It was not good news when I called for directions and information to find out it was in the Central District, and the cost was $20 per ticket! I should have paid more attention to the ad, and bought my tickets earlier so I could get the discounted rate of $15. It seemed pricey to me, $40 for two people - but the person I spoke with said there would be two bands, a costume contest, door prizes, and catered food. That didn't seem so bad, $20 each, including dinner. So, I resolved to go and rallied five othe r people to go with me. I did not eat because I was told it would be "catered food."
I left my house in time to get there around 9:00 p.m. The directions I was given were wrong. The person on the phone had told me the location was 18th and Cherry or Union. I drove around for about 45 minutes looking, which was difficult because there seem ed to be no numbers on the buildings. I had a hard time finding it. When I got there, my friends were all waiting for me, so I tried to pull into the parking lot. I was met with a rude man who wouldn't allow me to park, even though it was now 9:40 and there was a big lot with only about a third of the stalls taken. I asked him again if I could park there, and told him I'd like to carry in some papers. "NO! We are saving the parking for staff and the band members!" was his response. Even I could figure out that at 9:40, when an event had begun at 8 it was probably a stretch to hold five more parking stalls, much less two thirds of the lot.
I backed out and drove around the block, but no parking was available. Then I drove around another block, and another, and another. I was getting mad, there was no legal parking for blocks in all directions, a huge empty parking lot and I had nowhere to park! I drove back to the door where my friends, all standing in the cold, were still waiting. I had decided to leave, and go someplace else. I pulled up and asked them if they wanted to go someplace else, since I couldn't find a place to park.
We were just beginning to discuss it when one of the promoters came and asked what the problem was. I told her and in a twinkle she was back to get the parking opened up for everyone. (Thank you Grace! You looked mahvelous!)
I finally parked my car, we went in, paid our money and went upstairs. There were maybe 60 people at the most. The Wicked Celts, who I generally like, were playing so we sat down to listen....
What was left of the concert was pretty good, although I would have liked to hear them more clearly - they really should have been amplified. In the middle of the set they sang a lament I like, but it is really depressing. It could have been saved for later in the evening, maybe during the ritual. It brought down the "party mood" or what there was of one to begin with. Most of the people were sitting in a sort of semi-circle around them, it was not conducive to dancing, although they did encourage people to dance. It is difficult to dance when the dance floor is covered with chairs.
The food was really disappointing. There wasn't much of it and what there was was just some chips, dips and veggies, a few cold cuts and some lukewarm orange juice. I think there was also coffee and tea available, but catered? I believe I must have a different definition for catered. I asked my friends and they all agreed about the food.
There were about 25 people in costumes, some in the same old stuff, some very original and creative. I was impressed by the man who dressed as an Amanita Muscaria mushroom. The Queen of Wands was also really good! The costume contest was a bit sketchy, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. The "door prizes" were non-existent - there was a raffle, but you had to purchase tickets to enter it.
The whole event could have benefited from the energy being brought more "together"...maybe if they tried doing an opening ritual where everyone introduced themselves. It did feel somewhat cliquey, folks seemed to stay pretty much with their own bunch.
I left before the ritual, I have been to several of these rites, and I was feeling the need to have something more substantial to eat. The friends of ours who stayed for the ritual liked it, and reported that it was good.
Would I go again? Not unless I hear that the producers have changed the format, a lot! I think it was worth about $5, if it were a benefit, it might be worth $10.
I think the food should be professionally catered, with more selection. The music should be more organized and better produced. I also think a lot more people would attend if it were a lot less money than it was this year. The reason more of our coveners did not attend was because of the price.
I do believe the producers have good intentions, and that they deserve credit for the effort, but please take some of this to heart before next year! Happy Samhain!
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