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May 17, 2006 1:01 PM Subscribe
Is it tacky to bring a flask to a music show at a club?
It also might depend on what's in the flask.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:09 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:09 PM on May 17, 2006
It's not tacky if you're unobserved. That's one of the nice things about a flask—you can be reasonably discrete. Will you be?
posted by cortex at 1:13 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by cortex at 1:13 PM on May 17, 2006
Is it an alcohol-free show, ie at a teen center etc.? If yes, then don't bring the flask. You could be part of a venue getting shut down, and venues like that are important.
However, if you're broke but the show is at a bar, larger club or whatever, then fuck tacky - just don't get caught.
posted by jtron at 1:19 PM on May 17, 2006
However, if you're broke but the show is at a bar, larger club or whatever, then fuck tacky - just don't get caught.
posted by jtron at 1:19 PM on May 17, 2006
I agree with jtron, don't introduce the alcohol laden flask to an otherwise dry environment. If you are trying to get cheaply intoxicated while out at an otherwise alcohol selling venue, then go for it!
Just don't get caught.
posted by utsutsu at 1:30 PM on May 17, 2006
Just don't get caught.
posted by utsutsu at 1:30 PM on May 17, 2006
I think any reasonable adult should be able to do whatever they want unless it's interferes with someone else. Go for it.
posted by aeighty at 1:35 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by aeighty at 1:35 PM on May 17, 2006
Depends on whom you are trying to impress. I was on a date to a concert once and my date brought out a flask, and I thought it was tacky. It might make you look cheap. Then again, if you don't care what the people around you think, like everyone said, if it is not a dry show, just don't get caught.
posted by rmless at 1:36 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by rmless at 1:36 PM on May 17, 2006
If it's a huge club -- the sort of place where you'd have to make a long trek to the bar -- go for it, but make sure you don't get caught with it on the way in. If it's a dry show, go for it -- what is the point of a flask if not to introduce alcohol to a dry environment? If it's a small club, with accessible bars, and you intend to go back there, leave the flask at home.
posted by uncleozzy at 1:44 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by uncleozzy at 1:44 PM on May 17, 2006
I have a small silver flask I carry everywhere with me. I take it to local shows, but if it's a national show, then you either need to hide it well or leave it at home 'cause it'll get confiscated. I wouldn't call it tacky, but most bars/clubs look down upon bringing your own liquor, so be discreet.
posted by Zosia Blue at 1:49 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by Zosia Blue at 1:49 PM on May 17, 2006
Beyond the show being held at a dry establishment, my respect would increase for anyone who brings a flask. Bonus points if you share.
posted by quadog at 1:52 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by quadog at 1:52 PM on May 17, 2006
as my cousin once said "you can drink the finest top-shelf liquor anywhere you are if you always carry a flask with you".
is there anything tacky about fine top-shelf liquor?
hell no.
posted by fishfucker at 1:54 PM on May 17, 2006
is there anything tacky about fine top-shelf liquor?
hell no.
posted by fishfucker at 1:54 PM on May 17, 2006
(it is, however, tacky if you use the "sneak-a-drink" binocular flasks. I know this because I used them, and I am utterly classless. Make sure your flask is silver, and preferably, engraved with some hoity toity latin phrase like "Beati hispani, quibus vivere bibere est" for extra panty points. Hell, then you can even name your flask Don Quixote or something. And what's tacky about a flask with a literary appelation? Fuckin' nothing, Jack.)
posted by fishfucker at 2:02 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by fishfucker at 2:02 PM on May 17, 2006
Not tacky.
Put some Glenfiddich in it and you might as well call yourself the king of England.
posted by geoff. at 2:07 PM on May 17, 2006
Put some Glenfiddich in it and you might as well call yourself the king of England.
posted by geoff. at 2:07 PM on May 17, 2006
I dunno about tacky, but it may be frowned upon...
I witnessed a friend kicked out of a club here in Chicago for having a flask. It's a music club that mostly hosts 18+ and 21+ shows, but will occasionally have all-ages shows. They have a bar, and check IDs at the door and give wrist bands to those who are of legal drinking age.
