Majestic Makeover: Revamping a Madison Classic

After fresh coats of lush red and gold, new floors and several space changes, the Majestic has a classic feel, not what Gerding liked to call a “funky dance club vibe.” Structural changes made by the owners aid in the concert-going experience. Tucked next to the entrance sits the merchandise booth where bands can sell their CDs, T-shirts and other promotional gear. Ahead of the booth lie the stage, dance floor and theater seating. The floor-level row of seating was knocked out along with a DJ booth to create a bigger dance floor area in front of the stage. What’s the best seat in the house? Walk straight to the bar. The owners shortened it for standing room against the railing above the dance floor.

The balcony provides extra seating and areas to mingle. What once was the artist dressing room tucked behind the balcony seating area was morphed into an extra bar with tables set along windows overlooking the historic King Street district and the Majestic marquee.

Matthew Wisniewski/Curb
The Majestic marquee illuminates King Street once again.

“It’s a cool room at night, especially with the red lights,” said Gerding while pointing out the big Majestic letters atop the marquee. The owners designed this room for patrons who may need a break from the music or don’t want to see the opening band, but they plan to use it for a VIP area occasionally.

The artist dressing rooms moved above the stage, a better placement for famous artists who no longer have to walk through the crowd to reach the stage. The two dressing rooms, one each for the opening and headlining bands, have all the comforts of home to cater to the artist: fridges stocked with refreshments, cozy couches and TVs.

Fancy dressing rooms come in handy when hosting the likes of pop star Mandy Moore and indie-sensation Ben Lee on opening night. Gerding didn’t expect to be sold out on the first night, but definitely wanted to be in a “comfortable” place. After a day and a half of set-up and a late liquor license, the Majestic opened to a crowd that left Gerding beaming with satisfaction.

“It looked great in here and sounded great, too,” he said with a laugh.

According to John Paul Roney, lead singer of Madison-based band We The Living, Madison hasn’t seen a similar big-name lineup since Luther’s Blues shut down in 2005. When the club closed its doors, he said, it left a hole in the Madison music scene not just for famous artists, but also for small acts who couldn't book a big show. The introduction of a new venue can bring big names back to Madison while also providing a location for local artists to build up a following. The Majestic seems to be doing just that, already having booked Elliot Yamin, Mat Kearney and We The Living early on.

However, big names won’t translate to big crowds and long lines. The Majestic comfortably holds 300, with a maximum crowd of 600, and the renovations made a special concert experience possible for every attendant.

“It’s an intimate experience seeing a concert at the Majestic,” Gerding said.

But how does the Majestic provide this intimacy for fans? Roney thinks an intimate concert lies in the size of the theater.