Seahorse Tavern — Restaurant in Halifax

I didn’t like the way DoorMeans treated me as never been to that place and i am new here in Halifax I first came at the front door and i asked if it got ATM machine inside the guy say no plus he told me that it has one down the street which wasn’t true so they send me somewhere random and i got completely lost. So i finally find one at the Hotel down the hill. Anyway i came back to the front door man look at me without saying a word amd he whisper on his colleagues ear something i could hear…. #rude then show my ticket I bought online he told me that I wasn’t at the right place and Told me to go around the building. I said oh sorry Dude i have never been here. So I walk around the building find a doors on the back and a Door was close but 2 guys were sitting there and look at me like i was some sort of junkies or something. They finally open the door and i ask Where is the Y2K event (May 11th 2024) they look at each other and ignore me and shut the door on me like i wasn’t welcome. I told myself ; « Well it cost me 12$ to learn to do not come back here even again and spread my experience around. »

I felt a bit of discomfort here as yes i probably look someone who is lost cause obviously i was so instead of helping me they male me feel like i dont belong to that place.

So I jumped in a cab and i will never come again. Sadly cause of my friend go there often and I heard it was a good place especially for the Y2K event that i was looking forward to. First night out in Halifax at the SeaHourse, change completely the opinion i had for the Night life here. Okay im Montreal so nothing to compare but at least we threat new comer...

The Seahorse has started to alienate local bands by charging increased "rental" fees (aka instituting a pay-to-play model where the bands must earn a certain amount at the door before they get to keep anything, otherwise the band pays the venue).

They have also cancelled on my band TWICE citing "accidental" double bookings (once was our show, the other was a show we were to open), which I suspect is simply a tactic to fill the slot with a preferable show they think will make more money.

The sound isn't great, but that's not the fault of the sound techs. The bar just doesn't sound good. Techs and serving staff are usually professional and courteous.

Edit: The venue responded below to my review, suggesting I did not understand their model.

The model for bands is a $500 minimum rental fee (it can be up to $800), which can be taken from ticket sales and not paid up front, with an additional 20% to the venue on sales after that amount. That means the venue keeps the first $500, and the band makes nothing. Above this amount, the band keeps 80% of sales. The venue also determines minimum ticket price.

This is equivalent to a pay to play model where the band guarantees a number of ticket sales in order to...

While the atmosphere is good and drinks are reasonably priced the sound quality of the PA and the people mixing the shows leave a lot to be desired. Being one of the last remaining music bars in Halifax one would think they would try and make it as good as they can. The last several shows I've been to the sound mix was atrocious, you want to hear just drums and vocals then this is the spot to be, there was no guitars or bass in the mix and the sound guy was just sitting in the booth on his phone. Then between bands the recoded music starts and it's incredibly distorted and sounds like the speakers are blown. I know I'm being picky but I'm a music lover and trained sound engineer so this really bugs me, having a good mix for the crowd and bands is...