Proclaimers in Belfast

[tricky]

anyone headin to the Procs gig at The Waterfront Hall the morn?

I will be over for it not sure about pre gig boozeathon venue as yet.

GGTTH

[Loki_Sproule]

Hey Tricky,

We're heading to McHughs (Queens Square, near Royal Avenue) at about 6 for a pre-gig jar, you're more than welcome to join us.

Will PM my number, give me a call and we'll see you through here. Loads of the Nibbies are heading to the gig so should be a good laugh.

S

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

See below an email I have sent to the Waterfront Hall, Dawn Purvis MLA and the Proclaimers manager.

It may seem a bit anal to some, but - bearing in mind that a number if Scots and other tourists were in the crowd last night - I can't describe how embarrased I was by the antics of venue staff at the Waterfront last night.

Yours,

Disgusted of Ballymena.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I attended last night’s Proclaimers concert in the Waterfront Hall and would like to state that it is, by far, the worst concert venue I have attended in 15 years of concert-going, and one to which I will never return.

For most of the concert, any attendees who stood in their seats or danced in the aisles were told to sit down and/or return to their seats by stoney-faced security staff.

This raises two questions:

- Why was it then acceptable to the staff for customers to stand/dance during the latter part of the show?
- I have attended a number of ‘Mandate’ mens’ Christian events in the Waterfront Hall, where standing/dancing is allowed at any time. It seems reasonable to think that such a tolerant atmosphere could be replicated for a rock/folk band.

I realise that my complaint may seem petty, but I know for a fact that a number of people in the audience last night were from Scotland and further afield. The antics of Waterfront staff at first bemused these tourists and them clearly annoyed them.

For me, the venue’s policy ruined an otherwise excellent concert.

I am proud of and feel very strongly about the now-prosperous Belfast and the image we present to tourists, and I cringed to see the reaction of visitors who were attending last night’s event. I know six people personally who travelled from Edinburgh specifically to attend the show.

No doubt Waterfront have sound health and safety reasons for their policies, but if customers wished to go to a health and safety conference they can find any number of these online. I they wanted to have a positive visit to Belfast and an enjoyable concert experience, we need to do much, much better. From experience, I know that health and safety can be used as an excuse to do everything or nothing, depending on the will of the premises manager.

As it stands, I was embarrassed by our conduct as hosts to these guests in our city. If the Proclaimers- a band who I have followed as a fan for ten years - return to the Waterfront Hall, I won’t be attending.


CC to Dawn Purvis MLA, Kenny McDonald (Proclaimers Management) and Proclaimers message board.

[Rep of Ireland Hibee]

Fair play


You get any replies?

[Brownlie]

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby

See below an email I have sent to the Waterfront Hall, Dawn Purvis MLA and the Proclaimers manager.

It may seem a bit anal to some, but - bearing in mind that a number if Scots and other tourists were in the crowd last night - I can't describe how embarrased I was by the antics of venue staff at the Waterfront last night.

Yours,

Disgusted of Ballymena.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I attended last night’s Proclaimers concert in the Waterfront Hall and would like to state that it is, by far, the worst concert venue I have attended in 15 years of concert-going, and one to which I will never return.

For most of the concert, any attendees who stood in their seats or danced in the aisles were told to sit down and/or return to their seats by stoney-faced security staff.

This raises two questions:

- Why was it then acceptable to the staff for customers to stand/dance during the latter part of the show?
- I have attended a number of ‘Mandate’ mens’ Christian events in the Waterfront Hall, where standing/dancing is allowed at any time. It seems reasonable to think that such a tolerant atmosphere could be replicated for a rock/folk band.

I realise that my complaint may seem petty, but I know for a fact that a number of people in the audience last night were from Scotland and further afield. The antics of Waterfront staff at first bemused these tourists and them clearly annoyed them.

For me, the venue’s policy ruined an otherwise excellent concert.

I am proud of and feel very strongly about the now-prosperous Belfast and the image we present to tourists, and I cringed to see the reaction of visitors who were attending last night’s event. I know six people personally who travelled from Edinburgh specifically to attend the show.

