The Social

This was a cool place. However, I do have some comments. Finding the actual concert location was slightly difficult and confusing. There were different events going on in the building and it was hard to find the right location with Google Maps. The Living Tombstone was performing in the same building. Getting there and seeing multiple lines for different concerts was baffling. The actual venue could have been more clear. I saw Pokey LaFarge at "The Beacham," which I guess is part of "The Social" building as a whole. It was a good show. There wasn't really seating available and the way the stage was elevated made it slightly uninviting. I ended up sitting on the side of the stage which was awkward. I was able to move and get closer on the sidelines, but it really wasn't a great concert venue. The Beachum seems to be more fitting as a bar, not a concert venue All in all it was a good experience, but there could have been signage to direct people to the right room for the concert and more room for people to move about or better seating arrangements.

Tried to go with friends to see a band we love. One of them is deaf and requested an interpreter. After being told to provide one herself, which violates the ADA, there was no further communication until the day of the event. The same manager told us “sorry, it’s above me” and there would be no interpreter. Not only is what this company did against the law, but they still are choosing to ignore our emails to this day. No business should be run this way, I recommend finding other venues for your favorite artists to play.

Went for a rock show. I would call this a more intimate venue, which is not a bad thing. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Huge bar. Restrooms were clean and maintained well. Might be uncomfortable for a show or event that brings in a very large crowd due to size and space to move around, but I'd definitely go to a show here again.

Small intimate venue. Very clean and the staff are stellar.

Watched Ryan Caraveo perform at The Social on April 9th. This place was the perfect vibe. The music and acoustics sound perfect, and the way the stage is setup allows you to be right there with the artist, which makes the experience that much more amazing! I will definitely go back to enjoy future concerts. My only grip is that the drinks are wayyyyyy overpriced. Two drinks cost us over $50.00, and we didn't even order anything fancy, just the house rum with coke and a gin and club soda. (Both were singles) Other than that, that it was great experience! Definitely recommend

Pretty chill spot! Decent prices even for the hookah only downside was when our table got the hookah the charcoals were awfully small like if they had been used prior, the hookah didn't bubble and after 20-30 mins no smoke ever came out. I even brought it to the attention of the hookah girl and she did nothing but bring back the same coal and flavor and asked us to inhale and then walked away as if that made a difference. At the end I didn't even bother asking for another hookah or my money back because it was around 1:45am but I was extremely disappointed. As someone who has been a hookah girl? That was the worst I have ever had.

They refused to provide an interpreter for a deaf friend of mine which violates a grocery list of laws. Enjoy the lawsuit and have fun with bankruptcy. Very poor management decision.

Awesome place to see live music with a great friendly staff and reasonably priced! Plus my 13 year old daughter was a loved in to see the tribute to the Smiths!

I've been to the Social several times over the years and I am grateful to have a venue that books so many strong acts. It's tough to get touring acts to come to Orlando unless they are doing a full Florida tour. It's just not conveniently located and driving down the peninsula usually takes the performer farther away from their next night's show. I respect the talent of the booking agent at the Social! The room itself is small, with excellent sight lines. There are no bad vantage points. (Admittedly, I am 6'3" so I can't speak to the experience of shorter patrons.) Acoustics are good, but audience chatter can make it difficult to hear opening acts that are not particularly loud. Bar tenders have always been responsive and friendly.

Fantastic downtown bar that has a stage for band performances and room for DJs as well. I went here as Anita G.'s guest to see the Tiny Desk Concert. It was so cool to watch these upcoming bands perform their hearts out. The bartenders were serving drinks with quickness. They should stock more sugar free Red Bull. They only had two and I drank them. Since I wasn't drinking alcohol I switched to Diet Coke. It was a great venue and an excellent show. I hope to attend again.

