The Crofoot Ballroom

Safe parking. Clean. Great set up. Nice restrooms. Awesome atmosphere. One bartender upstairs made a good Long Island and the downstairs bartender made a Long Island that I swear was almost all alcohol– no complaints lol

Made a road trip up to the Crofoot for a show, and it was a really nice venue. It was a great size for an intimate show, where you have a good view from anywhere in the crowd. (Well, unless you’re as short as I am…) For a sold-​out show, it was packed in there, and even arriving 15 minutes after doors opened meant being stuck in the far back of the venue. Because it’s so cozy, it can fill up fast.
The staff was surprisingly nice, and there were great drink options from $ 2 beers to $ 7 crafts. The outside patio area off of the main stage was nice, too.

They kick you out as soon as the event is over.
But have no problem charging for overpriced drinks.
$ 5.00 for domestics.

I’m surprised I haven’t been here for a concert before as much as I go to them. The place was great! It was clean, the bathrooms were nice-​never a line, we were close up to the stage and getting a drink only took minutes. It reminded me of a scaled-​down version of St. Andrews. I can’t wait to come back here again :)

I don’t go to Pontiac very often, but I wouldn’t mind coming back to go to Crofoot.
It’s a cool, smaller venue that provides a more intimate experience with a band. My GF and I went here to watch the band Cherub perform for the third time — I guess one could say we like them a lot.
The first thing you notice is the clusterf*ck that is the parking situation. If you think going to park is a chore, wait until you leave. It’s a mad house. But that’s in the lot, so maybe you can find street parking somehow. Good luck.
The venue itself has two floors and is easily accessible by a staircase. Coat check was $ 4 (just leave your coat in the car because it’s a HUGE mess trying to get your coat at the end of the show) and they have multiple bars inside — 2 or 3 on the main floor and 1 upstairs. There is also an outdoor «hang out» area where people can drink and smoke, and you can actually walk upstairs outside. Pretty cool.
The place itself present an interesting vibe. It’s almost like someone took St. Andrew’s and condensed it into a smaller place. The stage isn’t too big but does the job, and you can stand shoulder to shoulder with others in the pit by the stage or just watch the show from afar on the 2^nd level. It’s a great view, especially if you’re taller.
Drink prices are… typical drink prices at concerts these days. It’s actually cheaper here than DTE or JLA or other bigger venues, which is nice to see. They also boast a myriad of beers that will appease micro and macro brew fans, and there is liquor being sold.
The drawback for me was the staff — particularly the bartenders. They had one guy working the bar upstairs and he was running around like a madman on ecstasy and getting fed up and yelling at everyone. He yells, «WHAT DO YA WANT» and I start listing the items (4 beers) and he just says, «Not quick enough» and goes to the next person. Really, douche? I’m a paying customer, don’t be a dick because your employer set you by yourself during a Saturday night show.
OK, I released those bad vibes. I’m happy again. Check this place out, at least once. Experience it for yourself.

There’s good and bad things to say about this place. I’ve been going to shows for years at more venues then I can count. I’ve also worked at multiple different venues in Chicago.
The good — –
The ambiance and décor is rather nice for a venue. The sound was wonderful and the lighting is great. There’s a balcony that actually has seats and tables. Too many venues make balconies standing room only. Parking was excellent and cheap also.
The absolutely HORRIBLE — -
THE STAFF. The staff here needs to be shown the door immediately if the owner wants to have a good image. There was zero line. ZERO people in line when I went to the ticket window to pick up my will call. You have to go in to a different UNMARKED door to get your will-​call tix.
When I got to the window, the crazy-​eyed lady was sitting there and talking to a bouncer. She refused to wait on me for about 5 minutes. I waited and waited and waited while I heard the band start playing that I paid for. Finally she ends her conversation with the bouncer and reluctantly asks what I want. Guess what lady? I want to go in and see the band I payed for. I’m dressed nice. I have lots of money to spill. Get over yourself.
??? Owners. Please tell me you’ll address rude service!
Why pay a worker to provide tix if they HATE customer service?
Next: The bouncers! Oh man. They play the typical role of «I’m super cool because I work somewhere that you want to go. «Then they play, «I’m super tough and mean and talk to you like trash because since I’m a bouncer, I must be tough!»
There is no reason for security to be any thing else other than polite at all times. This is professionalism. OWNERS: I would suggest getting rid of the high school drop out tough guys who think they can treat people like dirt and hire some decent hardworking folks. It’s an employers market out there right now and you have a lot of people to choose from.
I worked in bars for 15 years before getting my degree. As a manager I’ve seen the tough guy bouncers come and go. The thing is that when you open your doors with a scowl and an attitude, you set the night up with negativity. Keep bouncers nice and cordial and people normally follow suit, even during bar fights. The drunk aholes tend top leave nicer when the bouncers were cool to them earlier on.
I arrive and the bouncers bark out orders to my group and talk to themselves without making eye contact with you and then bark more orders at you. «HEY! If you plan on drinking then get over here and get a wrist band!»
Then there is the coat check with the girl falling asleep. No thanks.
Then the bartenders who think you owe them something rather than them waiting on you.
This place is doomed to fail in time without new staff.
OWNER: Business etiquette is easy. It improves business. It makes you MORE money.