My friend was of age, and a bouncer spotted him taking a sip (though my friend was being discrete about it, and also was buying beers from the bar). He tore through the crowd and grabbed him, and would have confiscated the flask before he kicked him out if I hadn't taken it from him, put it down my pants, and hid out in a stall in the ladies' room for the next 20 minutes. I don't know if the establishment had the right to do that, but in my experience, the people who work at the place we were at have a tendancy to be assholes.
posted by penchant at 2:11 PM on May 17, 2006
I witnessed a friend kicked out of a club here in Chicago for having a flask. It's a music club that mostly hosts 18+ and 21+ shows, but will occasionally have all-ages shows. They have a bar, and check IDs at the door and give wrist bands to those who are of legal drinking age.
My friend was of age, and a bouncer spotted him taking a sip (though my friend was being discrete about it, and also was buying beers from the bar). He tore through the crowd and grabbed him, and would have confiscated the flask before he kicked him out if I hadn't taken it from him, put it down my pants, and hid out in a stall in the ladies' room for the next 20 minutes. I don't know if the establishment had the right to do that, but in my experience, the people who work at the place we were at have a tendancy to be assholes.
posted by penchant at 2:11 PM on May 17, 2006
Nothing tacky about it in my opinion. However, I have a friend who goes out to the bar with a group of people, goes up to bartender and says, "Hey buddy, I'm the designated driver for this group, but I hate to sit in a bar without a drink, can you spot me a coke or something for doing my civic duty?" The bartender, if they are a nice guy, gives my friend a free coke. My buddy then goes over to the table with his friends, pours the contents of his flask into the coke, and has himself a free drink. Now that shit is tacky.
posted by ND¢ at 2:11 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by ND¢ at 2:11 PM on May 17, 2006
Penchant: Lemme guess, the Metro? They tend towards the agressive over there.
To answer the question... I don't think it's tacky, but I've done worse. Discretion around staff is key, especially if the place serves alcohol.
And I really, REALLY need a sterling silver flask, like the one geoff. linked up there. I'll even settle for not Tiffany's. Who wants to buy me a present?
posted by ruby.aftermath at 2:35 PM on May 17, 2006
To answer the question... I don't think it's tacky, but I've done worse. Discretion around staff is key, especially if the place serves alcohol.
And I really, REALLY need a sterling silver flask, like the one geoff. linked up there. I'll even settle for not Tiffany's. Who wants to buy me a present?
posted by ruby.aftermath at 2:35 PM on May 17, 2006
Is it tacky to get kicked out?
Nine times out of ten, the answer is yes.
posted by klangklangston at 3:06 PM on May 17, 2006
Nine times out of ten, the answer is yes.
posted by klangklangston at 3:06 PM on May 17, 2006
Clubs make most of their money from liquor sales, not from tickets, so this explains the, ah, tenacity with which some places check this sort of thing... (Movie theatres are the same way, btw) I, however, don't really care, and tend to take my flask into a place if I think I'm going to want it. Discretion is important, both with getting it in and using it once inside.
OTOH, most of the time, I'm the driver, so there's no drinking for me anyway. Boo! The girlfriend is great, but she really needs to pick up some of the driving slack...
posted by schwap23 at 3:27 PM on May 17, 2006
OTOH, most of the time, I'm the driver, so there's no drinking for me anyway. Boo! The girlfriend is great, but she really needs to pick up some of the driving slack...
posted by schwap23 at 3:27 PM on May 17, 2006
Ex-waitress at a music club here...
I didn't care if people brought in their own liquor (which would get you kicked out if anyone caught you), but I did care about losing out on tips because you weren't ordering drinks from me.
I would look the other way if someone slipped me a tip despite having their own flask. If you were a jerk AND you brought in your own liquor, I'd rat you out to security asap.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 3:36 PM on May 17, 2006
I didn't care if people brought in their own liquor (which would get you kicked out if anyone caught you), but I did care about losing out on tips because you weren't ordering drinks from me.