I've always been recommended to come here for a drink, but never gave it a shot. It was my boo's birthday and everyone in our party had just found out I've never been inside The Social/Beacham - so this was the spot to hit up. We walked in after 10pm on a Saturday night and the music was blasting (in a good way). The a/c was also blowing which is a plus. The bars downtown are always warm. Saturdays are of course, busy. As we were fighting our way to the bar and finally had space to squeeze us in, we were immediately taken care of by our bartender, Cali. She was friendly, patient, and knew everything and anything about the bar. We ended up just grabbing beers to-go and shots. Prices are affordable. Just want to give her a shout out for not making us wait long. She also chilled our tequila shots without us even asking! Now that's A-1 service. I'm only going to The Social if she's working. I wish they had day hours too, but they only open early for their shows. Thank you, Cali for a great night!

I was in Orlando visiting family and had the opportunity to attend the Caleb Gordon Eden Tour finale hosted at the Social and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Aw yes, nothing like paying 65% of the ticket price in additional fees for a below average venue.

Intimate, fun club! Easy to find parking. Great shows choose this venue! Plus, amazing and caring staff!

I saw the announcement for Napalm Death and I was intrigued. I have seen that name for a while, and I mean decades, not months. Who was Napalm Death? I didn't know. I played their music and it turned out to be Death Metal. OK. I like a little speed, growling is fine, I had no clue what they are singing about but the rhythm makes it good "movement music", something that I would listen to when I hit the gym. This discovery ignited my thinking process and some should I go or should I stay now type stuff. Tickets were $25... it's not $300 Bad Bunny Bay-Bay. I can still buy a four pack of craft beer with $25. I finally decided to go. I didn't buy my ticket online, forget fees, so I showed up to the door with no ticket. It was fine because they show was not sold out. The Social never sells out. While I was making the line I started talking to people. A lot of them were screaming "Long Live Satan", others were offering me the good stuff, girls were talking to me, I almost felt like a rock star. They were trash talking Christians and religion in general, that was weird, I mean, people screaming "Satan is my Lord" was weird enough, but I guess I was just surrounded with reactionary people who despise pedophilia. This review may be taken down at any time now. Needless to say, the concert hadn't even started. The bill included 3 bands. The first band was from Texas, I couldn't read their name nor understand what they were saying, they were cryptic. They were good, they had some energy. The second band was called BRUJERIA. It means "Witchcraft" in Spanish. I understood some of their lyrics, they mainly spoke about smoking pot. Yeah, that's not me. But they were really entertaining and the music was good. I also understood why there were so many Spanish speaking people present and why Mexican flags were flying. The last band, Napalm Death, the boys from Birmingham UK, finally took the stage. They were entertaining also. The bass player kept complaining about the sound system in an English accent, I found that hilarious. The whole evening was all a weird experience from a far fetched dimension and new to me. I bought a T-shirt. I bummed a bottle of water. I didn't pay for parking. I got second hand stoned. If I would've found a $25 bill on the floor, my night would've been over the top.

Cali and Angelica at the bar were incredibly friendly! They had a warm demeanor and genuine smiles while being attentive and engaging. They set a high standard for music venues. Their commitment to their craft and the business was evident in every interaction. Venue was extremely intimate. Highly recommended!

Our experience at The Social was positive. We attended a JP Saxe concert there and appreciated the venue's size, which offered an intimate atmosphere.

I was going to buy tickets to a show but I just found out they don't follow ADA laws. They denied reasonable accommodations for a Deaf person which is ILLEGAL. I will not be spending money here and I hope they get fined and learn the laws and do better!

Had a great time tonight. Business and bands. Very small room and very loud! But David Bruce's band was awesome!! great walk up singers. Fun fun fun. Dancing. No cover. A must do again!!!