I am not really a live music scene kind of a person. However, I visited The Pike Room when South Korean indie band Love X Stereo performed in March 2014. I love the small size of the venue. It’s a cool little place. The only thing that makes me give The Pike Room only 3 stars was the sound on the night of my visit. I had seen Love X Stereo play at another venue where they had sounded much better. There were times that I couldn’t hear lead singer Annie Ko’s voice very well when I knew her voice should have been dominant, for example. Nevertheless, it was a great show, and I had a great time!

I’ve been to the Crofoot for small bands, and it was fine. But NEVER WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A BIGGER BAND! After paying $ 40 a ticket, the venue was clearly oversold and at least 50 of us stood in the hallway the entire show! You can’t hear anything in the hallway. And of course, there was the constant stream of staff and public you have to move for. HOW WAS THIS NOT A FIRE HAZARD?!
And to get served at the bar or coat check or anything, the person had to finish playing with their phone before they acknowledged you! I’ve been in a band and worked for several bands. Never have I had such a TERRIBLE concert experience! I hadn’t seen my favorite band in years because of cost. I finally splurged on a ticket to stand in a hallway.
The band, as always, was great. But I will NEVER go back to the Crofoot for another show.

I really like the Crofoot Ballroom’s layout, but I have a single complaint… one of the security guards here is really a jerk. I was at a private event here, and this specific security guard was really rude to patrons unless he was aware that the sponsor of the event was in the room. I mean, is this customer service?

As a member of a local band who has played several shows at both the Crofoot & the Pike Room upstairs, I gotta say my feelings are mixed on this place. It is a cool venue, very clean and they also have great bathrooms compared to most other venues, which could be important to some people. It’s a fun venue to play at, especially if you can get people to come to Pontiac. The sound is normally really good too. There really isn’t anyplace nearby to grab food, which stinks when you’re there from 3 or 4 in the afternoon til 11:00 at night.
The biggest take away for me as a local band member, though, is the way we are treated by the staff. We are always prompt, friendly, compliant and hard working when playing a show there. Despite that, my band mates and I have really never felt welcome by the majority of the staff and I’m always wondering — do they hate their jobs? Or is it us? We just wanna see these guys smile and actually enjoy the night — maybe even make us feel like we’re not burdening them just by being there. It really makes for a less than enjoyable experience.

This is a great venue to watch a band, I just wish it were located somewhere else besides Pontiac. That, or some decent bars and restaurants would open up adjacent to the Crofoot. We didn’t have many options to eat and grab some drinks before a show so we actually went to Ferndale first then drove up Woodward for the concert. Anyway, back to the Crofoot. The venue is beautiful and has great acoustics. I look forward to watching another show here again.

Hard to review a venue when you’ve got extra stars in your eyes over the band you saw there…
Loved going to the Crofoot for a show. It’s a great space. Very intimate, without feeling claustrophobic. They bring in some amazing musicians. AMAZING. Again, I am distracted by the memory of Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields. It was a stellar show. I’m left with nothing but happy eyes for everything the Crofoot team touches.
Check them out online, their website is excellent.
And if you’re in the neighborhood, look for the big blue sign on a quirky corner of downtown Pontiac. It’s worth a visit.

Saw Mae play here for their reunion tour in 2010, which was a great show. The venue is all right — small enough that we could stand quite close to the stage. Pretty intimate setting actually.
The drinks were fine.

