Security at the BOK Center

[Ibanez]

Is not very good.

My wife and I were at the Elton John/Billy Joel concert last night and I was amazed at the stuff people managed to carry in with them.

1. The family in front of us each had their own bottle of liquor. Dad had a bottle of Jameson, mom had some peach schnapps and junior had a bottle of vodka. This classy group of people were wearing jeans and t-shirts so I can't see how security missed the bottles. Well except for the obvious answer that they weren't looking.

2. The guy next to my wife had a video camera and a tripod. The camera was bad enough, but a tripod!?! Seriously! He was in the end seat and set it up next to him through the entire concert. I'm still amazed he got them into the show. To make it worse an usher walked by several times during the show and never bothered to say a word about it.

3. Lots and lots of "hippie lettuce" was being smoked last night. Easier to sneak in I know, but the smell is distinctive and I'm just surprised nothing was done about it. The older couple next to my wife ended up leaving about an hour into the show due to the smoke. I did my best Bill Clinton impersonation and did not inhale. *cough* *cough*

4. I never saw it, but my wife said some people in the section to the left of us had what looked to be a liter bottle of Jack Daniels they were passing around during the show.

The show itself was outstanding!

[cannon_fodder]

You don't go to many concerts do you?

Unless you are utterly retarded no one will do anything about whatever it is you are smoking at most "big" concert events.  If you are smoking before the show starts you have a 50/50 shot of someone saying something.  If you are on an aisle and an usher walks by, MAYBE they will say something.  Otherwise, won't happen.  I have a strong dislike for smoke, but I might dislike ushers getting into discussions with people during the show even more (not saying its OK to annoy other people and break the rules).

As for sneaking things in -

We don't really have security.  We have the illusion of security.  Just enough so the people that would probably follow the rules anyone definitely will follow the rules.  Some shows are more strict than others, but in general it's a good look see and a next.

Getting a flask in, small camera, or smokes/pot wouldn't be a problem at all.  But the fact that people snuck in liter bottles and video equipment pretty much tells me they shouldn't be bothering to pretend they have security.   Clearly, the place wasn't secure and it's hard to imagine what they kept out (probably water bottles people were trying to bring in plain sight).

But glad to hear it was a good show.

[Gaspar]

Ahh, memories of the olden days when the lights went down at the Floyd concert and 10,000 lighters blazed through the haze in Texas Stadium.  Yellow shirted security guards became blind, def, and dumb.

[Hoss]

You don't go to many concerts do you?

Unless you are utterly retarded no one will do anything about whatever it is you are smoking at most "big" concert events.  If you are smoking before the show starts you have a 50/50 shot of someone saying something.  If you are on an aisle and an usher walks by, MAYBE they will say something.  Otherwise, won't happen.  I have a strong dislike for smoke, but I might dislike ushers getting into discussions with people during the show even more (not saying its OK to annoy other people and break the rules).

As for sneaking things in -

We don't really have security.  We have the illusion of security.  Just enough so the people that would probably follow the rules anyone definitely will follow the rules.  Some shows are more strict than others, but in general it's a good look see and a next.

Getting a flask in, small camera, or smokes/pot wouldn't be a problem at all.  But the fact that people snuck in liter bottles and video equipment pretty much tells me they shouldn't be bothering to pretend they have security.   Clearly, the place wasn't secure and it's hard to imagine what they kept out (probably water bottles people were trying to bring in plain sight).

But glad to hear it was a good show.

Hell, even a DSLR camera is not that difficult to get in.  I've brought one to at least 15 different Oilers games (not a point and shoot, either) and have never had anyone ask me about it.

[nathanm]

They were making people open their bags, but after that it was a quick glance. If you had anything stuck in the bottom of your bag with some other purse-ish items on top, they wouldn't have noticed.

I saw some smoke coming from the seating areas, so I figured some folks were smoking something.

I wish I'd brought my dslr. My nose would have still been bleeding, but at least I'd have been able to see what was going on better. (200mm of zoom helps a lot. )

[sgrizzle]

The rules of what security is looking for, and how hard, varies by concert. With 19,000 people coming in at about the same time, you can't check very hard for much.

[rwarn17588]

People were drinking booze at the BOK Center? And smoking Marywanna during a concert?

CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD! 

[Ibanez]

Actually I go to a lot of concerts. Have been to almost every show at the BOK since it opened. Didn't go to Metallica or Celine Dion....

I was just shocked at what made it in last night. In the previous shows there were always people with cameras, but the guy with the video camera and the tripod just blew my mind.

The family in front of us with the liquor was a little over the top as well. It would be one thing to sneak in a flask or a small bottle, but an entire 5th of Jameson and Vodka along with a mediumish sized bottle of schnapps? That is someone in security not doing their job at all.