Great venue! Been here a few times and really love the atmosphere. It is a small intimate club that is a great environment with acceptable acoustics. The layout includes a bar along the back wall, with a small standing/seating area, then a drop to the floor in front of a small stage. This trip we saw the Weathers performs (who were great!). The club provided an environment where the band "feels" like they are indeed in the same room. It seems to help them connect to the audience. In fact, this particular song the singer got down on the floor with the crowed and performed. In fairness, there are clubs this size that have a bit better sound quality, but this is not bad. A larger show would be a bit of a challenge in this space as it could get crowded, but the venue tends to book acts that work really nicely in this space. The club is downtown, so parking is sometimes challenging, but there are definitely pay parking garages around to make it easy. There's also plenty of food locations around to grab a bit after a show. The bar has been stocked in my experiences and is about as fair pricing as you can expect in a downtown venue (so....not necessarily cheap.....but, they aren't necessarily taking you for a ride either). Definitely check out a show here if you get a chance

This location blatantly ignores the Americans With Disabilities Act, and not just that, but they prefer ghosting customers with inquiries relating to accommodations that are LEGALLY REQUIRED.

This venue does not respect people with disabilities.. refused to supply an interpreter for a hearing impaired individual

Great venue, but frustrated to learn that they don't adhere to ADA regulations to ensure equal access for all paying customers.

Bad management, quickly becoming a blight on the music community in Orlando. The need to do better at engaging patrons and providing accessibility for all. It is the law after all.

We went there to see a cover band called strange love. One of the people in the group is legally blind so we tried to get a table unfortunately we were not able to so she stood on the floor the whole time it was sooo overcrowded you couldn't go to the bathroom or even go to the bar to get a drink. It eventually got so hot in the place that we just left before the show was even over. There was also a lady who kept jumping on stage no security ever showed up. We won't be back.

Feeling sad as I'll be traveling to Orlando in December but just found out that The Social doesn't provide accommodations in accordance with ADA laws even after 6 weeks of emailing. Very sad. This is never acceptable and so I can't take my business here.

If you want your phone stolen and no assistance with security, go here! Had my phone stolen(pick pocketed) and was told by security that it happens 4-5 times a night. Hire better security if your customers keep getting robbed!!!

Super busy. A lot of dancing and plenty if vibes but way too much hookah. Shit was wack 5 years ago. Still wack today.

They ignored an ADA request made 6 weeks in advance for an ASL interpreter. Shameful! They jeed to review THE LAW.

The social can spend time and effort trying to remove negative Google reviews after breaking the literal law , but not to find a deaf individual accommodations that were requested SIX weeks in advance. Sad. A music venue should be a safe space for EVERYONE with or without disability

Disrespectful to the deaf community. Looks like a great venue but as someone who typically travels with friends who need accommodations it's good to know I can take this venue off my list.

The Social has some decent drink deals before the show starts. Their happy hour sign said that you-call-it doubles were $7, but found out that was not true after closing the tab. That would have been nice to know beforehand. The sound system in The Social is just ok. It desperately needs to be upgraded - I feel like it's been the same for the past 10 years. The quality is just not great and it's frustrating if you go to hear one of your favorite bands play. I do like the set up with the stage though as it is pretty easy to see no matter where you stand. Also, there were bathroom attendants the last time I was there, which was SUPER weird to me because The Social is not THAT nice. And the bathroom is tiny as it is so it just made it more crowded to have attendants. Plus, bathroom attendants are just awkward in all places. They should definitely do away with that. Hope to see this local venue make some changes.

Located Downton on Orange Avenue just North of The Beachum, The Social is an amazing venue. With friendly bar staff and great drink deals you are always in for a good time here. There venue allows for great views of the stage from all angles. There is a dance floor right in front of the stage for when the drinks kick in and the nights entertainment moves you! The venue, while dimly lit, is welcoming and a great place to catch a show. There are concerts several nights a week and the prices are usually very fair but change based on the evenings preformer. The restrooms are clean and the attendant is there to help keep you fresh if you so choose. When it comes to lesser known/ up and coming acts, The Social is the spot in downtown Orlando to catch an intimate show.

Sorry good music but the customer service here sucks!!!!!!!! To get a drink and service in this place is so frustrating.

Wow. So enjoyed the opening act. Great talent in an intimate atmosphere. The lady bartender was very nice and made me a good margarita. We came to the Social to hear our nephew Brett play. His band, called Frenship, is on a new tour and only played in Orlando this one night. Good show. Nice club. Enjoyed ourselves very much.

