Cool singer and guitarist from Chicago, still, this guy Tommy Tutone.
Organizers said the gates to the Benny’s Lost 80s Bash would open at 4 p.m. last Saturday at Onondaga Community College.
It was held inside instead of outside. It did rain that night, so that was a great move.
But they made us stand in line until 5 before opening the doors.
I’m at the point in my life where I think that’s just rude. There were at least 1,000 of us in line.
And as the day unfolded, with music starting at 5:30, my dear wife Karen and I left after the set by Tommy Tutone, somewhat after 9 p.m. with Naked Eyes, A Flock of Seagulls and Benny Mardones and the Hurricanes still to come.
We’d been on campus long enough.
Doors open an hour late … Half-hour sets … Two bands to go before Benny when we leave … Ah, well.
If you’d like to read my weekly community blog for Syracuse Public Media site waer.org, click the link below. (Earlybird warning. Editors there usually don’t publish the photos until around 10 a.m.)
http://waer.org/post/80s-feel-kind-comfortable-src-arena-after-all
What is the longest you ever had to wait for a concert venue to open its doors?
Mark Bialczak 
I wish I can go back to the 80s, the old generation the best of the best! I enjoy this music!!
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I have waited for more than 12 hours for The Monkees and Peter Noone and I’ve camped overnight for Bon Jovi, Van Halen and KISS. 🙂 That’s half the fun. 🙂
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It’s half the fun when it’s your choice, Rachel, I agree. I wrote a post about happily waiting in line for Train tickets. When it’s their choice,and it’s late. Not fun.
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That’s true. Actually, I only don’t mind waiting in line that long if I’m at the front of the line! If I’m stuck near the back, then I hate it. Also, if I don’t personally know the performers, then it’s not so much fun either. LOL!
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That sounds worse than being kept waiting in a doctor’s office Mark. Even if the concert starts late around here, they at least open the doors on time. And when you are really lucky sometimes you can sneak in while the band is warming up–at least until someone catches you. Been there, done that. I sure understand not staying til the end though. No matter how they try to explain it, that’s just plain rude.
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I like hearing the sound check, Angie. I’ve done that lots of times. Good plan you have, my friend.
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An hours wait is way too long. If they say doors are opening at 4 – well then they should. We took the children to a pantomime a few years ago – and unlike every other occasion when I’ve been to the theatre they kept everyone waiting in the ticket hall. It was like a rugby scrum when they finally let us in. We didn’t go back!
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Yes, everybody’s time is precious these days, and ought to be treated as such, Rachel.
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I think I’ve had to wait longer for a baseball game than for a concert. Either wait is a horrible wait.
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And the waiting for baseball is often while the game is going on. I think: Get in the batter’s box. I think: Pitch the ball. Thanks, Aud.
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Hahaha. Yes!! We would get along perfectly there, Zak.
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So sorry, this was not what I had expected and wished it had gone much better! Argh! I will make an angry pirate sound!
I have been around downtown Columbus and noticed lines outside concert venues. I am not sure why there aren’t two lines, one for ticket holders and one for those who are hoping there are still seats left? I am confused why this happens, haven’t been to a concert since Germain Amphitheater closed, it was a nice outdoors place, where I saw Chicago. On my brother’s fiftieth year, I bought tickets to see Poison, Ratt, and another group. I thought we had an easy time parking, we went early so we got our blanket set up, he went off in search of beers, I stayed. Then when he came back, I went to the ladies’ room and then, off to find a snack to eat with my beer! Smiles, Robin
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If the place lets you, a good and easy time can be had. You and your brother proved that, Robin. Most places open up at the announced time nowadays, I’d say.
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It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a concert but I’m pretty sure I’ve just had my ticket scanned and am able to walk right in, pick up snacks and find my seat and sit down. 🙂 Sorry you didn’t get to experience the whole concert Mark.
