time it was now 7:52pm and the show started in 8 minutes. My daughter has anxiety and was already triggerd by the security member that was yelling at the patrons. However, while being separated by me (and I being the only ticket holder on my phone), she heard what sounded like the band starting up on stage. She went into full blown panic attack. I had to hurry her inside to our seats, calm her down, and miss out on just enjoying the excitement we should have had for an amazing concert. We couldn't do merch because the line was so long and we were concerned that the show would start any minute.
Thankfully it didn't start on time as there were HUNDREDS of people after us that still had to go through that poor excuse for an "organized" event's security check. Needless to say, the show started over 20 minutes late and we were all worked up and anxious and I had to leave in the middle of 2 songs midshow to get merch for my daughter which of course had the sizes I wanted sold out by that time.
Thanks for nothing, Roxy. I will NEVER attend another show at your venue thanks to this experience. And as mentioned previously, I am frequently going to shows with my child but I won't be going to this venue and would strongly advise others from avoiding it as well.