I came to this place on Wednesday for the R&B night and worn joggers and was fine. I went there today what appears to be more of a Latin night and after the security guard looked at my ID (out of town) he then looked at my attire and said i couldn't get in with my joggers. Im honestly disgusted by the outcome of tonight.

I've never been one to go to concerts so I know very little about the venues Orlando has to offer but when I saw that Magic Giant was coming to The Social, I had to jump on it and get my first local concert experience. You line up on the side walk outside before the doors open. Our tickets showed 7pm but it didn't specify whether that was doors or concert start. Turns out it was doors. You get a wristband if you are over 21 since they do serve drinks. The benefit of getting there early is the opportunity to grab one of their 8 or 9 tables. I understand that the appeal is to stand and be in the thick of it but a few of us *no shame* would like to not be in the fray. The bar did seem fully stocked. They had Hendricks Gin so I figured it couldn't be all that bad. It is very dark, loud and warm in there once everyone packs in and the concert starts. BUT no matter where you are you feel like you are up close and personal with the musicians. It's an intimate space. It's definitely a local venue bringing in unique bands. I no doubt will be saying years down the road, "Remember that time we got to see Magic Giant at The Social?"

Really had a great time here on Tuesday! The venue was very small and intimate but was perfect to see Hayley Kiyoko! We were all able to feel so close to her and had a great time! There were a lot of issues with sound, with the band that played before her, Flor, and her band also. They struggled with the sound and that was very frustrating. But when the sound DID work, it was amazing. The drinks were actually also a great price! I think you guys should hire better security though. Or at least train the employees better because after the show we were waiting for Hayley and we talked a lot to the security. I just didn't feel like they were really experienced or took their job seriously. In today's world security is so important and the safety of the artist should be really important. Anyways I had a great time here and hope to see other artist there soon! Thank you

So the family and I decide to go to a show here. A touring singer songwriter. The venue is nice, the drinks were fairly priced, but the total disregard for the show and those of us who were there to see the show was in itself amazing. Apparently a friend of one of the bartenders, or maybe just a regular customer, was at the bar for the entire show talking/laughing incredibly loudly. I don't know why she was there when the entire street is lined with bars where that kind of behavior would have been perfectly acceptable. I know that the bar isn't responsible for her behavior, however if they intend on booking performers for people to listen to them they should provide the environment for the other 100 or so people to listen. I did see one person talk to her to quiet her down, it lasted literally just a couple of minutes. Beyond that nothing. I certainly did not pay money to listen to a self absorbed woman's obnoxious laugh. I won't be wasting the time and money to go back. It's a shame a lot of potential wasted by uncaring staff.

Let me preface this review by letting everyone know this is based off of an experience from a few years back. I hope the place has changed staff. I'm sure they likely have by now. This is a very cool little venue and bar. It's a shame that at the time I visited the staff were aholes. So I went to the social for a friend's band. I hit the bar for a beer. Shortly thereafter I noticed one of the bartenders staring a hole in me. I ignored it. I then hit the bar for a second beer. The staring continued and now it seemed he was talking crap to other staff. Went up for a third beer, and this time was met by a female bartender who was extremely flirty. It was at this transaction where things were made clear. She got upset that I didn't tip at the time of the transaction. I guess the male bartender was upset as well and wanted to see if I'd treat a female any different. Well, I don't know what barroom etiquette is in FL, but up here where I'm from we usually tip out at the end of the evening. I always tip decent as well. Seems silly to drop a tip with each transaction as the bartender is doing nothing more than popping a bottle top. This has never been an issue in all my years. So I explained that I tip at the end of the evening. I've had 3 beers. You guys have popped 3 tabs. Now the male bartender comes over and is being extremely rude. This pisses me off and I go back to my table. I go up for a fourth beer and this time I'm met by the bar's bouncer who says I'm no longer receiving service until I tip out. So after some choice words I give them a whole whopping 15% tip which came to roughly $1.80. Then again explained I tip out at the end of the night and if they hadn't been aholes they'd have gotten a very generous amount rather than the standard tip. I took my party and left and have never come back since. Nor have I ever had this problem at any other establishment before or since. I'm not sure if this bartender had just been stiffed one too many times or what but this was ridiculous. And to have security involved? Worst bar experience I've ever had in 20 years and in as many states. But they got their dollar and change... whereas they would have likely gotten 15 at the end of the evening if they'd just done their jobs. Shame because I enjoyed the venue. Give it two stars because it is a cool spot.

