11/11/08

So disrespectful of customers and misrepresents venue

by concertlover

I am so dissapointed in the backyard recently. I had been a fan of the Austin icon until recently. The employees were recently very rude and inconsiderate to my husband and I and they misrepresented their show through advertising in my opinion. When I tried to discuss this noone was willing to work with us and treated us as if they could do whatever they pleased and forget about a positive customer experience! This was not the old backyard I discovered when moving to Austin 14 years ago. Better off seeing a concert somewhere in the air conditioning where the venue values their customers.

• Pros: good bands
• Cons: poor customer experience, lack of respoect of customers

06/07/07

THE BACKYARD IS HORRIBLE!!!!!

by the9962

I bought FRONT ROW tickets for my husband and me to see the March 17, 2007 performance of Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, and Asleep at the Wheel. All I have to say is, we will NEVER return to the Backyard. From years ago, we knew parking at Backyard events is a joke, so we factored that in to our plans, figuring the tacky addition of cheesy, strip shopping centers behind the place would only magnify the problem. (Still, parking was a half hour in, and an hour and a half out: You would think the Backyard would care.) But after standing in line, enduring the drunks behind us constantly stumbling into our backsides, we were shocked to discover that we had to be FRISKED in order to enter the venue. I've been to plenty of concerts/events (including post 9/11), and I have NEVER been frisked - they don't even do that at the airport (unless you're some kind of suspect or you get stuck in a random search). I bought tickets for what was supposed to be a "fun" evening, but we got frisked quicker than you can say "arrest warrant." After that needless embarrassment, we finally got to our seats, only to discover the Backyard had hired SPINELESS to watch the left side of the area (as you're facing the stage) between the front row and the stage: There was a constant parade of pandering idiots wandering in front of us, snapping pictures, lingering, and acting as if they were the performers' best buddies. WE COULDN'T WATCH THE SHOW! What did our "usher" do? Nothing! In addition, there were two middle-aged, extremely hyperactive women sitting on my right, calling all their friends on their mobiles, yakking about how "great" the show is, and "can you just hear them?!" Forget asking spineless to intervene - it became completely useless to try to watch or enjoy the show. The Backyard ruined what was to have been a surprise anniversary gift for my husband! Well, no surprise here, folks: Just like those "made in China" box stores behind them, all the Backyard wants is your money.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Everything - don't bother

05/11/07

Parking is a NIGHTMARE

by apefish

The Backyard is a great venue to see bands. I just recently saw M o d e s t M o u s e there and it was a good time. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is beautiful, with many Live Oak trees that add to the "enchanted forest" feel of the place. Despite the fact that a HUGE shopping mall now surrounds the entire venue(as of 2006?) The Backyard still feels like a remote place in the Texas Hill Country.

With that said, this entire experience is ruined by the horrendous parking situation. Getting thousands of cars in and out of the parking area via a 2 lane dirt road is a maddening experience. It took 30 minutes to get in to park, and over an hour to get out. Not worth it.

• Pros: Great venue
• Cons: Terrible parking situation