Riverbend Music Center

Reviews 3

DL

DL Parrish

We attended the Willie Nelson concert at the PNC Pavilion on July 12, 2017 and while the food and drink service personnel was courteous and polite ( I tipped them $10 on both of 2 trips) the security inside the Pavilion was ridiculous. A lady assigned to stage security and placed at center stage immediately began directing the crowd to remain seated after the first song and during the entire rest of the show until the last song when she began letting "selected" people come to the front who had not had a seat there all night only minutes after she directed another man back after he walked up. She was impotent as "security" as an elderly male walked up to the barricade, moved it and walked in behind her taking pictures with his phone camera. When she finally realized it, she freaked out, directed him out, and was sent a young man to sit at that spot to "assist" her. He joined in with directing the crowd to remain seated. I asked why and he said they were told to. I asked if it was the artists request and he said yes. No notice on Ticketmaster, the tickets, no signs or announcement made before the show or by the performers. The lady working center stage also failed to see a red hat throw onto the stage from stage right. She allowed a group of three men to walk to the edge of the barricade and take pictures etc. It this point she had became so involved with the show (clapping to the songs beat, etc) that she took no interest in the girl that had been raised up and was sitting on the shoulders of a guy stage right. ABSOLUTELY the worst concert experience I have ever had. In fact, I was ready to leave after the second song, but my spouse wanted to stay. I understand that sometimes performers make certain requests and perhaps Mr. Nelson did request everyone stay seated. Ive been attending concerts since 1973 and Ive sen it ONE TIME when Bruce Springsteen on his "Devils & Dust" tour requested the crowd refrain from applauding during the first few songs. I attended a show from that tour at the US Bank Arena in Cincy and security didnt act like the gestapo when some audience members applauded. I understand the need for security. I understand the need for crowd control. But a crowd who is on the feet to watch a performance is hardly "out of control." In fact, most performers say they "feed" off the energy from the audience and perform accordingly. Ive been to shows with older performers and those an older audience and if the crowd doesnt become engaged the performers coax them into it. The Beach Boys at Elk Creek Vineyard (Owenton) , Foreigner at the Taft Theater (Cincy), Three Dog Night at Elk Creek Vineyards (Owenton), Gordon Lightfoot at Singletary Center for the Arts (Lexington), The Rolling Stones at EVERY VENUE Ive attended (And there have been many!) f Mr. Nelson requested the facility staff keep the crowd seated, so be it. But I maintain it was a failure not to provide that information in advance. And if in fact he did, its sad he has abandoned the "outlaw" image that helped raise his to the legendary status he has.

BE

Becky Roberts

Saturday night my three friends and I went to the John Mayer concert. What was supposed to be a great night, unfortunately turned into a nightmare. You see I am in in a wheelchair and I always sit in the wheelchair section, which has never been a problem until this Saturday night. I was told I could only take one friend to sit with me. I was quite shocked since I have been to numerous concerts over the course of the past years and was never told this. So my one friend and I went to the section and was seated next to a girl who was in a wheelchair that was there with two additional friends. Then I looked around and saw another wheelchair person with two friends sitting next to her as well. This did not sit well with me, I did not understand why my friends cannot be with me, and their friends could be with them. Its not like there was lack of space either. I asked to speak to the manager and she came over, which is the same lady that has let me sit in this wheelchair section for years, may I add with up to 7 friends at a time. She told me that if no other wheelchair people came within 15 to 20 minutes into John Mayers set my friends could sit with me. While I understand that you have to follow rules, I do not understand why she had to treat me like this. It really just ruined my night. For one of the first times it made me feel embarrassed that I was in a wheelchair, and that my friends could not be with me. I shouldnt have to jump through hoops to get the same treatment that other people get. I really did not like how this was handled and I would like someone to contact me about this. You need to figure out a different way in the future that people dont have to speak with managers or have their night ruined. Between my ticket, overpriced food and drinks, and merchandise I spent well over $200 to leave upset and crying. I already have tickets for the Brantley Gilbert concert, and I already have anxiety that Im going to be in the same situation. It makes me not ever want to come back to RiverBend, which is really unfortunate because concerts is one of my favorite things to do. But because of your rude, uncompassionate, uneducated workers now I have anxiety and stress about doing something that was at one time a great experience.

ME

Megan Taylor

This review is detailed, lengthy, and will be solely based off the second visit I had to the center being last night to watch Green Day. Being as I have waited nearly 15 years to finally see them live, I forked out the money to stand near the back of the arena dead center. We spent over $100 per ticket. I looked at other venues and the pricing was all different so I know its not just their set price for them but the center themselves. We finally arrive to the center and the lines to enter the facility to park were very organized so it was a quick enter and park, I was very pleased. Walking into the facility on the other hand, we approached the front and an employee was announcing protocol to enter, and yelled at me directly to finish my drink. No please about it, but I was the only one with a beverage, so I throw it away without question. Letting it roll off my back we enter and are assisted to our seats by a much nicer gentleman then decide to go to the meth booth and get drinks. $5.75 for a bottle of Coke! By the end of the night I ended up forking out $10 for two 36 oz You rain WATERS. Yeah, water isnt even discounted. Skip to the end of the night, I had the time of my life and overdid it a little so I had to rest before leaving because I got overheated and dizzy, plus they put on a three hour show and I danced the whole time so my feet hurt. It was about 75% humid and 85 degrees out at 11:00 pm. We took a breather at the picnic tables right next to the stage, in plain view of everyone, and was yelled at again because we hadnt left yet. The woman nearly chased us down to ask why we hadnt left and were cussed at as we left the gate by another employee. Needless to say I probably wont be returning despite how fantastic the show was but the concert doesnt dictate how a facility is ran. 5 stars for Green Day, 2 stars for Riverbend.

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