Diana xo
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We could have but it was our choice that enough hours had been spent there, Diana. Sometimes choices have to be made. My adrenaline was not kicking in.
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I completely understand Mark. There are times when I just don’t have the umpff or desire to stay at events until the end. 🙂
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We went to the demolition derby last night at the Cuyahoga County Fair outside of Cleveland. The first heat (which turned out to be my fav…the suburban mom minivan division) was scheduled to start at 8:00. It didn’t get underway until 8:40. My kids were so bored they wanted to leave. I had to put my foot down.
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So I see it’s not just concerts. Wow. I like demo derbies, too, Mark, and the sound of the suburban mom minivan division carries a wallop for sure. Did the kids like it once it started?
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They vasilated between terror and boredom. It’s a good life lesson for them.
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GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! I am supporting the cranky people standing in line for that one Mark. No excuse for that at all.
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Thanks for sharing my grouch, Colleen!
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😉 no problem friend!
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so sorry it turned out this way for you and karen, not at all what i, (or you), expected. glad that you at least got to see some of it, and as for lines, i see no reason for them in most cases, especially when they promote a particular time as opening. when i was a cocktail waitress, the owner of our bar used to tell security to create a line, just so that we would look more popular and hard to get in, crazy mentality and not serving the customers very well in my book.
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I can see it but not excuse it in a bar, Beth. Get a buzz going about popularity, sure. It’s still rude. But at an arena that you’re only going to if you really want to get there, no buzz or extra people gained by that maneuver. Just cranky folks.
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i agree, it’s rude no matter the circumstances – bar, concert, festival and anything else. no reason for it really. doesn’t serve any purpose really and only gets people angry, my boss at the bar was the same jerk who made us open on easter and we all had to work (except for him), and had no customers. that should tell you a bit about him –
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I remember you telling that story. Dumb boss. People don’t get it sometimes that what goes around comes around, Beth.
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yep, that’s the guy – at least his character (of lack thereof) is consistent.
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Sad that you had to leave early but the experience must have been fun. It’s been so long since i’ve been to a concert that I can’t remember how long I waited. I don’t wait as well as I used to. My theory is that provided the seats are empty (i.e. no previous show) people should be allowed to be seated up to an hour or more before the show – unnecessary lineups are just disrespectful especially since some folks can’t stand very long. Great post Mark Thank you.
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I understand why you left—but I would have hung in for FOS just to see if the hair was still there.
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I already saw that he had a shaved head, Wayne. The mystery was gone.
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Too bad …it was the most righteous “do” of the era… I guess all our heroes fade 🙂
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Well, Mark, here’s the memory this fine post triggered for me:
In the early 80’s, I went to a showing of the movie “E.T.” We were inside, waiting to go into the theater, protected from the elements, but there were a series of unfortunate delays which took a LONG time. I noticed the local Boston comedian, Lenny Clarke, waiting with us, in the big crowd. Being a comedy buff, I enjoyed watching him (as well as the other people). Eventually, the crowd got really restless. You could feel the tension in the room. At that point, Lenny Clarke yelled out, “Okay! Everybody!” And he started singing, “Everything is Beautiful, In It’s Own Way,” by Ray Stevens.
Have I already told you that story, Mark? I feel like I’ve known you long enough, to start repeating the really good ones.
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You have not told me that one, Ann, though you are right about us comfortably settling into the repeat-the-tale stage. Lenny had the right move that night. Perhaps I should have started singing “Deacon Blues” by Steely Dan” and the crowd would have … held its collective ear? I love your ‘ET’ experience. Kind of otherwordly, Ann.
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And I made an otherwordly grammatical mistake, in the title of that Ray Stevens song, Mark. What would Ray Stevens say? What would you say? What would Weird Al say? What would Strunk and White say? I know what Lenny Clarke might say (or sing): “Everything is beautiful, in its own way.”
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Actually, now that I think of it, you would probably join in with Lenny Clarke.
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