Beachland Ballroom Cleveland OH

This past Tuesday me and my wife decided to take in our first rock concert. I purchased two VIP tickets to a Dorothy show at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland OH and booked us a hotel room a short drive away at the Days Inn in Willoughby.

With our VIP tickets came a learning curve they included a meet and greet, two song sound check, early access, and a photo op with lead singer Dorothy Martin. Would Dorothy be a normal everyday person or a rock diva who insisted on not being touched and a photo op from several feet away? These were thoughts bouncing around in my head as we waited for admittance into the venue in front of the building in a line of around twenty or so other VIP ticket holders, I wasn't alone in these thoughts as others in line were asking me the same questions having never done a meet and greet before as well.

Let me take you back to the beginning. We arrived at Willoughby a few hours ahead of schedule and decided to grab lunch at Red Lobster in Mentor OH before checking in at our hotel. Lunch was amazing with our waiter Wes providing excellent service. Once we'd eaten our fill we proceeded to the hotel over an hour early and were allowed to check in at that time as the room was already made up for us which in my book earns bonus points for the Days Inn Willoughby location. Based on past stays at budget motels, I wasn't expecting luxury but the clerk was nice and the room was above expectations. We relaxed, grabbed a quick shower, and waited for 4:45 when our tickets allowed us access.

The doorman at the Beachland Ballroom was nice and went about his job of carding, verifying tickets, and stamping our hands efficiently before another staff member took us into a hallway to be given our band hats, VIP laminates, and a chance to purchase other band merchandise before heading into the show. A staff member stuck his head into the hallway and told us it would be just a few minutes wait here and I'll come and get you when the band is ready. When the man returned he opened the door to allow us entry into an empty ballroom with Dorothy already on stage, she said hi talked to us for a little bit, and began to play one of her new songs from her up and coming album. Once the song was finished she asked us all to tell her what our favorite song was and then played the one a majority of us liked before letting us know she had bronchitis and not to let her breathe on us too much during the photo op. She went into the bar area and we formed a line to get our photo taken with her.

When it was our turn to enter she was waiting by the bar and put her arms around us for the photo (pictured above). The entire time I was pleasantly surprised at her attitude and down to earth personality as she talked, joked, and laughed with us and a few of her fans who were lucky enough to have VIP tickets. When the crowd poured in that evening and the main event began she was just as down to earth as before even though a majority of the crowd had not gotten to enjoy the personal feel of a show performed for only twenty or so fans in an otherwise empty ballroom.

I spent the rest of the evening listening to Love Sick Radio and Dorothy while taking short breaks to slip out and enjoy a vape on the sidewalk in between sets and talking to the staff and fans. The Beachland Ballroom is a smaller venue and that's the main reason I chose this destination from her tour list as a smaller venue almost always offers a better feel and atmosphere than a large arena and this one delivered in spades.

If you're in town consider checking out the Beachland Ballroom and if you haven't heard of Dorothy or Love Sick Radio you should really look them up and check them out.