The theater area is beautiful as well as the adjoining rooms. The staff is also nice. Especially the 7 foot tall giant man! He’s funny!
I don’t recommend hanging out in this ‘hood alone.

Love this venue! One of the great businesses in Pontiac. I’ve had a lot of friends who have played here and have seen some great bands as well.
Usually modestly priced for tickets and drinks but depends on whose playing. Definitely come here multiple times a year.

The seats were uncomfortable and they didn’t pay the band. My friend played a show there and after they were done, the venue informed her that the door wasn’t enough to cover a previously undisclosed base fee. The only people there were the ones who came for the show, and she had to pay her band out of pocket.
Terrible.

I agree with Jackie B. from Waterford. It’s nice to have a music venue like the Crofoot (and Clutch Cargos) in closer proximity to my homebase (less than 30 minutes away, yay!). The gas ($$$) and extra travel time to head into Detroit proper to see an artist or band definitely makes me think twice. I happen to be one of the hopeful ones who thinks that when Detroit finally bounces back in 5 – 10 years quite possibly, Pontiac will finally be able to experience some of the positive overflow from the city itself and the surrounding suburbs. I am an optimist.
I had the pleasure of paying a visit to the Crofoot for the very first time at a recent Unilocal Elite event (more commentary at:
). I think it’s helpful that, for the most part, on the Events section of the Crofoot website (
), the establishment posts a sample music clip or link to the artists’ website. This allows you to see if the music strikes your fancy if you’ve never heard a particular artist before. I, for one, am always looking to expose myself to new talent. I think having easy access to be able to listen to music samples and get band info in that way makes it possible to create new fans for the band and customers for the venue. Hats off to the Crofoot!

We visited on Saturday to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
Was a fantastic show, but Sharon please don’t get as many people on stage next time.
I wanted to see you and the band, not the locals all trying to dance and smooch up on you.
To the drummer, cool acknowledgment/​head nod.
The warm up act were brilliant too.
Big thumbs up for venue, location (20 minutes from Troy), plenty of bar space, split level.
Three not so goods:
1) No music in the bar before hand,
2) Why do we have to leave the bar to queue up outside when we already have our wrist bands.
3) Why can we not exit through the bar doors when we leave.
Overall, no real call for complaint, some things just need a little polishing.
A definite regular place for myself and girlfriend.
Well done Crofoot, keep it up.
Edited for spelling corrections.

The Crofoot has become one of the best venues within spitting distance of Detroit in terms of good bands at reasonable prices. I have heartfelt appreciation for whoever does the booking.
The bars in the Crofoot, which are well spaced and offer great service, have a good selection of beers, and the bathrooms are so much nicer than most venues.
My gripes are minor, and have to do with the limitations of the space in the ballroom. There are relatively few good spots to see the stage, so a moderate crowd means a less-​than-​ideal view. The ballroom has that great balcony, but show – goers tend to crowd the edge of the upper level and only a few people upstairs can get a good view of the stage. Giant speakers also block some of the balcony space.
That said, the Pike Room offers an upstairs show space at the same location and under the same management. It’s much cozier, has the same good bar service, and is so small that you can see the stage from every point in the room. I cherish the impossible wish that all of my favorite national acts will get just popular enough to come to Pontiac, but stay small enough that they merit the Pike Room instead of the Crofoot.

I wish i could review the reviews here and give 1 star to all the snobs dissing Pontiac. The location of the Crofoot is ideal for me. Detroit venues area far trek since I hail from northern Oakland County. I am happy we have this gem of a venue up our way. The town itself has seen better times, but so has most of Michigan– we are a rust belt state with the highest unemployment rate in the country after all… I find this location prime at least for suburban concert goers. Downtown Pontiac is near to all the main arteries in Oakland County. Woodward, Telegraph, M-​59, I-​75, Dixie Hwy– all are not far from the crofoot.
The ballroom itself is not too small yet gives an intimate feeling. The building has been beautifully restored. I remember some concert-​goers next to me hailing from Vancouver said they would love to actually move into the Crofoot Ballroom it was that visually pleasing and stylish to them. There are tables and chairs to sit at and last time i was there, a couch. The sound is great. Since it’s not a ticketmaster/​livenation venue the tickets are actually affordable. The acts are way deverse.
I wish all my favorite bands weren’t bound by their livenation contracts because i would love to experience them playing at the crofoot ballroom. My favorite venue in the whole metro area.