Last night I atteneded Richard Herring's latest show Lord of the Dance Settee at Glee (read the review here) and felt moved to write about how we were treated by the staff. You may recall (and if you don't it doesn't matter because I've provided links) how disgustingly we were treated by the Capital FM Arena when we went there last year to review Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway which resulted in us going home without even seeing the show. I don't expect a red carpet and someone walking in front of me scattering rose petals, (although would that really be too much to ask?) but if I had a venue and someone came in to write about their night I might feel inclined to be a bit welcoming. There are some venues that treat the idea of reviewers attending with the same enthusiasm they would reserve for a rectal examination (or a visit from a professional floor cleaning gang in the case of one notoriously sticky floored venue, you know the one - if you don't then I'm referring to Rock City). Like I said, I don't want VIP treatment but a special 'press area' might not be such a bad idea, a concept that Nottingham venues just haven't latched onto. Both Rock City and Rescue Rooms have a mezzanine balcony that doesn't always get used, yet when it isn't being used it is closed off despite it being an ideal setting for reviewers to set their stall out - it isn't always easy to keep getting your pad and pen out in a crowded room. The theatres have never given me a problem (the Theatre Royal are the best though as they put on a wine reception on the opening night of a play) but they do just put you in any old seat when a box would be useful for writing notes.
All of this brings me to last night at Glee and a lesson for all venues in how to treat reviewers. I'm not sure if reviewers are classed as VIPs, again I don't expect the moon on a stick when I turn up to review the show, but we were certainly made to feel very welcome which I feel I should mention seeing as I am quick enough to complain about bad service.
I was recognised on the door by name straight away and went upstairs to be seated. Even though the club had a few empty seats Mandi and I were taken upstairs to the balcony area (Rock City and Rescue Rooms take note) and were seated with not only a perfect view of the stage but also enough room to have my pad and pen out in front of me with my drink and programme for the show, the regular tables don't really have enough space for this. It didn't take a lot for the club to do this but it made our visit that little bit better. As a nice little sideline in running a comedy and music venue, Glee should be visiting Nottingham's venues and giving classes in how to treat people.
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