So, last night Mrs Tween & I went down to Cardiff Uni Student Union for the first night of the new
Public Service Broadcasting tour. Mrs Tween has gubbed her knee so this was a bit of a risk, high probability we'd have ended up sitting on the floor at the back seeing nothing, she can't stand for more than a few minutes. This would be a shame, the visuals are more significant with PSB than most bands as they take inspiration from and extensively sample public service broadcasts and other public information films.
On arrival Mrs T spoke to one of the eventpeeps on the door & enquired if there was any chance of getting a seat somewhere. This most excellently happened and we were guided by a succession of excellent eventpeeps up to the small balcony reserved for persons with mobility needs. Chuffin fantastic
So off I toddle to the bar to get a drink, and the fun begins.
The balcony obviously is on the floor above where the gig is and so I was directed by one of the most excellent event peeps to exit the building on that floor
1 and use the Taf Bar also on that floor. We had established that the direct door from the balcony to said Taf Bar was locked. I exited the building and attempted to enter the Taf bar but was initially refused entry by a member of Union staff as I could not produce student ID, wot with not being a student. I explained that I had been directed here by the excellent eventpeeps as I was seated in the balcony for the gig. Grudgingly I was allowed in, I suggested he might like to speak to his colleagues & clear up the confusion.
So I queueued & purchased an IPA and a red wine and left to return to my seat only to be point blank refused exit from the building. Absolutely no drinks outside ever even if only taking 3 steps to the other door back into the building. He suggested I ask to be let out the other door direct to the balcony (I had observed while queueueing that the door was not locked but on a pass access system). So I waited and asked a member of Union staff to let me out explaining balcony, gig etc. Sure she says but you'll need those in plastic not glass to go into the gig with them. Before I could even make the obvious next request another member of Union staff butts in: You can't go that way, staff door only and you can't use the Taf bar for the gig, there's another bar downstairs for the gig. I explain again. Different license he bullshits, I have to use the other bar. So why am I being directed to use the Taf by the event staff? Tough he says, drink up and you can leave. You really want me carrying drinks on a busy staircase I ask? Yes, please drink up and leave. I decline and further reiterate that I have done exactly as directed, the problem is his to resolve as I have now paid for my drinks. Mr Union Git then starts the whole passive aggressive interrupt the first word routine:
MUG: There's no need to take that tone sir.
Me: But -
MUG: There's no need to get angry sir.
Me: I -
MUG: Calm down sir.
Me: Balcony -
MUG: There's really no need sir.
Me: Could you -
MUG: No I could not sir. You need to drink up and leave sir.
I
was not angry, I was not getting anything other than mildly frustrated.
Now his attitude is starting to push my buttons but I am not going to let that show one little bit as that would justify his reading from the dealing with people script at me. So after a couple more rounds of him point blank ignoring what I'm saying & simply reading more from the script I tell him straight:
Me: STOP READING FROM THE PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE SCRIPT AT ME, it's not going to work and is
not resolving the issue.
MUG: ?!?
He didn't have a page to turn to for that.
I should have asked for the manager, instead I gave up. I gifted the wine to the nearest student with a wine glass in front of her. I did have to give a potted version of the story by way of explaining I'm neither trying to chat her up nor poison her. Mr Union Git stood there watching while I drank the IPA. I suggested a better use of his time would be to go and speak to the excellent event peeps and get a coherent plan in place. I pointed to the lady member of the excellent event peeps team stood on the other side of the door to the balcony suggesting she be a good place to start. He left through said door.
A few minutes later I left through the exterior door past Mr intractable Union man, and back into the building. As I passed I asked the excellent event peeps lady if Mr Union Git had spoken to her, he had not. I'm really starting to get quite dischuffed with the Union staff but on the whole I'm through annoyed and laughing at the comedy of the disorganisation. I explained, excellent events lady was deeply unimpressed with Mr Union Git and very apologetic despite there being no need for her to be.
So I head from the Taf level (2nd floor) down one floor. I'm just about to ask another of the excellent event peeps if the bar is on that floor or the ground when two other people heading for the other balcony on the 2nd floor (VIP area) ask where they should get their drinks. Taf bar on the 2nd he says so I give my story. He's straight on the radio for clarification but the constant stream of people coming down the stairs looking for the entrance to the gig (ground floor) make it difficult. This chap is drowning but brilliant, patience of a saint repeating time after time 'go down to the ground floor & exit the building, join the queue & back in again for the gig'. I tried to help directing people and explaining to the two VIPs about the left hand right hand disconnect so he had half a chance of hearing & being heard over the radio. Eventually the Taf is confirmed. I ask that a message to this effect be sent to the Union staff and the answer straight back over the radio was it's already happening.
And they were right, 20 seconds later Mr Union Git is holding the door for me, the door from the balcony into the Taf bar. Did he apologise for a) being wrong and b) refusing point blank to establish the facts when politely challenged? Oh dear me no.
Even at Student Union prices Mrs Tweens
glass plastic of wine ended up quite expensive.
Event peeps - brilliant every one of 'em.
Student Union management - disorganised <deleted>
Student union staff - well trained in dealing with drunks - zero acknowledgement that not all situations are simply dealing with drunks and zero training in how to deal with non drunk situations.
Mr Union Git - nuff said.
Oh and the gig? Excellent. Surprise guests for the last song - flippin superb. Crowd response to the surprisingly surprise last song - only in Wales could the reaction be so utterly and doubly brilliant.
1 This is one of those odd buildings with entrances on many levels. Makes sense on a hill side but odd as that part of Cardiff is flat.