It's been a good 12 years since I last stepped foot in The Social, having previously led a life touring the globe working for bands. This time, I was an adult (ok, maybe not) in town to see one of my favorite bands, Minus The Bear. I didn't recognize the place like I thought I might, but my recollections that I liked the venue proved fair. Sound was decent, and it's such a great intimate setup. I watched the support act from the back/side area, and then moved into the pit to watch the headliner. I was feet from a band that I usually see in 1,500+ capacity venues. I had almost forgotten how much better it is to see a band where you can actually see facial expressions, how they play their instruments, etc. But The Social earns their 5th star for not going crazy with packing the place out. The show was sold out, yet there was so much breathing room. I was front and center, and except for a drunk kid that was a tad too excited, I didn't have to be pushed up against other humans. This is something you have to deal with at a lot of smaller clubs if you want to be close, but apparently, not here. Bravo, Social.

I really like this place! Great location in the heart of downtown and they have awesome live music! I came here for Halloween no cover, no BS on the hype of a holiday. The bar was well staffed we got our drinks quickly and were able to hang around the bar seating and watch/listen to the live music. Really cool & artsy feel to the place. Good amount of room to walk around and hangout & dance if necessary. Decent price drinks & access to a few other local spots nearby!

The Social is one of my least favorite venues to see a show in Orlando, yet for some reason it's where a lot of bands I like seem to play. The venue is very "narrow"- about 4 bowling lanes wide at most, and about the same length. However the stage is on the left side as you walk in, with a bar on the opposite wall, so it makes for very little room in from of the actual stage. You generally wind of crammed at one of the ends of the stage, which makes the already mediocre sound system sound just muffled, and getting a drink from the bar a hassle. They also allow smoking inside, which is a major turnoff for some. If you're seeing a smaller/local act, with less people in attendance, the venue isn't too bad. But I much prefer other venues, my favorite in Orlando being The Plaza Theater.

I had a change of plans and had to see one of my favorite bands in Orlando instead of closer to me in Tampa. In the middle of the week we hit up the Social for the show. I had never gone before because I don't spend much time in the area, but I had no idea about the parking situation (it's lame with tons of pay parking). We arrived early and waited in line to get in. The space was pretty nice - two levels so you're not stuck all the way in the back and unable to see past a hundred people. The ventilation/air conditioning was good because I never found myself too warm. The sound was solid; at one point a patron shouted at the band to up the vocals. The band checked with the sound guy, and relayed the message from the sound guy for the patron to fuck himself. I'm sure the singer added the part at the end in, but I honestly wouldn't complain about the balance too much. The bathroom was immaculate when we came in, and my friend reported they were still clean halfway through (and at the end) because there was a bathroom attendant. She also took advantage of their drink special for the hour before a show. I was bummed that there weren't any barstools we could commandeer. Not because they were occupied, but because they legit didn't have any. I was also bummed about their no re-entry policy when the manthing went outside to take a phone call and was denied re-entry after he finished. He initially came in after my friend and I, and at the end of the night he told us he couldn't get back in and no one told him about the policy when he bought his ticket at the door. That's kind of crappy. One would think there would be a little leeway if someone is just on the other side of the door trying to hear their phone.

Always lit on sundaze reggaeton and hip hop $15 entry and you drink free all night wells and beer corona and Heineken.

My friend and I took our daughters to a show at The Social last night. The girls were excited and overwhelmed to be able to be so close to one of their favorite artists. My daughter got over heated, so I brought her towards the back of the room to get some air. She had to sit on the ground until one of the kind security guys went and got her a stool. As a mom, I was very grateful because I know it would have killed her to have had to leave. The bartenders were really helpful when we asked for food recommendations for after the show. The happy hour was awesome too.