I would look the other way if someone slipped me a tip despite having their own flask. If you were a jerk AND you brought in your own liquor, I'd rat you out to security asap.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 3:36 PM on May 17, 2006
To play Devil's Advocate:
Some clubs don't book shows as much as charge a rental fee to other promotors putting on a show. When they do this, the agreement will occassionally include a the bar must make at least $x dollars or else it comes out of the promoter's pocket (or whoever booked the show). Occassionally, especially if it's at a show where most people are underage, this can lead to someone losing a lot of money. If promoters loose to much money they stop putting on shows.
From a Kantian ethics prospective, what if everyone brought flasks to the show? Clubs which make their money from drink sales will stop booking shows and become yuppy bars.
Finally, if you're under 21, don't do it at any show. Under 21 shows are hard enough, they don't need someone else to be mucking them up.
posted by drezdn at 3:43 PM on May 17, 2006
Some clubs don't book shows as much as charge a rental fee to other promotors putting on a show. When they do this, the agreement will occassionally include a the bar must make at least $x dollars or else it comes out of the promoter's pocket (or whoever booked the show). Occassionally, especially if it's at a show where most people are underage, this can lead to someone losing a lot of money. If promoters loose to much money they stop putting on shows.
From a Kantian ethics prospective, what if everyone brought flasks to the show? Clubs which make their money from drink sales will stop booking shows and become yuppy bars.
Finally, if you're under 21, don't do it at any show. Under 21 shows are hard enough, they don't need someone else to be mucking them up.
posted by drezdn at 3:43 PM on May 17, 2006
Devil's advocate perspective:
Using a flask, rather than just buying a beer or two like everyone else, could give the impression you have an alcohol problem, and alcohol problems are generally looked upon as tacky.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 3:44 PM on May 17, 2006
Using a flask, rather than just buying a beer or two like everyone else, could give the impression you have an alcohol problem, and alcohol problems are generally looked upon as tacky.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 3:44 PM on May 17, 2006
It is totally, completely, and irredeemably tacky.
Do you take your own food to restaurants?
Do you take a portable DVD player to a movie?
Tacky, tacky, tacky.
If you can afford a flask and something to fill it with, you can afford a drink or two at the club.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:52 PM on May 17, 2006
Do you take your own food to restaurants?
Do you take a portable DVD player to a movie?
Tacky, tacky, tacky.
If you can afford a flask and something to fill it with, you can afford a drink or two at the club.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 3:52 PM on May 17, 2006
Personally, if I saw it, I'd think you were tacky on the basis of 'If you can't afford to drink from the bar, you really don't need to drink at all.' And no, I don't care if you've got some expensive Scotch in there.
That's not a formal etiquette position, just a personal one.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:53 PM on May 17, 2006
That's not a formal etiquette position, just a personal one.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:53 PM on May 17, 2006
If you can afford a flask and something to fill it with, you can afford a drink or two at the club.
Ah, but what if it's a band you like playing at a club you don't?
posted by cortex at 3:58 PM on May 17, 2006
Ah, but what if it's a band you like playing at a club you don't?
posted by cortex at 3:58 PM on May 17, 2006
you know, I guess I should rephrase my answer. If you have to ask whether or not it's tacky -- in other words, if you care about such things -- then yes, yes, yes holy mother of god yes it is tacky as hell and will no doubt cause monocles to hit the ground and shatter left and right as you walk through the room*
my guess is most of the people replying to this thread who think it isn't tacky aren't the type of people who worry about making a good impression with their drinking habits. Hell, I'm not going to make fun of you for ordering the cheapest beer they have either, but that's just me.
so yeah, if you hang out among people who care about such things, yes, they will most definitely be aghast at the fact that you DARED bring a flask to a club**. The rest of us will duly not give a shit.
You should still tip your bartender (order a water or whatever, a coke, every hour or so just so you can give them a buck or two), but if you're thinking about carrying a flask you should already be an experienced drunkard familar with the first rule of drinking in bars.
