TBMC now... The Button Factory?

Ro: maaan! · 06-10-2007 12:31PM

Ok. Forget what I said about the steps being a death trap. They're actually pretty good. But the wooden floor IS a death trap. They should have learned from the Village disaster. Other than that though, it's very nice. Much nicer all around but hasn't really lost the TBMC feel. Little bar at the side and the balcony are very good. Impressed.

MikeHoncho · 08-10-2007 02:28PM

Was in for a gig on Saturday and was very impressed. I did'nt get a chance to get up the front as we arrived late due to not being able to pull ourselves away from the NZ V France rugby match. So we stood under the balcony on the carpeted area. Was very impressed with the sound. It travelled well and I think the carpet really helps in that section. One of the best things I thought was the giant mirror behind the bar. You could see the stage perfectly so no need to worry about missing anything while your getting a pint. Whoever had that idea is a very smart person. I will reserve judgement on the air conditioning until I get up front but at the back it was fine.

09-10-2007 02:05PM

Had a brief snoop in at the main bar in passing, it looked lovely so it did, didnt get to see the main floor though, lets just hope they soundproofed it!

beans · 12-10-2007 03:14PM

Anyone have any impressions of the Button Factory?

The most shocking change is that they've carpetted the entire bar/ramp area in a kind of light beige, looks fantastic but I'll give it a month of gigs before the Guinness-stains start to make it look tatty.

Love the upstairs balcony, this is the most drastic usage of space. They've managed to make it seem comfy up there, with a bar and tables, and a far larger upstairs viewing area.

Looking forward to seeing a gig in there, and see how the new all-in-one venue/bar works with both sound and practicality. Any thoughts?

It'll always be the Button Centre to me

gonementhol · 12-10-2007 03:49PM

I've been at more gigs than I can count over the last few years in all the usual venue's around dublin RDS, Point, Whelans, Village, Sugar club, Tripod, Vicar Street etc and the other two venue's we can't talk about here. However, I never made it into either TBMC or the button factory until last week.

As you mentioned the place looked fine, and was generally decked out pretty well. But, maybe it was just this one gig in particular, or maybe it's what the sound setup is like in there generally. But I thought it was the worst sounding gig I've been to in a long long time. I wouldn't blame the band either as I've seen them twice recently and they're a really tight band that are great live, but they seemed to be really let down by the sound in the button factory. Way too much distortion, like the amps or speakers weren't up to what was going through them, and you couldn't hear the vocals. Like I said, I don't know, maybe it was always like that. But I wasn't impressed.

I started watching the gig from near the bar downstairs at the back and when I couldn't hear a thing we moved forward to just at the bottom of the steps infront of the stage. Sound, got a little better but not much. Previously I would have had the village down as the venue with the worst sound for gigs. I think this tops it though.

I personally think Vicar Street is by far the nicest place for a gig, taking into account the layout, and the sound always seems excellent when I'm there.

beans · 12-10-2007 04:40PM

Yeah, the sound at TBMC was always hampered by the shoe-box effect of the old venue (used to be a brick wall where the steps from the bar to the venue are now, by the by).

I had hoped this would be different these days - not much point having a forum for sound if the sound is bad. I'm not sure how much of the production equipment was updated. Looking forward to seeing (hearing) this for myself sometime soon...

rannerap · 12-10-2007 04:59PM

i walked in recently and was shocked,it looks so fancy and clean,i give it a month

lostexpectation · 12-10-2007 07:43PM

its the refurbished tbmc... why didn't they just say that where did they get the name from did it use to be a button factory?

bryston · 12-10-2007 09:26PM

I'd hold off a few months before making final judgement on the sound.

The room treatments are still not fully installed and it takes a while to get a "feel" for the new sound system and the way it interacts with the room.

The timescales are so tight on these refurbishments that it is normally a struggle just to get "sound" for the first few month or so (let alone tweak it).

Early indications are that the balcony will be particuarly nice sounding once the full fitout is installed.

Third_Echelon · 24-10-2007 12:12PM

bryston wrote: »

The works to the balcony and the inclusion of the rear bar into the performance space have made it a much nicer space. Plenty of wood finishes and carpet to break away from the "concrete bunker" feel it had before.

Bar into performance space... big mistake. Hasn't anyone learned from the village? Having the bar in the performance space always creates a 'hum' of people at the bar and chatting at the back.

These type of places have to make a decision. Are we a concert venue or are we a 'club' venue... For a venue this size they should stick to concerts and set up the venue to suit that.

The TBMC was a great location for gigs... Seen many a band there over the years and I loved the "concrete bunker" feel to the place. You knew you were at a gig and not some 'flat pack' venue with swanky carpets and wood etc. Its going to look very tired after a year or so with those carpets and it will stink of stale beer unless they get washed regularly enough.

To be honest, the new venue looks bland and generic and has no sense of character.

Sound is good though, as it was already for the past few years at TBMC. Getting up the stairs at the back after the gig was a bit moshy though... Not a great feature in my opinion.

