I have been going to concerts at the Iron Horse for about 12 years now. I discovered SK there back in October of 2003 when he played with Ari Hest. I have been at EVERY SK show at the Iron Horse since 2003 without exception. I have seen dozens of other concerts there as well. I live near Albany, NY so it is a two hour drive EACH way. So needless to say it is a bit out of the way for me.
As many of you know I record shows. I tape them for everyone, so we can all go back and enjoy SK's music. I don't sell them and I have spent thousands of dollars on eqipment so that I can share the music. I have never had a problem taping at the Iron Horse. As a matter of fact they have been one of the most accommodating venues I have been in. As I set my gear up in the SAME SEAT that I have taped dozens of shows from I was approached by staff from Iron Horse. They told me that "tripods" weren't allowed inside the building. I attempted to have a dialogue with him about how I had taped from this spot before, but he didn't want to hear it. He told me to take my stand out of the building. He was just rude, but I know that taping is a privilege not a right so I was going to break down. I picked my phone up to text my babysitter to see how my 2 year old was doing at home. He must have thought that I was texting someone in the band. He got pissed and came up and said "I don't care who you're texting either, I'm the owner and I want it out." Then in a condescending manner he pats me on the back, like I'm his buddy. I don't like when people I don;t know (or like) touch me, at all. He didn't like it when I told him to keep his effing hands off of me. He threatened to kick my wife and I out. So rather than risk missing the show I bit my tongue.
I have lost track of exactly how many shows I have seen there but I am sure it is over 25. I always go to shows with someone so I have bought at least 50 concert tickets to his place of business. With the exception of tonight I have always had dinner there. I have personally put thousands of dollars into this man's pockets and he is going to treat me like that? He is a first rate D-BAG and I will not be returning to his broke dick venue.
Needless to say I was not going to get a good recording with my mics sitting in my lap. I had to give up my prime seat to move to the balcony so I could try to pull off a decent sounding tape (I waited in line for an hour just to get in so I could get a good seat). I ended up with an obstructed view, a beam was smack dab in front of me. Luckily I brought a clamp and I was able to rig my mics to the railing. The tape will be available within the next few days. I guess I am pissed not because i was told I couldn't tape, but because of HOW i was told. He was just a bitch. A complete and total bitch. I also heard him tell an old lady that she couldn't sit at a table unless she was going to order food. C'mon dude don't you make enough money? His name is Eric Suher and he is a multi-millionaire douche. I drove out to Boston to see Citizen Cope at the Paradise a few years back. I had taped there before and I had taped Cope before. They asked me not to tape and I was fine with it. A little common courtesy goes a long way. Thanks for listening to my rant. Look for the tape on archive.org.
Home » SK6ERS Talk
Iron Horse - Rant
8 posts • Started 2 years ago by TaperGeek • Latest post from Matt
-
Posted 2 years ago on September 14, 2009 LINK
-
wow, what a douche! sorry you were treated so poorly! and thanks-- i appreciate you taping these shows -- they are always excellent quality and make me feel like i'm there, too
< bethany >Posted 2 years ago on September 14, 2009 LINK -
Wow, people suck. Thanks for taping anyway. I always look forward to your Iron Horse tapes.
Here's a video I took of Shady Esperanto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykjioH64rqs
- MalPosted 2 years ago on September 14, 2009 LINK -
Satisfied Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EyxJ2pGia0
- MalPosted 2 years ago on September 14, 2009 LINK -
Wow. That's disappointing. Especially considering how great the venue is and the history SK has with it.
I actually saw you setting up downstairs and got excited the show was being taped, but then looked back and you were gone.
Then later on, I looked up and saw you upstairs. I wondered why you had moved.It sucks when you've been going somewhere for years and it gets ruined by one person in an instant.
-elisePosted 2 years ago on September 14, 2009 LINK -
ugh, that sucks. it's always so wonderful when venue staff treat people like shit for no good reason... :\
that little red caboose just starts to work that old smoke stack...Posted 2 years ago on September 14, 2009 LINK -
I am uploading the MP3 version of this to RapidShare now, it should be ready in about a half hour. It came out a LOT better than I expected considering...
Posted 2 years ago on September 15, 2009 LINK -
I'm surprised you haven't had trouble taping there before. I taped there only once -- back in 2005 -- and had no problems at all (from the balcony, clamped to the railing). But ever since then, I've read nothing but horror stories about tapers getting shut down there. Not just denied the use of a stand -- but told they couldn't tape at all, regardless of the band's policy. And it's always the owner that triggers the problems -- if he's not there, there's usually no problem, but if he is, he's always a huge prick. I think I remember reading that he told one taper that "some taper" damaged something one night, so he doesn't allow tapers anymore. So I'm actually surprised to hear that he offered to let you tape from the balcony (where the sound is pretty good, IMO). It's to the point that many tapers won't patronize the club, as I won't (not that I'm in that area of the country very often, though). But I was at UMASS for a week last year for a conference and didn't even take my gear because I knew in advance that I wasn't going to give them my business. I've never been to the Calvin or Pearl Street, but they have a similar reputation, from what I've read. Next to ANY House of Blues, I think the Iron Horse is the single most hated venue in the country, judging by how much I read about it at taperssection.com.
Posted 2 years ago on September 15, 2009 LINK
Reply
You must log in to post.