That said, if you want to get reasonably ripped at a concert, but don't want to carry a flask or spend $60 on drinks, I would suggest you consider the procedure known as "front-loading"*** -- although if your friends frown upon flasks they are also likely to fail to understand why it is absolutely positively necessary for you to shotgun six beers before leaving for the show.
*SIP SIP CRASH CRASH CRASH OH MY
** MY GOD HOW PLEBIAN
*** any pre-event marathon of drinking
posted by fishfucker at 4:29 PM on May 17, 2006
my guess is most of the people replying to this thread who think it isn't tacky aren't the type of people who worry about making a good impression with their drinking habits. Hell, I'm not going to make fun of you for ordering the cheapest beer they have either, but that's just me.
so yeah, if you hang out among people who care about such things, yes, they will most definitely be aghast at the fact that you DARED bring a flask to a club**. The rest of us will duly not give a shit.
You should still tip your bartender (order a water or whatever, a coke, every hour or so just so you can give them a buck or two), but if you're thinking about carrying a flask you should already be an experienced drunkard familar with the first rule of drinking in bars.
That said, if you want to get reasonably ripped at a concert, but don't want to carry a flask or spend $60 on drinks, I would suggest you consider the procedure known as "front-loading"*** -- although if your friends frown upon flasks they are also likely to fail to understand why it is absolutely positively necessary for you to shotgun six beers before leaving for the show.
*SIP SIP CRASH CRASH CRASH OH MY
** MY GOD HOW PLEBIAN
*** any pre-event marathon of drinking
posted by fishfucker at 4:29 PM on May 17, 2006
If it is something really really good, that they cannot serve in the club due to the limited numbers of customers, like 40 yrs Glenfiddich or anything Adelphi or OMC, I'd say that you can bring it, but announce it at the door and be prepared to pay a bottle-tax for not buying their stuff. And remember to tip generously for the glasses that you will get, if you behave properly.
Apart from that I wholeheardedly agree with dirtynumbangelboy.
posted by KimG at 4:30 PM on May 17, 2006
Apart from that I wholeheardedly agree with dirtynumbangelboy.
posted by KimG at 4:30 PM on May 17, 2006
When I lived in Seattle the flasks were popular among the alcoholic hipster crowd. In fact, the ISP I worked at gave everyone flasks for the holidays in lieu of some more substantial bonus. So, if I saw someone with a flask as a club I would think they were a drunken hipster so I guess the tackiness part comes from whether you feel that the drunken part outweighed the hipster part. So, *I* don't think it's tacky, but then I'd usually go to shows and not buy any drinks at all anyhow.
posted by jessamyn at 5:20 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by jessamyn at 5:20 PM on May 17, 2006
* Do you take your own food to restaurants?
* Do you take a portable DVD player to a movie?
Hands up who thinks these are not valid analogies?
<puts hand up>
posted by AmbroseChapel at 5:51 PM on May 17, 2006
* Do you take a portable DVD player to a movie?
Hands up who thinks these are not valid analogies?
<puts hand up>
posted by AmbroseChapel at 5:51 PM on May 17, 2006
I'm there with Jessamyn, the overwhelming message I always get from a flask is "problem drinker." I'm sure it's often not fair but there it is. Generally sneaking booze seems very high school to me, and adults doing it, even if its bajillion year old magic hooch, seems at a minimum very sad. Go a night without booze, see if your hands start shaking.
posted by nanojath at 6:45 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by nanojath at 6:45 PM on May 17, 2006
Eh. I can see the flask = alcoholic angle, but most of the (few) folks I know who carry a flask do so because (a) they really like flasks and/or (b) they enjoy the self-recognized silly naughtiness of carrying one.
posted by cortex at 7:22 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by cortex at 7:22 PM on May 17, 2006
Oh, I think you're correct, cortex, it's a prejudice. Just pointing out that the prejudice is there. Tackiness is, ultimately, a matter of opinion.
posted by nanojath at 8:39 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by nanojath at 8:39 PM on May 17, 2006
I was standing in line to get into a show once, freezing my ass off, and the very nice guy behind me gave me a shot of Glenfiddich from his flask. It was definitely not tacky.
