This is the first time I’ve ever walked out of a review show before it’s even started.
Sissies and Sluts present BARRIE has an advertised start time of 7:30pm.
There was a long queue formed at The Spanish Club at 7:30pm. The doors didn’t open until 7:45pm. At 8:05 I asked someone behind the bar when the show would start. The answer was 9pm.
This behaviour goes beyond ‘unprofessional’. This is plain rude. Five, ten, fifteen minutes late, hell even half an hour I can forgive. But a ninety minute wait for a show that is advertised as going for two hours…that even goes beyond rude. And there was a relaxed air, from those concerned with the show, about the way this happening. I don’t know who these guys think they are but this was not the Rod Laver Area and these kids are not The White Stripes. It wasn’t until I asked, pointedly pulling out my notebook, displaying very clearly that I was a journo, that an announcement was made. It was only then that these guys bothered to inform the punters who had already been waiting a considerable time that they would be waiting a whole lot longer.
This attitude is flagrantly selfish and shows no concern for punters (the punters who, by the way, validate the existence and support the livelihood of performers).
During my one and half hour wait before I walked out (a clear hour before the show was due to start) I met and befriended a girl called Amy. I noticed Amy arrive shortly after 7pm and it was soon after this that we got to chatting. It was then that Amy told me that she had caught a taxi there rather that catching public transport because she was concerned about being late. The taxi cost Amy $22. Amy’s story is just one little story about a punter who bust their arse to make sure they turned up to a gig on time. You could undoubtedly find many similar stories within the group of punters assembled ready for the show at 7.30pm. What does it say when punters are more concerned about turning up on time than the performers.
Note also that the admission price is advertised as Full $12 and Concession $10. The full price is actually $15 and there is no Concession.
There is one other performance of this show. Decide for yourself if you want to go.