Favourite Venue?

[Lana]

Hi All,

With all the concerts that Barry has performed all around the world, I thought it would be interesting to see what everyones favourite venues have been that they seen Barry perform in.

Having seen numerous shows around the UK, I have to say I got plenty to choose from, but favourites would have to include the following places:


London - The Royal Albert Hall (RAH): What a fantastic venue with its red velvet draperies and gold leaf decorative touches, there are private boxes that make you feel like Royalty and a nose bleed section to end them all!

The stage is so close to the front row that if you stretch your legs out in front of you you cant put them straight and HAVE to end them at the knee because the stage is that close to the seats, ths stage is also low rise too.

This was the first time I had front row and it came on the night Barry did (for the first time) CIBM Take That - Take This style so you can imagine my first front row and all those BAMS......sheesh! Definitely my No 1 favourite theatre.

Liverpool - Empire Theatre: Because its my home town and I got to include it!

Glasgow - SECC: (affectionately known as The Armadillo because - funnily enough - it looks like an armadillo with a silvery carapice that shines in the sun). The theatre is similar to the Hilton in size except the seating geometrically speaking is wonderful and ALL theatres should adopt this plan:

Its seats are all staggered in a zig-zag style and slopes upwards like cinema seating so the effect is that you dont have to keep shifting positions to follow Barry around the stage you have a clear, unobstructed head free view in front of you all the time. The seats are almost like comfy armchairs as opposed to theatre seats.

Its also attached to a fantastic hotel The Moat House which was linked by a bridge so you didnt even have to go outside, especially when it was raining....it was great, I do miss that place!

Manchester - MEN Arena: Ahhhhh Manchester memories good and bad for us all but mostly good. It maybe a huge Arena that holds around 20000 people but it really doesnt feel so vast, surprisingly it feels much more intimate than it should be considering its so huge. Great atmosphere, great place to end a tour.....although even better to start it!

New York - Madison Square Gardens: New York, my first trip (hopefully not my last!) to New York to see Barry, loved the venue, the show, the man and the place too.....what a fabulous city and such a historic place to perform.

Las Vegas - Hilton Showroom: OMG the seating is wonderful.....its all so good in there and to be so close to Barry at a show is great.......I'm glad its the Hilton Barry is at.....is it June yet!!!

So whats everyone elses choices/reasons?? I think, and hope this is going to be interesting to read what everyone thinks!

Manilove

Lana

[Wendy Dresser]

My favorite would have to be the outdoor amphitheaters!
I have seen him at Blossom (Cleveland), Post Gazette (Pittsburgh), Merriweather Post (DC), Pine Knob (Detroit) and the one up in Toronto.

But then again...I love the showroom at the Hilton!!!!!
I was fortunate to have a couple of front row seats last year, and nothing could absolutely top that : )

Wendy

[Bonnie Goldberg]

Without a doubt the Hilton Showroom, and I hope he NEVER leaves.

[brenda (UK)]

Hi there,
Don`t know about my absolute fav. venue but London Palladium was great. The history of the place and the interior was grand. Also I camped out over night with many fans to get a great seat.
I felt like "bag lady" on the pavement!!!!! Would NOT do this for anyone other than Barry.
How about the worst venue ~~~ Alexandra Palace would win hands down.
You remember we all used to go down to the front at the end ~~~ well I was grabbed by security man and next day I had an enormous fingers bruise on my arm.
Barry of course hated this place too and mentioned it several times. Its NOT suitable for artists like Barry.
Up-market Venues for our up-market man I say.
Manilove, Brenda (UK)

[Jane Mangano]

Mandalay Bay is my favorite place to see Barry.

[Dana]

I've seen Barry all around the country, but I prefer the Las Vegas Hilton. I like the intimacy. And I like being closer to Barry.

[Maureen W.]

I have to say that I have seen Barry in several venues here on the east coast both indoor and outdoor. Madison Square Garden is my favorite of the big venues, maybe because it Barry's hometown and the crowds that attend are amazing. The excitement and energy is like no other there.

However Barry at the Hilton is by far the most intimate. He truly connects with the audience there. He makes you feel like you are the only one there and I agree with Dana I like being so close to Barry.

Maureen

[Georganne]

Hi All,
I kind of agree with Wendy. I especially like the outdoor amphitheaters. We saw him at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Fingerlakes Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua, NY. We had super terrific seats -- I liked Fingerlakes better because it was smaller than SPAC.
Also liked Elmira, NY because we had first row seats!! Can't beat that. And we had stage table seats for several concerts at Foxwoods.
I guess I'm basing my venues on the seats we had at the time. :) :)
There is a super terrific showroom at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY - there is not a bad seat in the place and it seats only 800 people. Of course, Barry would probably have to do 10-15 shows there in order to accommodate most of his fans.