However, we were standing in line to get into the Edwardian Ball, so I would say that context, attire, and choice of liquid refreshment definitely play a role in determining non- tackiness. It helps to wear a top hat.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:45 PM on May 17, 2006
However, we were standing in line to get into the Edwardian Ball, so I would say that context, attire, and choice of liquid refreshment definitely play a role in determining non- tackiness. It helps to wear a top hat.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:45 PM on May 17, 2006
Nitpick: Being reasonably discrete is certainly helpful, but you might want to be reasonably discreet as well.
posted by eritain at 9:10 PM on May 17, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by eritain at 9:10 PM on May 17, 2006 [1 favorite]
Like many things, it's tacky to get caught, and it's tacky to look like you're doing it to be seen doing it.
posted by bingo at 9:18 PM on May 17, 2006
posted by bingo at 9:18 PM on May 17, 2006
Bringing a flask to a bar is like bringing sand to the beach. The "cool" factor of a flask is that you are drinking (inconspicuously) at your own convenience, in a place where drinking is not traditionally done. A bar or club is precisely the uncoolest place to bring a flask (BYOB strip clubs not included). Bringing a flask to a bar is announcing to the world that you are 1) too cheap to pay the premium for wait staff and ambience or 2) too pretentious to drink the swill that the rest of us are enjoying.
Also, I agree that this issue falls into the "if you have to ask..." category.
posted by MrZero at 9:46 PM on May 17, 2006
Also, I agree that this issue falls into the "if you have to ask..." category.
posted by MrZero at 9:46 PM on May 17, 2006
Nitpick
Yeah, yeah. I refrained from correcting it—be assured that I spotted the typo on re-reading. In my defense the error occurs not out of any confusion of the terms, nor out of a lack of discretion, but simply because I have so great a love for discrete mathematics.
posted by cortex at 9:46 PM on May 17, 2006
Yeah, yeah. I refrained from correcting it—be assured that I spotted the typo on re-reading. In my defense the error occurs not out of any confusion of the terms, nor out of a lack of discretion, but simply because I have so great a love for discrete mathematics.
posted by cortex at 9:46 PM on May 17, 2006
That is about as tacky as it gets, IMO.
Maybe we have different views on this in the UK, but the only people I know who do that, are pensioners....
Go to the club, listen to the music, buy the drink....
Or, go to the club, listen to the music, drink water.
posted by the_epicurean at 3:53 AM on May 18, 2006
Maybe we have different views on this in the UK, but the only people I know who do that, are pensioners....
Go to the club, listen to the music, buy the drink....
Or, go to the club, listen to the music, drink water.
posted by the_epicurean at 3:53 AM on May 18, 2006
I've been known to carry a flask to clubs who charge a ridiculous amount of money for a few drops of whisky. Also saves me the back-and-forth to the bar when I'd rather be watching the show. Discretion is key. No-one should notice -- if they do, or if you want them to, it's tacky.
posted by desuetude at 6:16 AM on May 18, 2006
posted by desuetude at 6:16 AM on May 18, 2006
I love you, cortex...
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:00 AM on May 18, 2006
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:00 AM on May 18, 2006
cortex writes "If you can afford a flask and something to fill it with, you can afford a drink or two at the club.
"Ah, but what if it's a band you like playing at a club you don't?"
Too bloody bad. The club is providing the space for the band you like. You're free to not drink at all if you choose, but taking your own in is just tacky. As I pointed out above, you don't take your own anywhere else (except possibly a good bottle of wine to a restaurant, in which case you pay for the privilege), so why should a bar--most of which make very little money--be any different?
AmbroseChapel writes "* Do you take your own food to restaurants?
"* Do you take a portable DVD player to a movie?
"
"Hands up who thinks these are not valid analogies?
