The M Room- A Shady Place?

**krock09** · 04-08-2012, 10:05 PM

Last Friday I went to the M Room to see a friend of mine play with his reggae band, there were two other bands on the ticket. It's a nice place, but a couple of red flags went up. One was that the show was scheduled to start at 9:00, however it did not start until after 10:00, and my friend's band did not go on until after 12:00. By the time they took the stage barley anybody was left. Second, when I went in there, I was not asked for my I'D. I am 23 years old, but I look 13 when shaven. I have been to almost every club/venue/bar in the NoLibs/Fishtown area and I am always asked for I'D. I found it odd that they just let me in. I have nothing against this place, but does anybody find the way do their business just slightly unstable?

**CHIOSSO** · 04-08-2012, 10:32 PM

Don't understand you did not get carded and you are complaining about it?

**mixiboi** · 04-08-2012, 11:07 PM

Reggae band? That already sound shady...

**krock09** · 04-08-2012, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by CHIOSSO

Don't understand you did not get carded and you are complaining about it?

Oh no, I'm not complaining at all. But it sticks out like a sore thumb when you consider, The Fire, The Barbary, Johnny Brendas, and every casino all card their patrons (PA has very draconian liquor laws).

**Bob_Head** · 04-08-2012, 11:22 PM

Shady? No. Poorly run? Oh, yeah. I went there to see a well-known act. Half the taps were dry. The kitchen was down for a few hours. The sound in the rood was rather good, but the light was arse. Just a really awful venue.

**RainboTeabagger** · 04-08-2012, 11:31 PM

Reggae? Is the year 2012 or 1997?

Oh and what do PA's liquor laws have to do with checking IDs?

**krock09** · 04-08-2012, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

Shady? No. Poorly run? Oh, yeah. I went there to see a well-known act. Half the taps were dry. The kitchen was down for a few hours. The sound in the rood was rather good, but the light was arse. Just a really awful venue.

Not mention they completely screwed up the times that the bands were to play.

**krock09** · 04-08-2012, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by RainboTeabagger

Reggae? Is the year 2012 or 1997?

Oh and what do PA's liquor laws have to do with checking IDs?

People under 21 cannot be in a club where liquor is served. A more pragmatic and reasonable way to go about it would be to let people under 21 see the bands play and only card them when they approach the bar to attempt to order a drink. New York and Delaware have similar laws like that.

**jester** · 04-09-2012, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by krock09

Last Friday I went to the M Room to see a friend of mine play with his reggae band, there were two other bands on the ticket. It's a nice place, but a couple of red flags went up. One was that the show was scheduled to start at 9:00, however it did not start until after 10:00, and my friend's band did not go on until after 12:00. By the time they took the stage barley anybody was left. Second, when I went in there, I was not asked for my I'D. I am 23 years old, but I look 13 when shaven. I have been to almost every club/venue/bar in the NoLibs/Fishtown area and I am always asked for I'D. I found it odd that they just let me in. I have nothing against this place, but does anybody find the way do their business just slightly unstable?

It's a little odd that you weren't carded on a Friday night, but I've occasionally seen people not get carded at other venues, too. It is fairly rare these days, though. Was the show actually scheduled to start at 9:00 or was that just the posted time? Places like The Fire usually post the show time as the time when the doors open, even if it says the show starts at X time. On the flip side of that, places like the Tin Angel and World Cafe Live generally start no later than a few minutes after the posted show time.

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

Shady? No. Poorly run? Oh, yeah. I went there to see a well-known act. Half the taps were dry. The kitchen was down for a few hours. The sound in the rood was rather good, but the light was arse. Just a really awful venue.

