By AUSTIN HALL
Venues are unique in their own way. The sights, the smells and the sound of a venue can remain in the archives of one’s memory for the rest of time.
The standards for what makes a good venue vary from person to person. Three important standards are overall size, experience and sound quality.
Overall experience can range from what services are offered, to how comfortable a venue is, to how the place is managed and how employees treat their customers. A company should pride themselves on the quality of their customer service.
Bigger does not always mean better regarding sound quality. Larger venues offer a theatrical sound that is popular with concert halls. That is popular because it sounds spectacular, but is not always more aesthetically pleasing than a compact more, in-your-face, type of sound that small venues provide. These standards are what make a great venue.
BackBooth proves size doesn’t always matter
BackBooth is a small venue located downtown at 37 W. Pine St. that ensures a good view of the performer from anywhere in the room.
BackBooth has a maximum capacity of 350 people, which is a fraction of the maximum of House of Blues. One might have elbow room in House of Blues, in a venue as small as BackBooth, every spot on the floor is a good spot.
Unlike House of Blues, BackBooth does not serve food inside the venue and has a limited sitting area.
Unless one can get into the VIP section, which is just a small balcony with a couple of booth-style seats; the only places to sit are at the few stools at the bar, or two rows of bar stools in the back of the venue.
The upside of BackBooth is its size, but that also comes with negatives. Although one is never too far from whoever is performing, the other people watching get a little too close.
For some, it can be an invasion of privacy. For others, if one throws all shame out the window and goes with the flow, it is just part of the experience.
While BackBooth may not have anywhere to eat inside, it is downtown location is close to many eateries like Pancheros and Tijuana Flats.
Small venues like this are great for upcoming artists. These types of venues tend to host local artists trying to make it big in the music industry.
Before You Exit started out playing small venues like BackBooth; now they have been on tour with bands like All Time Low and have written with the lead singer of Fall Out Boy and solo artist, Patrick Stump.
There are only two posted events coming up. On May 12, at 8 p.m. RUG is having a CD release party featuring Heckfire and RJ Harmon and Co. for all ages with tickets at $5. On June 6, at 7 p.m. Ceremony and Screaming Females will be playing an all ages show; tickets can be bought for $10 at www.backbooth.com.
The Social shows true colors in sound quality
The Social, much like BackBooth, is a very small venue in downtown Orlando. It’s size comes with advantages and disadvantages. The standing area is longer than it is deep compared to BackBooth. It also does not serve food.
The Social’s maximum capacity is similar to BackBooth’s. The general admission floor takes up most of the space. There is limited seating at the bar.
The sound from inside the venue is unique. It is much different compared to a larger venue like House of Blues, but is beautifully crisp.
In a larger venue there is a reverberation off the towering theatrical walls that every town-hall-type venue contains. But in a venue like The Social or BackBooth, the sound has a sort of concentrated feel to it. A sort of sound that has time to bounce around in one’s head and stay for quite a while.
Tickets for upcoming shows can be bought at www.thesocial.org/calendar/. An upcoming event to consider is Julian Marley, son to reggae artist Bob Marley, will perform at The Social on May 23, at 8 p.m. General admission tickets cost $20 at The Social’s website with a $6.75 service fee.
On June 4, Two Door Cinema Club will be playing at 8:00 p.m. General admission tickets cost $29.84 after taxes.
House of Blues lives up to it’s name
House of Blues is a giant in comparison to other local venues. With its two story structure, House of Blues can fit up to 2,100 people.
The standing area in front of the stage is bigger than BackBooth or The Social but is small enough to where one does not get too far from the stage.
Unlike the other two venues, House of Blues has seats that surround the general admission area, and the second floor balcony has seats right above the seats on the bottom floor.
Adam Sliger, a freshman in college, was in the band 7 Months Later that recently parted ways. Sliger and 7 Months Later performed at local venues like the House of Blues, Hard Rock Live, The Social, BackBooth and some not-so-local venues in different cities.
“My favorite venue is certainly House of Blues. Everyone there is a professional, and the stage is massive. Also, the backstage area is an awesome place to prepare for a show,” Sliger said.
House of Blues has one advantage over the others: it owns a restaurant right next to the venue. One can get food before and after a show without having to travel too far.
Jane’s Addiction will be performing on May 25. Pre-sale tickets cost $59.50, but on the night of the show, tickets are bumped up to $62.50. On May 27, The Used is playing at 6:30. Pre-sale tickets cost $29 and $31 at the door.