Friday, June 3, 2011

Club Report: Atlantic Dance Hall

Atlantic Dance Hall. Thursday night. Like the proverbial box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!
DJ Tony B (The Groove, Motion, Rock'n'Roll Beach Club, PI Live) running the boards.
Several "clusters" of dancers spread around the floor. There were quite a few people in the building but getting them to dance was a separate matter. There was sometimes more people out on the smoking deck than on the dance floor!
Lighting Tech Alisa (Mannequins, EPCOT China NYE) dancing to the really good Top 40 Dance mix being played. No more bar tabs at ADH though. You have to pay for your drinks each time you order. Apparently a lot of people running up tabs and then forgetting about them and walking out!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not allowing bar tabs doesn't cut it. A real bar/club has a method for dealing with that; usually by requiring that they hold on to the credit card and in some cases, your drivers license, until you settle up your tab. If you walk out at the end of the night, you'll be missing your credit card and your ID.

I have to tell ya, as someone moved from Atlanta to Florida in 2003, I'm not impressed with the clubs/bars down here. That's a general statement from ALL of the different places I've experienced as a patron and a working Dj since I've been down here.

I'm just sayin... ;)

KingBob said...

They DO hold on to the credit card so the tab definitely gets charged. I think their REAL concern is the gratuity. They should establish a posted policy that an automatic 20% gratuity will be added to anyone who doesn't sign their charge slip at the end of the night That way the bartenders or servers get paid. When someone walks out on a $500 tab, the staff gets stiffed. But yeah, this is Disney. Not being able to run a tab is horrible customer service. What is Disney thinking here? Perhaps its just ADH management.

Anonymous said...

No way I'm going to want to go to a bar/club where I can't run a tab; that's just unheard of..

DJ Tony B said...

Thanks for stoping in last night! This being only the second night Dj'ing at this club I've found that it is run a lot different. It seems like this venue really is not about the "club" aspect, but about honoring a commitment/contract to the Swan and Dolphin for local entertainment. This place is used as a multi purpose room and holds weddings and corporate events and even game shows during the day and turned into a club at night. Because of this, it is not run like most clubs or like Pleasure Island was due to this reason. Still a cool place to hang and groove at with free admission. I really enjoy DJ'ing at this place, but yes, I do wish there were more people, I just don't think many people know about it. I never knew about it the 5 years I was at Pleasure Island.

DamnMouse72 said...

First, they take away our beloved "Island", now they are taking away our bar tabs... What the hell is going on? Where is Dawn when you need her? LOL... I can understand the reasoning, but I think Bob had a great idea....if you forget to close out your tab and leave your card, automatic 20% tip should be mandatory. If Disney can charge you a mandatory tip at the restraunts for a table of 4 (for good , decent or bad service), why can't they do it that for the bartenders??

Anonymous said...

Here's a hint.. Atlantic Dance Hall isn't a club. It's more of a place that has to be open, happens to have a DJ and sells drinks... but it's no real club, just as much as "main street USA" isn't really main street USA.

KingBob said...

DJ TonyB, good to meet you. The Blog did an article a couple years ago about the contract Disney has with the Swan & Dolphin to operate ADH as a club for hotel guests. My recollection is that the contract expires in 2013 (although it might be 2014). There is ZERO advertising about ADH outside the hotels other than for their annual NYE party. I have my doubts that the contract will get renewed although I have no idea as to the terms of said contract.

DJ Smooth, I agree that the tab thing is absurd. If enough people lodge complaints, I can see that ending. DamnMouse, yes, automatic 20% gratuity added to those that don't sign their charge slip would easily solve this.

Anon at 9:48am, ok, it's a pretend club. And at times, a fun one!

Anonymous said...

Bob- what is the name of the DJ on Wed. nights? Love her mix.

KingBob said...

The usual Wednesday night DJ at Atlantic Dance Hall is DJ Talie (Motion, PI Live). You can also see her at Stitch's Club 626 Dance Party at the Magic Kingdom.