...couple months ago went to Middle East in Cambridge to see Walkmen. Doors say 7, I get there at 8 so I can catch Mazarin...Mazarin played at 9:30, and Walkmen don't show until past 11. This is fine for the Harvard / MIT kids, but for us working folk, wtf! Tonight, CYHSY playing at Avalon in Boston, figure 9:30 is fairly comfortable, get there, already playing, 3 songs and they announce their last song (in retrospect, not a bad thing...CYHSY will not be a repeat show for me).

Anyway, I hate this guessing game, trying not to get there too early, but not wanting to get there too late

I hate that too. It seems like the set up between bands takes forever too. I usually try to show up 30 minutes after door to ensure a good watching position and not miss the opening band(s).

That's what I do. By the time I get in, check my coat, and look over the merch, it's not a long wait to the first band. As for the between band waits, you just have to deal with it.

I've been to some shows where it's only been 20 minutes. I've been to others where it's felt like hours.

Seriously, clubs need to post set times at the door, on the voicemail recording or websites. When I went to see Blowfly last week, I showed up around 11pm thinking he'd either be halfway through his set or that I'd totally missed him. I get there and this one band is just ending, Despot went on after them and then Blowfly didn't come out til after midnight.

some chicago venues are actually pretty good about posting set times either at the door or next to the soundbooth. the trick is in keeping those times.

A tip if anyone ever goes to SXSW...don't even bother looking at set times.

i don't go to hip hop shows anymore because of this (and a few other reasons)
and rappers of all people should be able to just walk up there with a mic and a pile of records.

The time guessing game is so annoying. And weekday shows should be over by 11, period.

If it's a small enough venue (less than 1200-1300 people), I call or email ahead of time to find out when the band is hitting the stage. Most talent buyers are cool and will give you the information.

LA is fairly good about set times. Plus, I'm familiar enough with venues to know if they've a rep for running late (ie, Spaceland, Echo...)

Metro posts theirs at the front door. I think that's a great idea.

I suck at the guessing game, but at least I'm usually early. I went to the Echo for a free Serena Maneesh show a few Mondays ago. Depsite not being listed as the headliner on the website, I had to sit through 3 hours of mediocre bands (P.S. I can't stand Division Day) before Serena Maneesh went on, only to finish the set around 1:45, leaving me 3 hours of sleep

Maybe Nashville has a lot of burnout talent buyers, but I've had good luck with Schubas, Double Door, the Abbey Pub, Metro and Empty Bottle (pretty much the only Chicago venues I'll patronize anyway). I've never received the wrong information.

I think I've mentioned it, but I wanted to see Grandaddy open for Coldplay in Arlanta, in maybe 2001? We showed up at the "doors open" time, 8:00, to find a line around the block. Took 45 minutes to get up to the door and in, putting the time at 8:45. I walk in, and hear Jason say "this is our last song." They were off the stage at 8:50.

So apparently, they had to start playing AT 8, exactly when the first patron was legally allowed in...?!?!! If it'd been CYHSY I was missing, I'd have been ecstatic. But this was right after Sophtware Slump dammit.

Last year, Tim Booth did a free show at Martyrs' here in Chicago. He was billed with a band called Million Yen or something Yen, I don't know. Anyway, I got there about 45 minutes after showtime, expecting to miss the band and get there in time for Booth. Can someone explain to me why a show announced as a "TIM BOOTH SOLO SHOW" had Tim Booth f'ing opening for the other band? I didn't even get to see his last song. When the doorguy explained what happened, I said, "Who the f*ck is this Million Yen that they get the lead singer of James to open for them?" I was furious. Shit, I'm still furious.

Outside of the Troubadour I'm not sure I agree with this. HOB is pretty easy to guess but its not like they help by providing the set times. Its mostly a guessing game with the other venues. I don't think I've been burned much showing up too late but i regularly show up alot earlier than I would if I had perfect info.

This venue in Indianapolis, The Patio (RIP) was horrible about this. They got great shows but the ticket would say "Doors 8:00" which basically meant the line starts forming then, but doors will actually open at 9 which is when the show is supposed to start. The opening band would then go on 45 minutes to an hour late, then play for too long, huge break would come then the main act would go on around 11 and play until after midnight. Horrible for weeknight shows.