I sent an email in 2 weeks ago regarding an unfortunate experience I had and received nothing in return. Here is what happened:
On Saturday, September 9, the night of Hip Hop Karaoke. My friend and I arrived just before 10:30 and upon arrival were told by the doorman that it was necessary for him to start a line. “No problem,” I thought. My friend and I both had to use the bathroom, but we figured we would be inside within 15-20 minutes max. The reason for the line, we were told, was to let in performers who had not arrived yet, and their “plus ones.”
People started to trickle in, a mixture of patrons who had stamps from much earlier who went to get dinner and return, and people who said they were involved with the show, although there was no real list on hand. Several people appeared confused that The Common and 9910 were not connected somehow, and tried to convince the doorman that they should be allowed in. He was pretty firm that they needed to take their place at the end of the growing line behind us. One of the performers showed up at the door from the basement and told the bouncer that none of her friends had showed up to watch her perform and, “could he please just let some of them in.” A discussion ensued between the two of them and presumably a staff member downstairs over the course of the next 10 minutes. Finally the doorman agreed to let in the seven of her friends which she claimed were waiting in line. This was all under the pretense that her friends would leave after her set to make room for the other patrons who were actually on time. Her seven friends were actually FIFTEEN. They were way back in line and came up all at once in a gaggle and were permitted into the club, along with a couple of grinning girls who snaked through the rope from The Common. The doorman clearly saw them enter and made no motions to stop them.
Over the course of the next 20 minutes, the same performer took advantage of the leeway given to her and came up two more times to let more friends in, stating in front of the doorman, that she was “sure it would be alright.” This was infuriating to my friend and I and several other people in the line. This all took place well past the 30 minute mark of waiting and I was prepared to leave, but my friend thought we should stay to see if the performer’s friends were actually extracted post-performance. In the meantime, we managed to miss one of my two friends I had come to see perform. Several other people came through the door, some of them claiming to be involved with the performance, or “with” one of the performers downstairs. I would estimate that at least 75 people were let in over the course of the HOUR we waited in line. We were promised to be let in once the performer’s friends left. Yes, 9910 stuck to their promise and removed some of her crowd, but of course there was no way of getting everyone and when we got in, we saw at least a couple of her friends still enjoying their time. In the meantime, they lost a bunch of people in line who saw the unfairness of the situation.
The doorman offered a semblance of an apology at the 30-minute mark, claiming he wasn’t trying to “screw [us] over.” He seemed to be the victim of a poor system himself. He mentioned that this is similar to how the last event was executed. Perhaps some sort of guest list might be in order for performers. Allow the performers their “plus one” but only up until a certain amount of time. If their person can’t make it there on time, then they can wait in line just like everyone else who came to see the show. And when you say, “plus one,” really make it ONE PERSON. Not a hoarde of people who suck the life out of your doorman and infuriate everyone in line. Despite my performer friend’s insistence that it “isn’t supposed to be like that” normally there, I am not sure if I will be returning.