The Pageant remains tops for worldwide concert-going
The Pageant
Say what you will about St. Louis’ concert scene and whether it’s a just a secondary market, but it never seems to effect the Pageant.
The Delmar Loop concert venue ranks at No. 4 on the Top 100 Worldwide Club Venues list, printed quarterly in Pollstar magazine (the Bible of the music touring industry).
Year to date, from Jan. 1, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2008, 117,075 tickets were sold to Pageant concerts.
The Pageant has consistently ranked as a top concert club most quarters since its opening.
Here’s the listing of the top ten. Get more information at www.pollstar.com
1. 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, 153,175
2. The Fillmore, San Francisco, 131,225
3. House Of Blues, Dallas, 129,295
4. The Pageant, St. Louis, 117,075
5. House of Blues, Chicago, 115,952
6. House Of Blues, Anaheim, 115,076
7. The Wiltern, Los Angeles, 110,605
8. Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, 109,399
9. Rams Head Live!, Baltimore, 101,438
10. Ancienne Belgique Brussels, Belgium, 99,121
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
I must give it up to the pagent, they have been doing pretty good bringing a wide variety of events to St. Louis.
My only problem with them (and a few other St. Louis venues) is smoking is allowed and they ignore the weed smoking too often for me.
Nice to see the Pageant at #4. Great spot to see live bands, I agree though, the smoking makes this place a bit hard to take at times, so thick you can cut it - maybe they just need better ventillation?
Some of the concerts are non-smoking. While it was bad at the Kenny Wayne Shepherd show, both times I saw Lindsey Buckingham, it was non-smoking. For my money, it really is one of the best places to see a show.
How about we just get rid of smoking in public venues like they have in Columbia, MO and IL? I was in Chicago this weekend where the bars and clubs don’t seem to be hurting from people not going because they can’t suck down cancer sticks. It also was nice to go home and not smell like smoke, after a night out on the town!
I love the Pageant! I usually won’t go to concerts because the venues are oo big and too impersonal. I’ve been to the Pageant twice. The ticket prices were reasonable and we were so close to the performance…even when we were in the furthest seats. It’s the only venue I watch to see who’s performing when.
The smoke factor is the biggest reason I don’t go to more shows at the Pageant (or other St. Louis venues). Maybe someday, St. Louis will ban smoking in public places altogether.
It doesn’t take a gov’t ban to get rid of smoking at The Pageant and other venues. Joe Edwards and other owners will respond to the demands of consumers. But better ventilation or designated smoking areas could be the happy medium.
Our Pageant is a gem, to be sure.
Non-smokers, consider this: I’ll give up my butts when you learn to refrain from your incessant chatter during quieter music passages. Let’s work together.
If you people would get out of the stadium seating where smoke rises and get on the floor with all the REAL fans.. well, you wouldnt have to deal with that
Sorry, Derek. The smoking is just as bad, maybe worse, on the floor (which is the only place I got when I see shows). Ventilation systems won’t get rid of it. There is no ‘happy medium’. And like spamalicious said, people need to shut the **** up during concerts. If you want to talk during the show - STAY HOME. St. Louis has been getting quite the reputation for bad crowds at concerts and this is one of the main reasons.