Photo by G.
Zoot Woman
After attending countless shows at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, August 10, 2011 will be my last time at that venue until their current manager Brett Tabisel and his security staff are fired. It pains me to have to write this, but I refuse to stay quiet when I have a bad experience – and readers, I implore you to do the same. The world has gotten as bad as it has become because for too long, people have kept quiet about the injustices done to them. People are finally starting to speak up and change is in the air!
Super-producer Stuart Price is in a band called Zoot Woman and when it was announced they’d be doing a show at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge, I decided to go and check them out. Everything you read about Zoot Woman on the net, from Le Poisson Rouge’s website (of which I have screen shots) to Wikipedia mentions Stuart Price being in the band. Perhaps the crowd was a little smarter than I and on the night of August 10, 2011 – Le Poisson Rouge was the most empty I’ve ever seen. When Zoot Woman took the stage, Stuart Price was nowhere to be seen.
I’VE BEEN DUPED!
After waiting through a few songs, I saw no sign of Stuart and my friend and I decided to go ask for our money back. We asked to speak to the manager of Le Poisson Rouge – Brett Tabisel. A gaggle of security guards who were just standing around kept telling us that the manager was too busy to speak with us and that we’d have to tell them our issue instead. We tried explaining about the misrepresentation to TWO different security guards but they had no clue what we were talking about and refused to do anything.
Well over 15 minutes later, Le Poisson Rouge’s manager Brett Tabisel emerged and for the 3rd time we explained the story. I simply said, I am a frequent customer and I want a refund. He told me there is no mention of Stuart Price on the website, which is not true (see the link above)! I then advised that I will be more than happy to write about this negative experience and name him in the story. He rolled his eyes with the “yeah right” look. Brett Tabisel told us he needed to check on something and scurried away. The security guards advised us Brett would not be coming back and we should go back inside and enjoy the show or leave! The irony is that the tickets for the concert were only $15. It’s not like we were asking for our time back that we obviously wasted at a misrepesented event. No apology was offered either by any member of the staff!
WHAT?!??!?
That’s how Le Poisson Rouge treats frequent customers? HOW DARE THEY?!
Nearly shaking, I asked the security guards for their names and at this point they asked me to leave the venue! I was writing something down on a piece of paper and the guard forcefully grabbed the pen and paper out of my hand. I thought I was about to be assulted and I am sure if I would have stayed for another 30 seconds I would have been. Just for asking for my money back?! WHAT!?!?!?
Readers, I am asking you to boycott Le Poisson Rouge until Brett Tabisel and his security team are fired. They will not get away with this. First of all, would you feel safe at a venue when the security guards want to kick you out for rightfully complaining?
I encourage you to contact Le Poisson Rouge on Twitter or Brett Tabisel’s personal Twitter account and let them know that this behavior will NOT BE TOLERATED.
I absolutely plan on telling as many bands as I can about this experience so their management will book them at one of the many other venues in New York who treats their patrons right. As this website has a huge international following, the $15 dollars each that my friend and I will not be getting back will be more than accounted for in Google when people look for reviews of the venue.
Please spread the word.
You can see what Brett Tabisel looks like after the jump so you can steer clear of this guy when you are out and about.
UPDATE: I received an email from the venue, not with an apology, but instead with a note saying I should do my homework before attending shows. What is the big deal with saying “I’m sorry” or “Sorry you’ve had a bad experience.” Really unbelievable.
Brett Tabisel. Photo courtesy of Time Out New York