Yeah there are almost always going to be people smoking something or other at a concert, but it seemed more than usual last night. So much so that like I said the older couple next to us had to leave.

[sgrizzle]

Yeah there are almost always going to be people smoking something or other at a concert, but it seemed more than usual last night. So much so that like I said the older couple next to us had to leave.

That seems to vary with who the acts is, as well. For Celine it was probably smuggled mini-champagne bottles and Cosmos.

[Gold]

A lot depends on the show.  For the price to get into last night's show, you would hope that the crowd would be a little more respectful of others, or at the very least, share. 

Seriously, though, I've noticed that crowds seem to get more and more rude.  Part of that is getting older and losing interest in standing towards the front at Cain's (I don't like getting nudged repeatedly in the kidneys and hate it when people do the shoulder grab to get by).  But other than that, I do think crowds are more and more disruptive and try to create their own entertainment.  The Tom Waits show at Brady last summer was nearly ruined by idiot fans interupting him.  And generally, if an arena is supposed to be non-smoking (and they all are now), you should have the expectation that security will enforce it.

Strangely, one of the better shows I've been to lately was the Ryan Adams concert at Brady a couple of weeks back.  The crowd was well behaved, the show went fine, and other than one guy trying to smoke in the hallway (he got an earful from a group of fans), it went off without a hitch.

This is something that BOk should look into.  People have every right to expect a safe, smoke-free environment.

[sauerkraut]

Actually I go to a lot of concerts. Have been to almost every show at the BOK since it opened. Didn't go to Metallica or Celine Dion....

I was just shocked at what made it in last night. In the previous shows there were always people with cameras, but the guy with the video camera and the tripod just blew my mind.

The family in front of us with the liquor was a little over the top as well. It would be one thing to sneak in a flask or a small bottle, but an entire 5th of Jameson and Vodka along with a mediumish sized bottle of schnapps? That is someone in security not doing their job at all.

Yeah there are almost always going to be people smoking something or other at a concert, but it seemed more than usual last night. So much so that like I said the older couple next to us had to leave.

I guess that video camera will put the show on youtube. Times have really changed, a local radio talk station (WLW 700) was doing a topic about concerts and this one caller said he went to a Peter, Paul & Mary concert in the  1960's and he brought along a reel to reel tape recorder and he asked someone there if he could plug it in somewhere, and they let him and he put the mic in front of the stage and taped the whole thing, he still has the recording of it. No one said anything about it back then.

[Renaissance]

Strangely, one of the better shows I've been to lately was the Ryan Adams concert at Brady a couple of weeks back.  The crowd was well behaved, the show went fine, and other than one guy trying to smoke in the hallway (he got an earful from a group of fans), it went off without a hitch.

This is something that BOk should look into.  People have every right to expect a safe, smoke-free environment.

I was at this show as well.  It was perfect.  The crowd was enthusiastic but well-behaved and respectful.  Anytime Ryan Adams says how impressive the crowd is, it's a good thing.  And what a great show!

[Cats Cats Cats]

I guess that video camera will put the show on youtube. Times have really changed, a local radio talk station (WLW 700) was doing a topic about concerts and this one caller said he went to a Peter, Paul & Mary concert in the  1960's and he brought along a reel to reel tape recorder and he asked someone there if he could plug it in somewhere, and they let him and he put the mic in front of the stage and taped the whole thing, he still has the recording of it. No one said anything about it back then.

Yeah, that generation does it and now tries to sue everybody that would try.

The security asked if I had anything in my pockets.  I showed the standard keys, wallet, cell phone.  Didn't have anything else but not much different.  Other concerts I have been patted down.  Cameras can be annoying but I like them letting people bring them in.  That all depends on the band.  People like Metallica don't want anybody to know they suck so hard.  So you can't bring anything that will record anything.  I am suprised they let the large bottles of liquor in.  But it doesn't really harm me, just their concessions.

Oh, and darn those people for not wearing business casual to concerts!  

[cannon_fodder]

Actually I go to a lot of concerts. Have been to almost every show at the BOK since it opened. . .

Yeah there are almost always going to be people smoking something or other at a concert, but it seemed more than usual last night. So much so that like I said the older couple next to us had to leave.

Thanks for the perspective.  If you go to a good number of shows and thought it was excessive it means a lot more than if you don't really go to shows.  I wonder why it was so lax last night?  All the good security out at St. Patties?

[kylieosu]

I was at this show as well.  It was perfect.  The crowd was enthusiastic but well-behaved and respectful.  Anytime Ryan Adams says how impressive the crowd is, it's a good thing.  And what a great show!

Agreed. When Ryan's happy, everyone is happy.... AMAZING show. I almost didn't go because I couldn't get anyone I knew to come with me, but I went alone, and I'm so glad I did.