Toast · 24-10-2007 12:44PM

In fairness the issues with The Village are far far more advanced than just the bar being in the performance area. If anything Im surprised they didnt learn from Tripod regards the carpets... at least the space in front of the bar isnt cramped like in Tripod.

Third_Echelon · 24-10-2007 01:32PM

Toast wrote: »

In fairness the issues with The Village are far far more advanced than just the bar being in the performance area. If anything Im surprised they didnt learn from Tripod regards the carpets... at least the space in front of the bar isnt cramped like in Tripod.

True, it is a better bar than tripod with regards to size.

One thing I noticed about TBF is that the bar staff were actually quite rude and a bit in-experienced. Barman made a mistake on my order, which he heard perfectly well, and decided to get in a huff about it for some reason when I pointed out his mistake... I'm not the only one that thought this that night (Stars gig a few weeks ago). A few people that I was talking to were talking about the bar staff's crapness...

music-pages.net · 24-10-2007 11:25PM

wanst The Button Factory known as Bad Bobs before or am i off track here..

Third_Echelon · 25-10-2007 10:33AM

music-pages.net wrote: »

wanst The Button Factory known as Bad Bobs before or am i off track here..

No Bad Bobs is around the corner from there... It is now a restaurant/music venue...

bryston · 01-11-2007 08:38PM

For those who have not been yet, this is what it's like.

TBMC_MG_2319.jpg

Ro: maaan! · 01-11-2007 10:22PM

Jesus. Looks a lot different when it isn't dark and full of people. Only things I don't like about it are the wooden floor and the placement of the sound desk.

Soundman · 02-11-2007 02:29AM

bryston wrote: »

For those who have not been yet, this is what it's like.

TBMC_MG_2319.jpg

Hello, It's me.:D

bryston · 02-11-2007 08:14AM

Soundman wrote: »

Hello, It's me.:D

Ha, Ha.

I kept the image small on purpose to hide the soundmans indentity.

ShriekingSheet · 02-11-2007 03:31PM

Soundman wrote: »

Hello, It's me.:D

always such a diva

Conor

ShriekingSheet · 02-11-2007 03:36PM

Has the management changed at all along with the venue? Like, is it still fairly accesible to local acts to book or are they going to try have some international act every other night...

hmmm

Soundman · 02-11-2007 04:26PM

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Has the management changed at all along with the venue? Like, is it still fairly accesible to local acts to book or are they going to try have some international act every other night...

hmmm

Management hasn't changed per se. There are two new investors involved but there is no reason why local bands can't still hire the venue should they wish as long as it is available. We'd love to have bigger gigs every other night, but that is highly unlikely since there is so much other competition with the other venues around town.

Conor: Screw you

bryston · 02-11-2007 05:19PM

Soundman wrote: »

Hello, It's me.:D

Don't be shy then...

[IMG][/img]

Soundman · 02-11-2007 09:31PM

Who's being shy Bryston?

Mental Mickey · 02-11-2007 11:42PM

bryston wrote: »

For those who have not been yet, this is what it's like.

TBMC_MG_2319.jpg

Mental Mickey here again. If those two steps beside the sound-desk is where the disabled concert-goers are supposed to be put for gigs, then they can f**k right off with themselves!!!

If you're in a wheelchair and sitting there, you will see absolutely F**K ALL of the stage because the view will be permanently blocked by punters standing in front of you.

The design is f**king horrible too btw. Looks like flatpack brought from B & Q!!!! Also looks like a bloody strip club!!!

EDIT: I wonder did the architects get any input from the Irish Wheelchair Association in relation to access/viewing arrangements while renovating the venue.....??? Does anyone on here work in the Button Factory(snigger) have any inside information about the renovations??

John · 03-11-2007 03:02AM

There's a ramp from the main entrance down to the front of the venue just like there always was, you don't have to be at the back.

bryston · 06-11-2007 08:19PM

The website now has gone "live".

Check it out:

http://www.thebuttonfactory.ie

JJ · 13-12-2007 01:55PM

I finally got a chance to check out the Button Factory and I must say I like the changes. The carpet and the added couches in the hallway make a huge difference. I never realised how cold it was before without them. I thought the sound in the venue was better than before, it probably helps that the sound desk is behing the main crowd though I'm no sound engineer. I also like how the bar isn't cut off from the main venue anymore.

:| · 13-12-2007 10:21PM

music-pages.net wrote: »

wanst The Button Factory known as Bad Bobs before or am i off track here..

Thats the purty kitchen you're thinking of, I got confused myself too!

Skinfull · 14-12-2007 02:35PM

Who cares what the venue is called! It wont effect the music being played in any way or your enjoyment of the gig.The important issue is if the sound will be good.
The village sound is terrible and unless you are front and centre all you get is reverb.

As for the new look room; the steps look like a law suit waiting to happen. When that place if full for a gig its hard enough to walk through the crown without tripping on a foot or a coat or bag! So just throw a few steps into the mix and shake it up a bit eh!

Ballerina · 15-12-2007 01:43PM

Mr Rivers wrote: »

I had warmed to Cargo by now but seems they've changed it to The Button Factory

www.tbmc.ie

Thoughts?

random.....i like it

TBMC now... The Button Factory?

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