http://theithacapost.com/2010/02/19/%e2%80%98practically-everyone-was-there%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-john-prine-at-the-state-wednesday-feb-17-2010/ What. Where. Now. Music, Art and Culture in and around Upstate New York. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:38:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://theithacapost.com/2010/02/19/%e2%80%98practically-everyone-was-there%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-john-prine-at-the-state-wednesday-feb-17-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-18 deb g Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:50:22 +0000 http://theithacapost.com/?p=391#comment-18 John Prine is a master story teller. And because of that we and others around us in the balcony should have been able to hear his stories! Sadly, we (and several others) were disturbed by people standing in the second floor lobby drinking and laughing loudly in large groups during the concert. The 2 volunteer ushers couldn't handle the noise, and they couldn't help the angry patrons who couldn't hear Sara or John Prine. (We even asked the ushers to get help, and they told us to go "look for Caroline", the head volunteer, ourselves.) We were even privy to a dispute on the second floor later in the show, and the gentleman involved was "parked" in the lobby for the rest of John's concert and he sang all the words out loud, off key, along with John for two hours. No one in authority ever asked him to move or shut up. He should have been removed from the venue in light of his constant talking and singing, at the base of the stairs. There is no door on the balcony stairs, and anyone sitting in the rows near there is disturbed by any noise on the stairs, but to allow people to party there in the lobby was a very bad experience for all who sat in the first two rows. We are from out of town, we spent money on dinner and a hotel in Ithaca-so it was quite a let down for this to happen when it all could have been avoided. The 2 volunteer ushers were unable to quiet the crowd, and they themselves were disturbing-seating people during the music, disturbing seated patrons with their constant talking and whispering. Escort people to their seats after a song, but not during! What's wrong with signs gently suggesting that patrons be quiet during a performance, in the lobby of the balcony? Or velvet ropes keeping people from the stairs during a song in a performance? I was embarrassed for the performers, and I hope that if they ever do come to Ithaca again, it's at another venue. John Prine is a master story teller. And because of that we and others around us in the balcony should have been able to hear his stories! Sadly, we (and several others) were disturbed by people standing in the second floor lobby drinking and laughing loudly in large groups during the concert. The 2 volunteer ushers couldn’t handle the noise, and they couldn’t help the angry patrons who couldn’t hear Sara or John Prine. (We even asked the ushers to get help, and they told us to go “look for Caroline”, the head volunteer, ourselves.) We were even privy to a dispute on the second floor later in the show, and the gentleman involved was “parked” in the lobby for the rest of John’s concert and he sang all the words out loud, off key, along with John for two hours. No one in authority ever asked him to move or shut up. He should have been removed from the venue in light of his constant talking and singing, at the base of the stairs.
There is no door on the balcony stairs, and anyone sitting in the rows near there is disturbed by any noise on the stairs, but to allow people to party there in the lobby was a very bad experience for all who sat in the first two rows. We are from out of town, we spent money on dinner and a hotel in Ithaca-so it was quite a let down for this to happen when it all could have been avoided.
The 2 volunteer ushers were unable to quiet the crowd, and they themselves were disturbing-seating people during the music, disturbing seated patrons with their constant talking and whispering. Escort people to their seats after a song, but not during! What’s wrong with signs gently suggesting that patrons be quiet during a performance, in the lobby of the balcony? Or velvet ropes keeping people from the stairs during a song in a performance? I was embarrassed for the performers, and I hope that if they ever do come to Ithaca again, it’s at another venue.

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