"<puts hand up>"
How is it not? Restaurants provide food, movie theatres provide entertainment, bars provide alcohol and something to listen to while you drink.
desuetude writes "I've been known to carry a flask to clubs who charge a ridiculous amount of money for a few drops of whisky. Also saves me the back-and-forth to the bar when I'd rather be watching the show. Discretion is key. No-one should notice -- if they do, or if you want them to, it's tacky."
Oh, so doing it to save money makes it ok? Come on. If you don't want, as pointed out above, to pay the premium for waitstaff and ambience and so forth, THEN DON'T BLOODY GO.
Taking your own alcohol to a bar is known as 'freeloading'.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:13 AM on May 20, 2006
"Ah, but what if it's a band you like playing at a club you don't?"
Too bloody bad. The club is providing the space for the band you like. You're free to not drink at all if you choose, but taking your own in is just tacky. As I pointed out above, you don't take your own anywhere else (except possibly a good bottle of wine to a restaurant, in which case you pay for the privilege), so why should a bar--most of which make very little money--be any different?
AmbroseChapel writes "* Do you take your own food to restaurants?
"* Do you take a portable DVD player to a movie?
"
"Hands up who thinks these are not valid analogies?
"<puts hand up>"
How is it not? Restaurants provide food, movie theatres provide entertainment, bars provide alcohol and something to listen to while you drink.
desuetude writes "I've been known to carry a flask to clubs who charge a ridiculous amount of money for a few drops of whisky. Also saves me the back-and-forth to the bar when I'd rather be watching the show. Discretion is key. No-one should notice -- if they do, or if you want them to, it's tacky."
Oh, so doing it to save money makes it ok? Come on. If you don't want, as pointed out above, to pay the premium for waitstaff and ambience and so forth, THEN DON'T BLOODY GO.
Taking your own alcohol to a bar is known as 'freeloading'.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:13 AM on May 20, 2006
How is it not? Restaurants provide food, movie theatres provide entertainment, bars provide alcohol and something to listen to while you drink.
That is why the analogies fail—one goes to a restaurant to eat, to a movie to watch a movie; one goes to a show to see a show, and the bar is a matter of circumstance.
Not to argue your fundamental position on your point—but the situations are not congruent, unless you happen to saunter into a bar for a no-cover show you didn't know or care about when you left the house. And whether or not that's the case will depend an awful lot on the situation.
posted by cortex at 11:07 AM on May 20, 2006
That is why the analogies fail—one goes to a restaurant to eat, to a movie to watch a movie; one goes to a show to see a show, and the bar is a matter of circumstance.
Not to argue your fundamental position on your point—but the situations are not congruent, unless you happen to saunter into a bar for a no-cover show you didn't know or care about when you left the house. And whether or not that's the case will depend an awful lot on the situation.
posted by cortex at 11:07 AM on May 20, 2006
Oh, so doing it to save money makes it ok? Come on. If you don't want, as pointed out above, to pay the premium for waitstaff and ambience and so forth, THEN DON'T BLOODY GO.
Don't bloody shout at me, for christ's sake. Waitstaff? Premium? Ambiance? We are not talking about the same type of venue, perhaps.
posted by desuetude at 2:57 PM on May 20, 2006
Don't bloody shout at me, for christ's sake. Waitstaff? Premium? Ambiance? We are not talking about the same type of venue, perhaps.
posted by desuetude at 2:57 PM on May 20, 2006
Oh FFS. You don't get it, and you're exactly the sort of person who never will.
You've never worked in a bar, have you?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:58 PM on May 20, 2006
You've never worked in a bar, have you?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 5:58 PM on May 20, 2006
Oh, FFS, yes, I fact, I have. A bar is not a club. (But I've worked in one of those, too.)
posted by desuetude at 6:35 PM on May 21, 2006
posted by desuetude at 6:35 PM on May 21, 2006
The difference, for the purposes of this discussion, is negligible. But nice straw man!
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:32 PM on May 22, 2006
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:32 PM on May 22, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cosmicbandito at 1:03 PM on May 17, 2006