Iota

[Bombay Chutney]

How quickly do shows at Iota usually fill up?  Is it a good idea to get there before they open the doors? Or can I just show up at the posted time on their website and have no problem getting in?   I've heard it's a really small club, but I've never been there. Thanks.

[brennser]

at the risk of sounding obvious it depends on who you're going to see - when I saw Alejandro Escovedo there last year they were definitely turning people away by the time he played

[brennser]

oh, and because they're a restaurant/bar I 'think' they're open all the time so you can go early and grab a drink/food

[Guiny]

If you go to the resteraunt then usually your the your priority to get tickets. I'll be there December 9th.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

We will be at Iota for the Yayhoos on Friday night.
 
    Typically the weekend shows sell better. Since they are a reasonably priced venue in a somewhat upscale area, seems like some people just go there to hang out, especially on weekends.
 
    But generally, what was said was right. The more popular the band, the more likely to sell out.

[edbert]

They don't have tickets- one reason for it being my favorite venue- the door guy just keeps a count of how many cover charges he's collected, or he just looks inside to see how full it is.  My experience is that the crowd usually flows in around 9:30-10:00 unless there's a hot opener

[eltee]

As everyone has said it depends on who you are going to see. If it is someone who you think will sell out, then get there about 7/7:30 PM to stand in line and pay at the door (example being, if set time is 9/9:30 PM). They open at 11 am (?), so if you wanna go there and hang out until the show starts, someone will come around and take your money between 7 and 7:30 PM. If you go to the restaurant, you won't get a ticket, so don't make a reservation there expecting to get into the show (you still need to purchase a ticket, or wait in line at the bar). I think I might lobby the owner to start a selling tickets in advance. Since Iota is a smaller venue, tickets would disappear immediately, which is probably why they don't have that method right now.

[edbert]

They rarely go around to collect the cover before 8:00.  I think the system works perfectly for the audience.  If you don't wanna stand around until the headliner, you can show up around 8:00, pay the cover to get your hand stamped, head out to eat or whatever and come back later

[Bombay Chutney]

Thanks for the info everyone.

[eltee]

Originally posted by edbert:
  They rarely go around to collect the cover before 8:00.  I think the system works perfectly for the audience.  If you don't wanna stand around until the headliner, you can show up around 8:00, pay the cover to get your hand stamped, head out to eat or whatever and come back later

Interesting...each time I've been they have collected my money by 7 / 7:30 pm. and friends have been turned away about 8 / 8:30 pm, that is if they are sold out at that point.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Check the schedule. Weekday shows start earlier than weekend shows.
 
 

Originally posted by El Tee:
   

Originally posted by edbert:
  They rarely go around to collect the cover before 8:00.  I think the system works perfectly for the audience.  If you don't wanna stand around until the headliner, you can show up around 8:00, pay the cover to get your hand stamped, head out to eat or whatever and come back later

Interesting...each time I've been they have collected my money by 7 / 7:30 pm. and friends have been turned away about 8 / 8:30 pm, that is if they are sold out at that point. [/b]

[Bags]

Originally posted by El Tee:
   If you go to the restaurant, you won't get a ticket, so don't make a reservation there expecting to get into the show (you still need to purchase a ticket, or wait in line at the bar).

Not true.  Twice I've gone to the restaurant around 7:00 for dinner, and a guy comes through about 8, 8:30 (these were weekend shows) and asks everyone eating if they want to pay and be stamped for the show.  It's a great way to cover yourself when you're not sure how a show will sell.
 
 And even the bands with the most buzz don't seem to sell out by 9:00, so I think if you plan to be there by 9:00, you'll always be okay.

[Guiny]

Thanks Bagster, i believe i said that earlier but nobody believed me.

[eltee]

Thanks, good to know about the restaurant, I was told otherwise.

[Bags]

I thought some anecdotal testimony would give you an assist!
 
 

Originally posted by Guiny:
  Thanks Bagster, i believe i said that earlier but nobody believed me.