Watching Lost in the Trees tonight! I usually love this venue, but recently it feels like the music hasn't been coming out as clear as it used to. Maybe it's aging equipment but something needs to be done to drown out the clubs next door and let people enjoy what they paid for. Old man nagging aside, this place is the best venue in Orlando for small shows. They do a great job pulling in a variety of up and coming acts, along with the typical cult followings that don't quite fill the House of Blues or Hard Rock Live.

I saw Parquet Courts play here near the beginning of February. It's a pretty good place to see a show. The sound was really top notch. It's a pretty intimate medium sized venue. Somebody on here wrote it's got a capacity of 500. Parquet Courts must have been close to sold out and I wouldn't have guessed that many people fit in here. There's a large recessed area right in front of the stage where most of the crowd will be, but I got there late, only catching the end of the opening act, so I hung back on the periphery. The stage runs along one wall and right past it was a fairly large area with a band merch table and not much else. It's not the best angle to see or hear the band, but I had had a long day and was tuckered out so near the end of the show that's where I retreated to pop a squat in a chair and get some elbow room. (Parquet Courts played a nice, long set.) I bought a compact disc while I was back there, too. I know they're more or less obsolete but I still like to bump them in my ride. So if you get too drunk or just tired or claustrophobic that's where I recommend retreating to. I wasn't in town long, but this seems to be a venue that hosts hip bands so if that's what you're looking for check out The Social.

A really great place to see bands. It's a small and intimate venue so you can get real close to the action and the sound is usually amazing. They sometimes have a happy hour just before the bands go on which is nice. Otherwise their drinks seam a little bit pricey.

We drove from Jacksonville to Orlando to see the Big 10-4 at The Social. I really enjoyed this venue. It is a fairly intimate size, with a small pit area in front of the stage. We decided to pick a spot against the railing outside the pit. Since I am short, this guaranteed that no one would be able to stand in front of me and block my view. The place got pretty packed but there was still a little breathing room with access to the bathrooms and bar. I would make the drive to see another show at The Social!

I adore this venue for live concerts. Why? #1 Serves Woodchuck Cider #2 Intimate setting to see your favorite artists #3 They have a photo booth! #4 In the middle of Downtown Orlando Why Not? #1 Sometimes, for a sellout crowd, it can be uncomfortable I have seen numerous artists at this location and every time I have been so pleased. It's an intimate setting so no matter where you stand you feel like you are in the garage of the artist - and the venue is so small you most likely have a chance to meet the artists. Since it is in the middle of downtown you can go to a lot of places to pre-party or continue the party after the show. Everything is in walking distance - restaurants, bars, other clubs. I suggest that if you have not experienced this venue yet, go to some random show and check it out, you are going to have a great time! Also, if you want your favorite artist to come to Orlando, let them know about this venue!!!

I have a love/hate relationship with The Social. I love it because it gives you the opportunity to get very close to the bands. One time a hot lead singer shook his head and little beads of sweat splattered and landed on me. Swoon. I like the feel of the place. It resembles a barn with a disco ball. It has a pleasant, almost sulphuric smell to it that must come from hundreds of sweaty, nicotine-deprived bodies being smashed into a tiny room. I hate their meathead, "Hulk Smash" bouncers, their overpriced drinks, their snotty bartenders and the fact that it's non-smoking, forcing me to step outside to a tiny roped off area and listen to inane hipster chatter. I've heard the non-smoking thing is for the sake of the bands, but we all know 90% of them are hot-boxing in the tour van before taking the stage. I used to adore The Social, mainly because House of Blues is laid out so badly and Hard Rock Live is a pain the ass to get to, but their growing pretentiousness is starting to turn me off.

