FlyDSA Arena Sheffield reviews by real event-goers

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Drinks were extortionate and to be fair tasted like toilet water

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Shocking production. Poor sound quality, poor production (no lasers!!!), microphones not working, technical difficulties with the Dj set, no atmosphere.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

We hoped that after the 2017 classical show at City Hall the Gatecrasher crew would have ironed out the few kinks that show had and come back with something even more amazing, but sadly this was a total write-off. Organisation was as bad as usual - got an email on event day with door times, which entrance to use, set times etc, and when we arrived the door we were told to use was shut, warm up DJ started 30 mins after scheduled time, and main event started 30 mins after scheduled time. After the orchestra made a cold start at the city hall gig the idea of having a warm up DJ set playing before the classical set was a good idea, but Paul Oakenfold should be put back in the wardrobe. Although it was clear there were some technical glitches on stage his mixing was shocking, and his set jumped from massive track to massive track without much flow or build-up. It basically felt like he showed up, crashed a few big tunes together, and left. After his set the 30 min lull before the orchestral set was long enough for the energy to drop again. Sound engineering was absolutely terrible throughout. Paul's warm up set started out quiet, then about right, then quiet again. The orchestral set went back to too quiet and sounded awful - singers walked on stage with microphones that didn't work, instrument (e.g. guitar) solos would happen with the volume turned town, and for the first few tracks the orchestra and choir were completely drowned out by the electronic backing tracks. About 2/3 of the way through the classical set things were sounding much more balanced, but overall still far too quiet to have an impact in such a massive venue. The set list was more varied and flowing than the city hall event a year ago, which should have been a good thing, but with the sound quality issues some tracks just completely lost their impact and only the massive numbers managed to really connect with the crowd (probably because people could fill in the missing instruments and inaudible bits from their memory). I noticed that some of the artists and tracks advertised on the promotional mails etc never made it into the set. Some of the lesser known tracks, particularly instrumental sections, lost the room completely. A few of the vocalists managed to raise the energy a bit, particularly Maxi Jazz, but all in all it was a pretty unmemorable show. I guess because the event used only part of the arena only a couple of bars were open, which led to queues so long people probably died whilst waiting. Overall this was nowhere near worth the ticket price, and we were sad that despite the fact there was obviously a huge amount of talent and effort behind the arrangements and performances the music failed to connect. I'd love to hear the same set in a smaller venue and without the sound quality issues to properly appreciate the arrangements etc, but there's no way we will be buying tickets for another GC classical show.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Absolute disgrace. Not as advertised. Sound quality appalling no lasers and unable to hear orchestra. Venue a complete joke total rip off never again.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

FALSE ADVERTISING GATECRASHER

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

I have attended all of the classicals and aftershows and to be brutally honest the whole night was flat,music was poor,orchestra were ok but the singers were really bad....total let down and the afterparty which venue got changed was the icing on the cake....my group of 10 Geordies will not be attending any more Gatecrasher....which saddens us all because every other crasher has been epic

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Not enough bar staff

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Good evening, hearing a lot of bad reviews from die hard crasher fans eg lasers missing, bad acoustics, city hall was so much better..... but overall good. I’d go again but not for the price I paid especially when i found out I could buy tickets for half what I paid!

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Really good night. Annoyed that tickets got slashed in price due to not selling enough. Orchestra were good but didn’t have amassive prescience in the show, also there were no lasers. At a Gatecrasher even!

Finally, both bars closed at 10:50 which meant we weren’t able to get a drink

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

No where near as good as city hall. Music not as good and venue poor choice no atmosphere like it’s been before I’m afraid.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

I rarely complain about any live entertainment but this warrants it. The overall experience was pretty poor. On arrival we were told by a steward that our seats had been taken and to find somewhere else to sit. The performance of DJ Paul Oakenfold was the dim highlight given the poor acoustics of the live orchestra and the weak vocals provided by the ra he of singers and choristers. The singers looked awkward, uncomfortable and unprofessional. Friends who joined us left at 9pm bitterly disappointed. We decided to be a little more patient but alas gave up the ghost at 10:30 feeling that it would be better to collect our car from a very expensive car park (£10) and exit early rather than endure traffic congestion and further miserable performances. Learning that people had paid £25 to enter the venue and then move freely to the Golden Circle to sit in £60 seats was the black icing on the proverbial cake! Such a shame given that my partner and I were hoping to celebrate 25 years of a super club which we had attended so regularly driving to and from Sheffield from Derby since 1993. Not the best legacy, indeed never again!

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Very disappointed. Poor sound, poor production, singers reading from scripts, no lazers...need I go on? An apology and refunds should be issued for this event.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Great night,brilliant twist on the usual gatecrasher. Enjoyed very much,prices were high but acceptable for one night.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

No lasers, orchestra drowned out by the backing music, pretty sure the choir didn’t sing. Bit disappointing

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

No lasers faithless tracks not as advertised...probably one of the worst nights out of my life!

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Dissatisfied disappointed and a major letdown from Gate Crasher Classical compared to last year! Drink, ridiculous ques and prices, play list and sound quality rubbish! Lighting I’ve seen better in a strip club and did Dr Evil steal the lasers? And to the chap the sang (I use this loosely) born slippy from a piece of paper out of time and tune wants flogging! Overall compared to last year absolute rubbish and I would like a refund 😡😡😡😡 You should of stayed at city hall you went too big!!!!!

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

No where near as good as the last 2 at city hall. No lasers, lack of atmosphere and music line up not as good. Glad this wasn't the 1st classical one or I wouldn't have booked again! Really disappointed.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

First of all it is advertised the biggest light and lazer show, the lighting was abysmal and not a lazer in sight. The sound was not of standard and actually couldn’t hear the orchestra for more then 50% of the show.
The worst part been I bought these tickets for my husband who is a professional sound and light engineer so believe me when I say he knows when something is of bad quality in this industry. Which also made for him and myself not enjoying it due to false advertisement and as I said very poor quality.
We were also made to believe faithless (maxi jazz) would be singing a few of my husbands best songs when in face it was only 2. And please don’t get me started on artists singing from q cards!
30 piece choir consisted of at least 8 people less.
And that is just to name a few things that was wrong with last nights show.
I am wanting the money I paid back as if I knew what it would actually be like I would never of booked. We went to the previous 2 events at city hall and there is no comparison.

Review of Gatecrasher 25 PRESENTS Gatecrasher Classical

Should have stayed at city hall;better atmosphere and lighting.Disapointed.