The Webster — Attraction in Hartford

I attended an EDM show last week here. I drove an hour and a half to get here, then waited in the hour long will call line to get my ticket. They venue' s box office was extremely understaffed. I missed both the openers, but that was okay, that's not who I came to see.

I finally made it inside. The venue's tiny access hallway was crammed with lines of people waiting for the bathroom. A police officer who was working a detail at the event was laughing histarically with one of the staff members about how "some girls are having a really bad time in there". People were shouting that there was no toilet paper and all the toilets were clogged. After forcing my way into the main event space, I decided it was time for a drink.

I entered the bar area and was taken back by the line. Out of the 5 bars the venue had, only one was open, and to make matters worse, there was one single bartender frantically trying to take care of everyone. I waited 45 minutes in line trying to get a beer, making conversation with the people around me who were also amazed at how dysfunctional the venue was operating. The poor girl working had given up on giving correct change, she was just trying to get everyone their drinks. She looked like she was seconds away from quitting. Many irate patrons were giving her a hard time.

I finally got my beer. The main act was about to come on, and it seemed like things were finally getting better. I began to back away from the huge crowd of people trying to get a drink, when my drink, which I had taken one sip of, was ripped out of my hand. I turned around to a security guard shining a flashlight in my face.

"Where's your wristband?" He said. I didn't know I needed a wrist band. I was let into the bar area without one and I was served without one. I said "excuse me? I didnt know I needed one, I'm sorry". The security guard laughed and said "you didn't know you had to be 21 to drink? Do you even have an ID?" I promptly produced a valid ID and apologized again. He seemed bummed out that I was in fact old enough to have a beer. I then asked him where I could get a wristband. He told me I couldn't. Confused, I asked him why.

He proceeded to yell "don't get smart with me kid", grabbed me by the wrist, twisted my arm behind my back, and violently escort me out of the venue. I was screaming, it hurt, bad. I was laughed at by the crowd, staff members and police officer as I was dumped on the side of the road in front of the venue. I was polite and passive with him throughout the entire altercation. I wasn't even drunk yet!

One of the first things they teach you in security and law enforcement is de-escalation. This guy did quite the opposite.

I began to drive myself home but my arm hurt so much I ended up going straight to an urgent care center. They did xrays and told me it wasn't broken but it "didn't look good". Now I have a large medical bill on the way to my house.

I reached out to the venue in hopes to discuss what had happened and see if they could make it right. They blatently saw and ignored my message. When I called, i was put on an indefinite hold.

Needless to say I will never, ever be returning here. Since the venue failed to get back to me, I have spoken with my lawyer who has started the process. I'm not paying medical bills for being assaulted by a police academy...

First, I should say that after reading the previous reviews, I was really nervous about going to the Webster, but we had our tickets. The show was sold out.I was expecting to enter a really creepy neighborhood. It was not that at all. Don't get me wrong, as with all areas, you need to be vigilant. I didn't see any "unmentionables", but my main goal was to get inside the venue as quickly as possible. The main road leading to the venue was well lit with a lot of traffic. I turned on Crown St. to go to the parking lot for the Webster. There is a small sign on the corner that suggests you use their parking lot if space allows. The implication is that A. it's safer, and B. there is a lot of permit only parking in the area. Of course the lot was full, so I had to go around the block. These side streets were very dark, but they were lined with parked cars. I chose to park at St Augustine's church which was mentioned on the Webster's site as overflow parking. It is a couple of blocks to walk, but the street was well lit. It is located at a major intersection.You are searched and lightly frisked upon arrival. From an interior design standpoint, this venue has probably seen better days, but it certainly serves the purpose now of the clients it attracts: kids, college students who just want to watch live music. It's dark, but not creepy dark. The inside is huge, general admission only. So if you're claustrophobic and under the age of 21, it might be difficult. There are two tiers. The lower tier is much more cramped. I stood back in the middle tier area to have breathing room and I was fine. There is a bar area. I did not go into it, but it might be another place to go if you're over 21 and claustrophobic.There is plenty of security within the venue - their presence was made known. A few items were thrown onto the stage (lovingly) and the band called out security for not catching it. When we were walking out, there were police cars in the area which also made me feel better. I got the feeling that management knows people need to feel safe in order to come out.It is an intimate venue, not much to look at. But if your kind of band is playing there, its a great place to see them. Downside, Parking stinks.If you live along the Merritt Pkwy/Wilbur Cross Pkwy it was incredibly easy to travel to. Rt 15 all the way to the front door.I would go to the Webster again although I would rather park in their parking lot (which...

I came here for an electronic show, a dubstep show actually, so the crowd was a little younger and definitely a bit more wild than maybe the venue is used to. All good. Didn’t have any problems with anyone, but I would NEVER recommend anyone go here for a show of any kind for the sole reason of the staff. I’ll start this review with that I really enjoyed the concert, but everything else about this venue is total garbage. I went up to the bar area, got refused but was politely told to go get a wrist band. Wah-lah, I return 2 minutes later with a wristband and I’m on my way to the bar. I’d say it took about 30-40 minutes to get a beer while watching the miserable bartenders act like they hate the place. Awesome. Love standing in electronic shows stone cold sober seeing unpleasant employees. I get some beer and enjoy the show for about 2 and a half hours. Great show, didn’t have any problems. 4 and a half beers later I decide that I need to use the bathroom. I walk towards the only exit/entrance to the 21+ area and step out. My half beer is promptly ripped out of my hand by the lady who originally told me to get my wristband. Then, she pulls a ninja move on me and rips off my wristband. That means no more entry to the bar area and certainly no more beer. I look at her with a confused look as she says something and gets in my face, but I couldn’t hear her. I look to her left, and there’s a police officer standing next to her. The police officer is laughing at me, as is the lady guarding the bar area. I stand there for a second, look at my phone, it’s 12:50AM (show is ending in 10-15 minutes), and promptly do as they wished and get my ass out of there. They’ll never see me back again. There are no signs saying you can’t bring a beer to the pit area, nor the bathrooms with a wristband on. Take my money and shove it...