Orchestra Noir Birmingham reviews
Venue Sucked
The venue was disorganized; it was over an hour late to start. We arrived 30 minutes before start time and were denied entry. We waited outside to enter, well after the start time--in a line on the sidewalk that wrapped around the block. The parking at the venue was also a challenge because of the cramped space available into the garage (not nearly enough), and the walk down ramps while trying to get out in the path of moving vehicles. I immediately noticed that we missed the attire memo, as I was dressed for a symphony (cocktail dress), and should have been dressed for a hip-hop concert (jeans & Tims). It was evident that some others were confused as well--some dressy/ some 90s costumes/ some jeans and Ts. I didn't know the 90s R&B theme was so literal beyond the music itself.
Inside the venue, we were immediately greeted with more long lines for alcohol service pop-up bars. The venue staff attempted to haphazardly check IDs for the service -literally yelling to people "ok who haven't I check yet?!", which was a complete mess. This was all while other patrons are also trying to locate the entry points into the theater seats, so the lines were constantly blurred with moving people and chaos.
The actual bar selection was limited and pricey, which is expected from a pop-up. Cheap liquor in flimsy plastic cups was the jist of it. Drinking water was being offered from two 5 gallon Home Depot water cooler set up on each side of the bar (classy). Something that communal during times of COVID was super cringy. The mask policy was only loosely enforced.
Inside the theater, at least the ushers were helpful. It's a very small theater and stage, and was pretty should to shoulder. The show started about an hour and 15 minutes late. The orchestra was more like a motley crew band, but they were super talented. The maestro made a point of engaging the crowd for singing along with the music. Usually I would love that, but it was too small, close together, and hot for strangers to be singing all over my cheap drink, and in my face. It didn't help that the lady next to me had foul breath and no mask! Once I saw my husband uncomfortably sweating it out, we decided to leave about half-way thru the first half. Maybe it was sooner....it wasn't worth it!