VAPA Center — Local services in Charlotte

BEWARE if booking the private space for a group. I was there in Sept for 3 nights for Charlotte Fashion week in the space that is closest to Tryon Street (inside the building). There was barely AC for hundreds of people. It was unsafe and absolutely crazy for this venue to think that was acceptable. Also bathrooms so far down an entire building. Crazy parking situation out front with having to drive through homeless camps. People screaming at you when you went to park inside the lot...When I asked about the AC not working I was told by someone working at the desk, it hasn't been working for all the months that she had been there. How insane to think they could offer this space as functional and fine? 83 degree temps outside and NO AC inside to speak of... the only AC I could feel was way across the building in another area close to College St. My child was backstage walking as a model during the show and fainted from heat exhaustion during the event. Something is seriously wrong. I understand wanting to support new places/the arts community but this was absolutely nuts. WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND AN EVENT BE HELD IN THAT part of the building. Really have to think twice about this place-- parking, homeless at the parking area, no AC and it looks pretty run down and in...

VAPA Center is located in city center Charlotte, NC. I was there to see a student vocal performance. The first thing I noticed about the place was that the number of parking spaces was woefully inadequate. I would bet that the facility does not comply with city parking regulations. The second thing I noticed was a slightly provocative piece of artwork hanging on the wall outside of the room where the children were performing. The third thing I noticed was the absolutely horrible arrangement of the performance room. It was "L" shaped with the audience sitting on opposite legs of "L" and the students positioned in the corner of the room. Consequently, no one in the audience was directly facing the performers. The final thing that made this experience regrettable was an announcement made just prior to the performance stating that one-half of those in attendance had to leave the room because attendance exceeded fire code...

Do not book this unsafe, unwelcoming, and deeply unpleasant venue for an event.

From the incessant warnings that you're being recorded which make one feel like a criminal for merely attending an event, to the oppressive heat and lack of airflow which made me physically pass out, to the rude and vulgar attitude displayed by the woman who runs the facility, my family's experience at The VAPA Center could not have been worse.

That's not to mention inadequate and badly-managed parking, event participants being yelled at for unloading, and the ridiculously long hike to the bathroom.

Even a one-star rating is far too generous for this...