No doubt Waterfront have sound health and safety reasons for their policies, but if customers wished to go to a health and safety conference they can find any number of these online. I they wanted to have a positive visit to Belfast and an enjoyable concert experience, we need to do much, much better. From experience, I know that health and safety can be used as an excuse to do everything or nothing, depending on the will of the premises manager.

As it stands, I was embarrassed by our conduct as hosts to these guests in our city. If the Proclaimers- a band who I have followed as a fan for ten years - return to the Waterfront Hall, I won’t be attending.


CC to Dawn Purvis MLA, Kenny McDonald (Proclaimers Management) and Proclaimers message board.

Absolutely spot on m8

Think these tools help choke the atmosphere with their behaviour although they didnt try and get people to sit down after 500 miles

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by Rep of Ireland Hibee

Fair play


You get any replies?

Not yet M, and I won't be surprised if I don't get any.

Still, I feel a bit better after having my rant about the 'health and safety police' and how they were able to, IMHO, ruin what should have been a superb concert.

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by Brownlie

Absolutely spot on m8

Think these tools help choke the atmosphere with their behaviour although they didnt try and get people to sit down after 500 miles

Cheers.

I noticed that they let people do whatever they wanted near the end, so why not just do that in the first place.

Were you at the concert? I don't recognise your username - I thought we (nihibs.com) knew all the Hibbys in Belfast???!!!

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Someone on the Proclaimers forum also sent a complaint:


Dear Sir / Madam

We attended The Proclaimers concert on Thursday night which was an excellent night but was spoiled by overzealous “crowd control”. After the Unkle Bob set the warm up / compere walked onto stage and said “ Tonight is the lad’s last night before heading to Europe so let’s make this a special night, there is space in front of the stage and in the aisle feel free to get up and dance.”

Now I can appreciate that Health and Safety and risk assessments are a serious issue for the venue and the duty of care owed to the audience and artists, but this was actually verging on a little embarrassing watching the security staff waiting to pounce on anyone who dared get up and have a bit of fun. I know that people in front of you dancing in their seats is really not on for those behind but it was all happening in the aisles out of everyone’s way or view. Indeed towards the end the whole audience were all actually up and dancing in the aisles and really enjoying themselves without any major issues.

While we were waiting in the foyer from 7.30pm we were actually impressed and surprised by the amount of foreign visitors in the hall and the many Scots who had obviously travelled over for the event bringing extra revenue and indeed spreading the word about the city and your venue in general. We have attended many concerts in the hall from Chubby Brown, Midge Ure, Huey Lewis, Chris Rea (twice) to the Shaolin Monks all without problems and all excellent nights but the antics of the “security” staff did actually spoil the otherwise great evening. If only a little common sense had prevailed.

If this is the sign of things to come our nights of concert going in the Waterfront are indeed numbered.

We look forward to your reply.

[Loki_Sproule]

Nazi bastards, the lot of them. Still, least Robbie managed to annoy them greatly without beign physically thrown out the place

[tricky]

Originally Posted by Loki_Sproule

Nazi bastards, the lot of them. Still, least Robbie managed to annoy them greatly without beign physically thrown out the place

admittedly I was reekin but don't think anyone around me other than the stewards was bothered about standing etc.

thanks to the NI Hibbies I met for the warm welcome. hope to be back over before long.

GGTTH

[Northern Ireland Hibby]

Originally Posted by tricky

admittedly I was reekin but don't think anyone around me other than the stewards was bothered about standing etc.

thanks to the NI Hibbies I met for the warm welcome. hope to be back over before long.

GGTTH

Great to see you mate

We're happy to welcome you and your family across anytime.

[Loki_Sproule]

Originally Posted by tricky

admittedly I was reekin but don't think anyone around me other than the stewards was bothered about standing etc.

thanks to the NI Hibbies I met for the warm welcome. hope to be back over before long.

GGTTH

You were more than welcome matey, good to meet you and your people, come back over soon and we'll have a proper drinking tour of Belfast

GGTTH

Sarah