Georganne

[sharon beavan]

I think Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, NY was one of the best places to see a show. The beautiful Gershwin theatre held some wonderful memories as well.

As for outdoor venues, I preferred Saratoga Springs to Finger Lakes - the staff at Finger Lakes were always SO rude.

My favorite Venues:

Wachovia Arena (Philly) as that's where I did my CSWY

Proctor's in Schenectady

Broome County Arena (1st show)

Embarcadaro Outdoor Park (San Diego)

The Gershwin

Sharon

[Eddie]

My favorite venue ive seen him in would have too be the War Memoral in Syracuse New York.
It would be awesome thought if Barry played at the Turing Stone.The Showroom has great seats everywhere, and if he did the event center it would hold more people, it would be good if he played there too or The Syracuse Dome wich could hold way more people.

[Lana]

Outdoors? Only one I've been to is Blenheim Palace and I loved it loved it LOVED IT!!! It had been raining for 2 days non stop and we were all a bit worried that we'd be all dressed up in our finery and would be sitting like drowned rats watching Barry.

The hotel I was staying in I was on the top floor in an attic room, I noticed it had stopped raining and the clouds were clearing so I had the window open, then I heard music playing......then I heard Barry singing......OMG......SOUND CHECK!!!

It was late in the afternoon and I rushed over there to go and watch him, I could hear him but not see him and it drove me nuts. But by the time I got there, I seen him rehearsing "I'm Hip", talking to the band and then he left. Then it was back to the hotel to get ready for the show.

When I got to the my seat, the weather was perfect.....not too cold and not too warm.......it had stopped raining (sure Barry arranged that one) and the clouds had cleared and the sun was beginning to set over the lake in the grounds which we could see from our seats.

Watching Barry outdoors was an experience and Blenheim Palace was fantastic........just loved it!! Although I do prefer indoors.

Manilove

Lana

[Richard]

In respect of the "memories good or bad" of the Manchester Arena....are you referring to the night Barry's voice was under the weather? If you are, in my book I will take the 25 years of absolute enjoyment he has given me and set it again a night when he wasnt his usual self. Whats more, to be in the man's presence was still fantastic and very much treasured!

As for the rest.. all of you who have said Vegas, you have just whetted my appetite even more! Bring it on! Might cancel the flight back to Oz and just stay for good!

[Lana]

Hi Richard,

Oh no, No, NO!!!! You misunderstand me, I was not having a pop at Barry. I'd never do that to him, love him too much to be so cruel to him.

It was already a bitter-sweet night because it was the last show of the tour so we were glad for Barry because it meant he could go home and rest. Sad for us because we'd been floating for 2 weeks being wrapped up in his world and then it stopping suddenly......such a downer and we miss Barry like crazy after he's gone home......those BB's set in BIG time you know!

I meant it was a bad night for him not being well, and I personally feel he shouldnt have been on stage that night, he should have cancelled it.

But it was the last night of the UK tour, people told him to cancel but Barry refused because he didnt want to let us down.....Barry, my love you couldnt let us down even if you tried.

I knew as soon as he opened his mouth there was something very wrong. He had severe bronchitis, it wasnt just that his voice was under the weather, he could hardly speak let along sing.

He'd also broken his toe which he had stubbed against a heavy metal table in his hotel room while getting up the night before to go to the bathroom....I can just imagine the cussing tumbling from Barry when that happened.

So, he was in pain from the broken toe and bronchitis so he was taking medication for the both. We were told that he'd had an injection straight into his toe (ouch) before going on stage.

By the time he got to NYC Rythym it had clearly worn off and it was visible he wasnt doing too good.....it was awful to watch him in that condition going around the stage. I kept saying he shouldnt be on stage, and its the only time I remember wanting a show to end so he could go off and rest.

He managed to do 1 hr 15 but that in my opinion was too long......I'd rather he cancel the show, recover and it be rescheduled next time he was back in the UK.

The next time Barry came back to the UK we were at Wembley I think and he started up with a cold, and he said "I see Manchester looming you know".............we all sucked in our breath and protested "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" He was ok thankfully, and a fantastic time was had at Manchester quashing the memories of the last time he was there, when he was so unwell.

So when I say bad, it was bad in terms of that I didnt want to see him in pain struggling, hardly able to speak never mind sing......I hope that never happens again. I dont want to see him like that again. Ever.

I never thought I'd hear myself say that I didnt want Barry to perform.....unthinkable right? BUT having seen him in so much pain......well, his health MUST come first its paramount.

I hope this clears up what I meant about Manchester?? Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

Las Vegas........have you been before?? If not you are going to love the Hilton Showroom.....its fabulous accoustically and the seating too.....no where is a bad seat really as its so intimate. You're sure to have a wonderful time there!

Manilove

Lana