The Melody Event Center — Local services in Portland

With regret, I must share that if you're considering hosting or attending an event at Melody Event Center in Portland, Ore., seriously reconsider your plans. This review is based on an experience with, surprisingly, the "new" General Manager, Catherine Leedy, so this apparently is the "new" culture there. Please find another venue; one in which you as a host/guest will feel welcomed, treated with respect and dignity. Because you will not find kindness here. :-(

My wife was SO excited to attend an event here on 10/16/21, but here's the truth about how the General Manager/manager of the staff presumptuously views her guests already in attendance: As "outsiders" from "off the street" who are not welcome here.

Ironically, the event was about "Positive Parenting" and how to view/treat others, empathize with them, show compassion, patience, concern, love, inclusivity & belonging, especially to those who struggle with anxiety, social settings, or who seem different. Lesson learned: Don't trust Melody Event Center's "Inclusivity Statement" on its 'About Us' webpage -- those are hollow words; you will not feel welcome or accommodated there.

During a break, my wife, who -- like many others who can't stay sitting for very long -- wanted to stretch her legs on a very short stairs literally right near the restroom. So she "went up & down them a few times to move my body...Then a lady came up and shut the door leading to the stairs, which was fine -- I walked away & went back to the room. Then she came INTO the event room, found me, & accused me of not being a guest (like I had come off the street). I said, 'No I'm a guest; I just wanted to move my body because it's a long time to sit,' and she was sooo rude. She's like, 'No, you need to STAY in that room.' Those short stairs were right near the restroom where everyone else was walking around. I wish I could show you a photo. She was not the least bit kind...& I didn't feel I was being intrusive. I said, 'I understand.' I was then taken back by her stern comments, & I replied, 'OK, WOW...' then she went & whispered to the other staff like I'm a problem guest. The staff were staring at me...& are still giving me the eagle eye. It's just so awkward."

"It would have been so simple to say, 'Do you need anything? If you wouldn't mind, we'd like to keep these stairs free & ask that our guests not walk up them.' Like anything besides how she handled it... I can handle correction when it's done kindly & not accusatory, or shouted. You know me, I play small like I never want to be in the way. I intentionally chose a space & area that wouldn't be an issue."

"It's sad because I was thinking this morning, 'Wow, I really enjoy learning' & I felt inspired and it was powerful...& I felt really, really good... I hadn't felt that way in a long time. It's painful to have the opposite feeling within minutes. Most people in events care about customer service & ensuring your guests have a positive experience... it was really strange."

After my wife texted me, I immediately called the Melody Event Center to speak with the service staff manager. I wanted her to be aware of how a staff member -- who she admitted was HER, Catherine, the general manager/owner!!! -- treated my wife & how it made her feel. I suggested how it could have been handled differently (use kindness, offer assistance) and requested she offer my wife an apology. She refused, instead slandering my wife. When I asked if there were signs or an announcement for guests about not stepping on the small stairs by the restroom, she deflected. I persisted. She admitted that, no, there was not. So how are guests supposed to know? Then why would you treat her that way? Just. Be. Kind!

Catherine Leedy & her Melody Event Center is not "aspiring to create community for a better world" with her unkind, inappropriate, rude approach to guests....

HANDS DOWN THE BEST EXPERIENCE WE EVER HAD! We were first introduced to Erin as the wedding coordinator back in Spring 2014 & really enjoyed her company and professionalism. We had a long 15-month engagement and was later introduced to Kevin who took over for Erin a few months into the planning process. We were actually quite nervous about this hand-off, but it was surprisingly seamless & painless. Kevin is a very kind & professional individual. His attention to detail is remarkable and he is very prompt & responsive to any and all questions you have, big or small. We thought we would run circles around the venue coordinator with our nit-picky details, but in all honesty, he was so on-top of things & kept us in line & on time: sketch of the ballroom to scale with table numbers, aisle runners, seating arrangement, dim lighting preferences, exact timing of all events/announcements, suggestions/recommendations for food & beverage pairing & selection, invitation(s) to seasonal food tastings, etc. We never thought wedding planning would be so much fun & painless. It was a beautiful day and there were absolutely no surprises day-of. The venue was flexible in a number of areas and gave us more time if we needed the night of since people wanted to party later than we expected, allowed us to pick up our extra décor & items later in the week rather than deal with the headache to transport everything that night, gave us early morning access to get ready & set-up... it was a fantastic experience and if I had to recommend a wedding venue to anyone, it would be the Melody Ballroom, no questions. Thank you for a wonderful experience and we were blessed to do business with such an honest &...

My wife and I just held our wedding reception here May 27th, 2018. The planning leading up to the event was a bit rough because our event coordinator was let go as well as the second one assigned to us. We didn't have too many details involving our party so it was all easily figured out within a couple weeks of the event. To compensate for this confusion they gave us free soda and refunded us monies for a keg of beer we didn't crack into. Day of the reception everything went smoothly and their service crew was very polite and made sure we knew to ask them if we needed anything from them. It sounds like they are going through some transitions in order to provide the best services possible. We got caught in the middle of these transitions but I'm sure they'll find the right people for these positions and provide excellent services all around for any event they host! Thank you Alan, Peter, Nick, Corey, and the rest of the crew for all your help and for making our special day...