The Door

Anytime I’m gonna be in Dallas or have a few days off coming up where I can get away, I look up the calendar for The Door to see who’s going to be in town.
It’s a really cool all ages venue, and one of the largest I’ve ever been to. The sound is pretty good, if not a little loud at times, but overall it’s awesome.
It seems a lot of great bands get booked here or choose it for their stop through Texas, so the place must be doing something right.
There is a bar available if you feel like a drink or two while you watch the show. It’s a large one, seems well stocked, but I haven’t had any cocktails there or even inquired about what specialty drinks they offer. I’m mainly a beer sort of guy and each time I go I enjoy a few. They carry excellent local beers like Deep Ellum Brewery so definitely see what’s available if that’s what you’re into.
Overall, I’m impressed with this venue and I’ll definitely be coming back!

I know a lot of people complain about this place because it’s not the most beautifully designed venue, but I’ve always loved coming to this place. It’s a neat intimate experience, as no matter where you are, you’re not far from the stage, and the ticket prices are always fair. I’ve probably been to 8 or 10 shows here, and I’ve always had a great time and made tons of good memories. The bathrooms could use a little TLC, and it does tend to get extremely hot in the venue, but this place is great for teenagers like myself to come to cheap show, whether it be techno, rock, or pop-​punk. Love coming here and always will!

Worst experience ever. Bought early bird tickets to see a show that starts at 9, we arrived shortly after 11 just to find out they sold tickets way over capacity, there was a long line that wrapped around the building of people (most who’s already had tickets bought prior to the date, including VIP’s) who stood around waiting anyway, hoping to get in.
The bouncers at the door were originally trying to kick people out just so they can let a few more in, which is ridiculous, then a lady in charge comes and tells everybody we won’t be able to get in regardless if we have their tickets or not, but «everyone is invited to a pool party a month later for free!», it’s such a scam, first of all it’s not free if we had already bought tickets for the show we can’t get into, second I bought tickets to see a particular DJ, on the date that I had planned, not a month later for some random pool party, whole thing was a joke, we tried to ask for a refund and they said there’s nothing they can do except offer us to attend their month away «free» pool party.
While waiting in line, there were tons of people leaving the venue way before the show ended and telling us how unbearably hot it is inside that they simply could not stay. I’ve been going to shows and concerts regularly for at least 10 years and not once have I encountered anything like this, poorly organized and they clearly didn’t give a crap either.

The worst fucking place, air condition broken, and they sold 500 tickets above capacity. People that bought tickets couldnt come in.

You could have the best venue period. When you don’t let people communicate with you if they want to ask something. So just bottom line answer your phone…

The venue is fine but the service at the bar is awful.

Small venue = a great show right? Small venue that had Gungor playing. The downside to this venue, why does your operations crew take a full hour to move a line of people inside the venue and every person in the line already has their ticket printed? No security, two people scanning tickets in two different locations, no sign directing people to the 21 and under line and 21 and over line. Concert Management 101 lacked here and the GM needs to turn things around. People outside cannot buy food, buy drinks, buy merch/​swag, less time to tweet before the show…=less profit. I give this venue a thumbs down

This is such a small venue!!! I saw motionless in white there about a year ago and the intimacy of it was really fun. I was in the very front, like there was no baricade! At the bar after the show was over me and my friend went to get water but there was a $ 10 minimum for a card slide so we had to buy a lot of water. All in all, the size was both a plus and a minus. Be sure to bring cash for drinks if you don’t want to buy a ton!!!

As others have alluded to, this location was much better when called The Gypsy Tea Room.
The only time to go to The Door would be for a grimy punk or metal show so that you’re too distracted by the loud sounds and crowd to notice how depressing the venue can look. The bar is top notch and the bathroom looks like it’s from war torn Kosovo.
However, this venue should not stop you from seeing a show here. It’s great in a pinch and the city parking across the street is cheap, well lit, and safe.

My most recent visit to the Door was my second time at the venue. Both visits were to attend concerts hosted by Brown Sugar Suites which brings neo-​soul (R&B) artist to town. The vibe of the facility and events is underground, chill and enjoyable.
My first visit was in 2010 when Marsha Ambrosius was in town and my most recent visit was to see PJ Morton. Not so well known up and coming artist opened both shows and there was a DJ on hand to get the crowd hype. The crowd is diverse in age, gender and race.
The Door is standing room facility but there is limited open seating. There is a full bar. I sipped vodka and grapefruit juice for $ 4 each (really cheap compared to what most bars and concert venues charge). The two bartenders were effectively working the crowd so there were no long lines. The venue is small and intimate which makes it even better when impromptu moment happens like Anthony David (unexpectedly) joining Marsha on stage in 2010.
I’ve enjoyed the Door and would recommend it especially when Brown Sugar Suites is hosting.
Suggestions: There’s sufficient parking but be sure to bring cash. Wear comfortable shoes. Come prepared to have good time

Great venue that our church rented out for a worship night. Thank you! We loved it!