Agreed. Not shady, but pretty ****ty. It's kind of a hipster place that isn't cool enough to get away with how they often treat you. My last straw with the place was a night where one of my bands played there. We had a good bit of gear so it took us some time to pack things up right, but we weren't dawdling by any means. Someone in the band asked me a question, and I stood up and started answering them. I had a can of PBR in my hand that I was holding at around shoulder height. A waitress emerged from somewhere and immediately snatched it out of my hand. I said, "I'm sorry, I wasn't finished with that yet," thinking that maybe she thought I was trying to signal her to take my beer can (I wouldn't do that anyway; I'd just put it on the bar or wherever they're supposed to go). With an obnoxious, snide tone, she replied, "It's after 2! You can't have beer in here!" And she headed back into the bar room. All of our mouths dropped. I started packing up even faster. Couldn't wait to get the hell out of there. I don't care if it's after 2 or not. I've never been treated like that at a bar anywhere. I certainly hadn't done anything to her, especially to deserve that. And there's a certain way you treat people--especially the band! We'd had a good crowd and the place was packed all night. If she'd simply asked for the beer can, I'd ask her if I could slam it back, and if she wasn't cool with that, I'd just give it to her. So yeah, **** that place.

**krock09** · 04-09-2012, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by jester

It's a little odd that you weren't carded on a Friday night, but I've occasionally seen people not get carded at other venues, too. It is fairly rare these days, though. Was the show actually scheduled to start at 9:00 or was that just the posted time? Places like The Fire usually post the show time as the time when the doors open, even if it says the show starts at X time. On the flip side of that, places like the Tin Angel and World Cafe Live generally start no later than a few minutes after the posted show time.

Agreed. Not shady, but pretty ****ty. It's kind of a hipster place that isn't cool enough to get away with how they often treat you. My last straw with the place was a night where one of my bands played there. We had a good bit of gear so it took us some time to pack things up right, but we weren't dawdling by any means. Someone in the band asked me a question, and I stood up and started answering them. I had a can of PBR in my hand that I was holding at around shoulder height. A waitress emerged from somewhere and immediately snatched it out of my hand. I said, "I'm sorry, I wasn't finished with that yet," thinking that maybe she thought I was trying to signal her to take my beer can (I wouldn't do that anyway; I'd just put it on the bar or wherever they're supposed to go). With an obnoxious, snide tone, she replied, "It's after 2! You can't have beer in here!" And she headed back into the bar room. All of our mouths dropped. I started packing up even faster. Couldn't wait to get the hell out of there. I don't care if it's after 2 or not. I've never been treated like that at a bar anywhere. I certainly hadn't done anything to her, especially to deserve that. And there's a certain way you treat people--especially the band! We'd had a good crowd and the place was packed all night. If she'd simply asked for the beer can, I'd ask her if I could slam it back, and if she wasn't cool with that, I'd just give it to her. So yeah, **** that place.

Isn't every bar in that area a "hipster" place

**jester** · 04-09-2012, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by krock09

Isn't every bar in that area a "hipster" place

Heh! Yeah, they pretty much are, but they're all so much better than The M Room. Considering the M is the initial of their original name, The Manhattan Room, it would have been more fitting if they were originally The Williamsburg Room and shortened it to The W Room. They could just turn the M upside down.

And of course, not even a half block away is one of my favorite venues. I love Johnny Brenda's. Awesome food, great sound, solid beer selection, and a super nice staff from top to bottom (even the sound guys!). It's my favorite place in Philly to play, and I love seeing shows there.

**bernie25** · 04-09-2012, 08:20 AM

this thread is hilarious

obviously the original poster has never been to a show before

shows never start on time

seriously??

**thesomersteam** · 04-09-2012, 08:45 AM

Bernie25 - I find it pretty comedic as well. I am getting older, but with all the shows I have been to, I cannot remember any starting on time : ) . On the flip side, I think you have to applaud places like "The M Room" which provides venues for bands to play, many of which may struggle to get that opportunity at all. And thus provide a venue for folks to enjoy these bands and music. They may not be run the best but that is their own growing pains that hopefully they will learn from. I think it is great that there are the likes of Johnny Brenda ans M Room in such a short proximity.