Have you ever seen a punk rock show and noticed one of the patrons has brought along his pet rat or Have you ever seen a girl accidentally light the guest book on fire? Have you ever decided to chill up at the bar and watch gazing down at the crowd below you. People watching as the night goes by. Have you ever seen so many people delighted about PBR drink specials? Have you ever seen a great local band get its start on a small stage, or witness a cd release party in an intimate setting? If so then chances are you've been to the social. The social has to be one of the better places to see an intimate show. Whether local or national acts. I've seen bands here from the locals, such as The Supervillians, Gargamel!, Junkie Rush, Soliloquist of sound and National acts such as The Queers, Sick of it All, Modest Mouse, and James McMurtry. The thing I love most about the social is the feeling you get when you are there, it's kind of divey, it's an intimate setting, it's friendly and amusing. I had a screwdriver here and the OJ in it sucked but I drank it anyway. I'd tend to drink the beer here more because I know what I'm getting and I know I won't get knocked into and spill half of it. Or there are always shots. You have options here just avoid the OJ. This place is getting a nod to the fact that it's been around, it's full of fun memories and it's intimate setting makes it a spot you have to check out.

The Social is THE place to see a show in Orlando. The location is prime, in downtown Orlando, right on Orange Ave and the venue itself attracts quality acts from all over. I remember seeing Anberlin and Saosin together there a couple of years ago. While both bands have achieved a greater status than they enjoyed during their stay at the Social, the band members themselves took after the venue's namesake and made it a point to stick around and talk and sign autographs, take pictures and chat after their shows. The acoustics in there are fantastic and although we are at a concert, the sound is often so loud that it gets to an uncomfortable level of noise. I bring a set of foam earplugs, just in case. My favorite thing about the venue is the atmosphere and being able to see great acts play in a great sounding room, while literally being able to reach out and touch them. The experience is much greater than a House of Blues or Hard Rock (blech...) concert. Without a doubt, my favorite venue in Orlando. Coming in a close second, is BackBooth about 2 blocks away.

The Social is the premier venue for live music in Orlando for my tastes. It's in the middle of downtown Orlando, the booking staff has impeccable taste, and they treat artists respectfully no matter what stage they are in their career. The most memorable time I had here was watching two nights of Modest Mouse taping their live album. The energy was amazing. I was working with a band from LA that was playing at The Social and they were knocked out by the fact that everyone was so friendly and excited to see live music. I believe the quote was "Wow! This is like a micro-LA without all the pretense. We had no idea." Another great story is that when I went to see Kasabian there, half of the audience was filled with British tourists who all took cabs from the tourist part of Orlando downtown to the show. They were excited for two reasons. One was that they were getting to see Kasabian at such a small venue which is unheard of where they are from. Second, they were blown away by the fact that Orlando actually had a city... like a real city. I've had many more revelatory experiences at The Social but these are the highlights. So there is really nothing else to say other than that if you love live music, the Social is a great place to see everything from local bands to national acts.

When I'm jonesing for a live music fix, The Social is the first place that comes to mind. Even though the venue is tiny compared to Hard Rock Live and House of Blues, there's still plenty for a mosh pit to form or, depending on the night, for people to dance their butt's off. The only issue I have is that I can't afford to go every night.

The Social is a great venue that always has a real variety of artists playing live shows - indie, reggae, rock, punk, electro pop, acoustic, etc. I've seen acts like Imogen Heap, K'Naan and most recently The Mighty Diamonds. I think the layout gives everyone a lot of room to enjoy themselves, there's a vaulted ceiling, a disco ball, a sunken in dance floor and a long bar in the back. Even at popular shows, I've never felt like I was getting stepped on (unless you're in the mosh pit and you dig that sort of thing). During and after shows there's typically a CD table where you can buy the current act's album. The bartenders are consistently friendly and quick and I love to people watch since there's always a great mix of concert goers. I do have two observations: 1. The Social is notorious for late main acts. Meaning, if the schedule says 8pm, you should expect the main act to actually preform between 10-12pm. Even on a Monday. It's frustrating, but hey, that's just their deal. 2. Occasionally, the acoustics at the Social could use a little fine tuning. I've been to two shows where the bass was cranked up to a brain aneurysm inducing level - and it's unfortunate, because certain performers are skilled lyricists and shouldn't be drowned out by anything else.