Went to a concert here Saturday night and the place looked like a run down warehouse. It was kind of stinky and the floors were sticky. Random chairs, tables, and sofas to the side and there was this dark part of the room that had extra seating but in the very back. I LOVED the show but it felt kind of sad because only half the floor space was taken up by fans. It didn’t really feel like a show, not because the performers were bad (they were AWESOME), but the place itself just didn’t have that upbeat vibe. The workers were friendly and they do have a small bar area but very very informal and super laid back… it just had a weird vibe… I definitely wouldn’t come back unless they were hosting someone I really wanted to watch.

Second trip to The Door wasn’t as fun.
There were five quality bands playing (Red, Thousand Foot Krutch, Manafest, Nine Lashes and Kiros), so a big crowd was to be expected, but this was ridiculous. In the middle of our hour-​and-​a-​half wait in line, I kept thinking to myself, «How in the WORLD are they going to fit all these people in there?»
Packed in like sardines, that’s how. They oversold the event big time, as we were toward the back and still crushed against people for five hours.
The bands rocked, though, so it took our minds off the pain/​soreness/​claustrophobia. But I doubt I’ll be going back to The Door for big name groups.

Congratulations are in order for The Door for the absolute worst sound in Dallas. This venue use to sound amazing back when it was Gypsy. Even the old The Door location sounded way better. I don’t mind all the high school kids too much, but I do mind the quality of the club.
Thanks for making good bands sound so craptastic! Good thing I had free tickets, or else I would have asked for my money back.

I think the Door deserves props for being around for so long especially in an area of town that has sort of withered and died. The Door was the best place to go when I was a teenager and in college when I worked down the street at the origional Insomnia; I loved the shows, they were affordable and you knew your favorite act would be coming around if you just waited.
I’m not a huge fan of the new location; parking has gotten a little easier but I just don’t go anymore unless it’s for a specfic reason. They changed sound guys and now unless the show is a metal show it just doesn’t sound right to me; I have an audio engineering degree so I know a bit about sound. I also realize that a lot of the problems they experience can be due to the bands or any number of other issues.
It’s an alright place to go, not the best area of town, but for what it is and how long it’s been going I give it the thumbs up.

When I was under 18, I liked The Door because they played all ages shows. I also liked it because when I was in a band it was the only place in Deep Ellum that would let a 15-​year-​old into a venue so he didn’t have to stand by the side door for 3 hours until it was time to play (TREES grumblegrumblegrumble).
As a twentysomething, I am slightly less enthralled with hanging out in a venue that doesn’t let you drink. To do this you have to go to the back bar, Prophet Bar, but first you must cross a dozen or so 16 year old emo kids chainsmoking in the small area between the 2 venues where the bathrooms are located.
The acts they book are fairly eclectic but really stick to the pop punk/​rock groups since they’re clearly targeting a younger generation. Still you can catch great acts for not a lot of scratch. Dance Gavin Dance and A Static Lullaby for $ 12? Deal.
The sound guy is hit or miss and I don’t know if they’ve got a couple guys trading off sets, but having the mics cut out or losing power to an amp or two isn’t an uncommon circumstance.
For the money, I don’t think you can find a better place for live music in the area, but again it depends on the music you’re looking for.
My strategy for success? Rock my face off, go to Prophet for a PBR and shot, repeat. Trust me, this is the way to get it done.

The sound check guy has no idea what he’s doing, at all. The house heads always go out and the mics are known to fuck up majorly.
It’s cheap, spacious, and the stage is pretty large. Parking is pretty easy to find but it isn’t in the best part of town.

well, here it is; another dawning of a new year. we are one dictator up and recently just down one. it’s usually around this time of year that it’s good to reflect on all the awesome reviews my family and friends have stuck up on this site and all of the emails and compliments that must be lost in the email.
also, it’s a good time to start thinking about turning over a new coaster and fucking getting on with it. precisely the reason i visited some nightclub called the door last night.
after that last fiasco down the street at the gypsy tea room, i was a little hesitant to roll up on deep ellum again, but one of the morose teens that day told me i ‘simply had to’ check out this place, and some real hot bands.
now, don’t get me wrong. i can get behind the kids. i like the metal music, specifically the norwegian death metal variety. nothing gets the old ticker going in the mornings like a dose of jolt cola and the song stylings of bands like darkthrone, enslaved or emperor. nothing. at all. not even dashboard confessional.
so i was pretty much looking forward to a night of all-​ages rock and metal created by the kids for our dark lord satan.
so you can imagine my surprise when i show up down there in corpse paint w/​a double flask of goats blood and a carton of smokes to show these kids how we do it in Oslo.
apparently this any and all teen spot is some sort of weird christian club. sure, the kids were possessed; but only by standing in line outside forever and making out in the shadows while getting chain wallets tangled.
once inside, these freaks had the audacity to tell me that this place is alcohol and smoke free. Jesus indeed! i didn’t even know if i was allowed to clap.
so before i go off anymore let me just say that if i wanted to go to a bar w/​no booze and no smoking i would go to duncanville. if i wanted someone to force some new years resolutions on me, i’d go to church. but i don’t want either of those things, so i ended up going down the street to reno’s chop shop and getting my ass kicked. apparently those biker metal types do not dig face paint like king diamond.
2 stars, one for every dollar a water costs in this vaccuum of all age souls.
prospero ano,
HK