**seanmhair** · 04-09-2012, 09:05 AM

This thread is funny. Simultaneously condemning the place for following the law, while mocking it for not following the law.
I love it when I go to breakfast some mornings and all the little kiddies are standing outside in full regalia, with their zippers and shoelaces hanging all about, waiting for the 'all ages' show to start. They must have started with their makeup at like dawn.
That place used to be the Manhattan restaurant, with the best breakfast for like two to three bucks. As far as a club, its always been a joke, now you guys are just in on it.

**Scoats** · 04-10-2012, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by bernie25

shows never start on time

Actually World Cafe Live is really good about showing starting on time. I wish more venues similarly valued their patrons' time.

**lastmonthsrent** · 04-10-2012, 04:36 PM

This thread is getting funnier by each response. Anyone want to start complaining about how cheap acropolis's breakfast remains to be?!! The gaul. Good ol east girard.

**Beer is good** · 04-10-2012, 05:00 PM

Tiesto at Lit on Friday night

**whats up** · 04-11-2012, 01:35 AM

this dude really sounds like a wet blanket, probably afraid to jay walk.

**krock09** · 04-11-2012, 02:47 AM

No, I'm not a wet blanket, and I'm not complaining. I was simply making an observation about what I saw. In light of what happened with Little Bar, I believe poorly run businesses should be called out.

**loveisnoise** · 04-11-2012, 07:15 AM

A "few observations".

You are a complete idiot.

I live near the MRoom, and know the staff and owners well. They are currently under renovations. They got the main room mostly worked out, and are currently redoing the back. If they had an issue in the kitchen? C'est la vie. At 9pm on a Friday? If you think food is an issue, you should see when the JB crowd runs out on to the street because the 1973 Hipsterdance IPA heffernonetheweiser pilsner keg just kicked.

As for the bands? Absolutely nothing to do with the venue. None. Nada. As with most places around here. The start times are dependent on the bands showing up and the promoter putting them on. MRoom does not book-they have an outside promoter that does all that. Carding? They card like a mofo and if you're bitching because you were of age and didn't get carded? Go buy a dildo in the gayborhood and pummel yourself in smugness, and be sure to delint your daddy wad after the fact. What a douche canoe. I didn't notice you complaining about not paying a cover to get in! Guess you ripped your own friends off, ftard.

Now, if you take your event in question? I was outside talking to the manager while watching those bands being herded like cats. It was a testosterone test between bands as to which unknown would go on before the other unknown. They were unprofessional, 2 were late, and no one could agree who should go first. Even through all that? Midnight was the starting time for your friends nimrod!!!! They were the last act, and the shows usually end by 1-1:30 so the time seems spot on to me.

Oh-and not 'reggae'. More pop wishing to be matisyahu but not on their best vaginal bleeding. Not by the longest shot, so your friends should really check you out before you chester their molester. Meahwhile, they'll tell you that "Village Green Productions" put on the show, so go bitch to them in private, or get a tampon for your bloody orafice when bleeding girly hormones in public through your pubice.

Need to cry more? I'll meet you at Acrapalot Diner and use your tears for lube while charging your mommy to listen over your iPhone. Biatche. Punk ass sissies and god damn taint complaints.

Originally Posted by krock09

Last Friday I went to the M Room to see a friend of mine play with his reggae band, there were two other bands on the ticket. It's a nice place, but a couple of red flags went up. One was that the show was scheduled to start at 9:00, however it did not start until after 10:00, and my friend's band did not go on until after 12:00. By the time they took the stage barley anybody was left. Second, when I went in there, I was not asked for my I'D. I am 23 years old, but I look 13 when shaven. I have been to almost every club/venue/bar in the NoLibs/Fishtown area and I am always asked for I'D. I found it odd that they just let me in. I have nothing against this place, but does anybody find the way do their business just slightly unstable?