The Ritz

Reviews 4

KA

Kareen Belza

We went to see Sleater-Kinney last night, and having read the earlier reviews, we were quite anticipating negative incidents as well. Well, we didnt and I am quite thankful for that.I guess the new proprietors have read the comments on here and tried to improve the experience. We played it smart by coming in early. We didnt park in their lot. It was a $10 fee! We decided to go to Costco (YEAH Costco). I wonder if Costco will eventually get onto this and disallow folks from parking, unless youre a member! :-) Stay cool Costco! They have already set-up "guides" for the line, you know those ropes that snake around? Sorry I dont really know what they technically call it. Then the 1st pit stop is somebody checking IDs and giving you a wrist band so you can buy alcohol. Then we were ushered forward to the next pit stop and its to sign on their paper to get their club membership, good for a year. I didnt pay a buck for the membership. So that was good. Next pit stop was with their security checking bags and pockets. Last stop was the actual ticket check-in. Do I hate the many pit stops? No. Maybe its because we were there just as the doors opened. I cannot speak for those who came in after us. The security folks were courteous, no one was being rude or disrespectful. Once inside, there were many bars around, which I think was smart. No need to crowd in 1 or 2 bars. We decided to go and settle upstairs. I am 53" and you just dont know the pain I always have in concerts where everyone else is towering. The upstairs area has blocked some sections for seats which they offer for an additional $35 per. They also have a table for a group of 4 and thats $200 a table. Surprisingly a lot of folks paid the extra. Well if I have the extra to spare, I would have done too. Drinks are pricey, which is understandable. Its the same with Cats Cradle and Carolina Theater. Thats where they get their revenue. So just grab a beer someplace else so you save money. The ladies bathrooms are pretty nice and clean. I hope the crew can keep that up! I judge a location by their bathrooms really. :-) Sound-wise? I was worried when the opening act, Satisfaction, came out to play. The speakers were just not good! It was scratchy or raspy. The groups voices were just not carried out nicely. I dont know how they do their sound check for the opening band, but they didnt do a good one for the first act. When S-K came out, it was definitely better. The band was just great! No issues during their show, it was just all fun and great music. Will I come back here? Sure why not. I hope management works on keeping my first good impression last.

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CA

Cassandra Fuller

A great place for shows and concerts! Its small and has that personal touch. The exact things you want from the type of bands that come through here. Prices for drinks, etc. were reasonable. The staff were all friendly, including the security. A member of security kindly told my husband that his wallets chain (I know, hes 10s of years too late on that trend) was not going to be allowed inside. This gave him the oppurtunity to put it back in the car before going through the entrance line and security. He could have easily not have cared and let us wait it out, only to make us get out of line and wait again, or have it put away in a communal box for us to pick up later. BTW, the line here wasnt that long the night we went. There were plenty of people there and we werent that early, and we werent late... yet a very small line. The staff were very efficient at not only looking for safety issues, but getting us inside quickly, without a long wait. The bathrooms were very clean and the ambiance was amazing. Even the inside security was nice. Generally they are either push overs or rude. For example a girl got on her boyfriends shoulders. The guard calmly walked through the crowd. He waited a moment as she took a few pics and then nicely asked her to get down. That could have easily went different and at many shows Ive been to... is has gone differently and often bad. There were even people here as a family. I found this great, as they welcomed and were open about a family and their special needs son, enjoying the show. I suppose things could and would be different depending on the show. But, as a mother of a special needs son myself, it was nice to see this.

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GE

George Gunderson

Long story short - Security will take the side of whoever goes to them first, and you will not get to tell your side if youre not the one who goes to them first. Went to see Tech N9ne and the strange crew. Mosh got a little out of hand and myself and some others standing in front of the mosh stood our ground. Wasnt bothered that people were moshing, but then some more intoxicated attendees were hitting people who wouldnt let them to the front, trying to kick my knees out, taking things too far in general. Im fairly sturdy, so they couldnt get past me and the other two large gentlemen on either of my sides, and left after a while. Didnt think anything of it. Halfway through the headliner, about an hour later, security comes and tells me I have to come outside with them. They say someone is claiming I kicked him in the knees, and that he has visible injuries. I start trying to tell my side, and say there are other attendees who might vouch that the crowd who is accusing me were actually the ones hitting people. An officer walks up as Im telling them all this and says the other attendee is not going to press charges as long as Im ejected. The security person, who hasnt really been listening to me, turns to me and says "OK youre out". No refund, missed the headliner, missed seeing Tech even though Ive been looking forward to it for months and I did nothing wrong. Dont go here if you want to be at the front of the crowd, because based on some of the other reviews Ive read, security does not care about what is right, they care about what is easy, and they will kick anyone out without a second thought.

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JE

Jersey Life

"describe my experience" I walk into the venue to watch someone not drunk but on drugs being dragged out of the venue by security. Then throughout the night I can spot about 20 people causing a scene bumping into people very drunk. But the staff doesnt care because theyre buying the clubs alcohol. If you act funny and your not holding a drink prepared to be escorted out. I was physically removed from the venue and almost kicked out after a security guard grabbed me and dragged me out for hitting my electronic cigarette inside once. I even asked the person who searched me prior to entry if I could use it and they said yes. So Im dragged outside and I have to talk to a middle aged woman who clearly doesnt want to be there and she starts quoting fake laws about how I cant smoke anywhere indoors in North Carolina. She meant to say I cant vape, but she doesnt know the difference. I could understand if its the Ritz policy to not use them, but dont lie to my face saying its a state law when there is no such law. And tell me I cant use an electric cigarette instead of saying over and over I was so stupid for thinking I could SMOKE inside. Got back into the venue after profusely apologizing so I wouldnt be kicked out of the show. I walk in and try to go upstairs to get away from the rowdy crowd and Im told its 15 dollars to go upstairs and 35 if I want a stool. Are you kidding me? 35 dollars to walk up a set of stairs and sit on a stool!!!! The Ritz will never get my money my friends money or my familys money ever again. Its a money hungry, misinformed establishment who doesnt care about its patrons.

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