Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Many of us have been visiting Icmeler for many years we have seen the belly dancing, the folk dancing, break dancing, the Michael Jackson and Tina Turner shows etc which I admit have started to get a bit repetitive, yes they have their place especially the traditional Turkish entertainment but to be honest we now go to a quiet bar after our meal or back to the apartments rather than stay for the entertainment.

If you had a choice what entertainment would you like to see introduced:-

I would like to see more live group music, maybe rhythm and blues that you can have a dance to, what do others think?

In 2008 Marmaris Amphitheatre had entertainment which I missed as I didn't see it advertised, it would be nice if they did some more of this type of thing.



Dave

I too would like some live music in the evening. Traditional Turkish Dancing that we could all participate in, but definitely something Turkish themed.

I don't really think is fair to expect the sort of entertainment you get in pubs here- bands etc. I still quite like the entertainment in Icmeler the Michael Jacksons if they are good etc but the Tina Turner waiters in wigs and balloons up their shirts are a bit naff after you have seen them every year. I agree that more Turkish entertainment would be great.
I don't know how practical etc this would be but I would love to see Whirling Dervishes. have only seen them twice in Turkey but could not tire of watching that.

The concerts at the Amphitheatre are fantastic.But its difficult to find out when they are on. We went to the Bobby Kent show this year it was fantastic.

Maybe ICR could include show dates in their news letter or even add them on as an evening excursion with pick up and drop off if enough people are intrested.Something diffrent and new


Steve

I'm with you Dave. We also head for the quieter places once we have eaten.

Live music would be great.

Patsiej

I suppose it also comes down to what the bars can afford to pay for entertainment as well.

adewolves wrote:I suppose it also comes down to what the bars can afford to pay for entertainment as well.

Thats a very good point.

Dave

adewolves wrote:I suppose it also comes down to what the bars can afford to pay for entertainment as well.

Exactly, in other Med resorts (Benidorm for example) that have live bands & shows etc. the bars with entertainment of any quality reflect the entertainment you get in the bar prices and some are quite highly priced for drinks because you get entertained.

Maybe Icmeler could do with a 'rock' bar that has decent tribute acts & live bands but as Ade says they would have to pay for it so would everybody be prepared to pay a canny bit more for there Efes.

To us who were Icmeler first timers in July the charm of the place was it was different to places that offer live bands tribute acts etc. and the entertainment you got while have meals & drinks in places like Romanace Palace etc. is top notch for effectively being 'free'.

So to pay or not to pay that is the question !

Bit of live music - great end to the evening for us

Guy with keyboard / Guitar and vocals ( Scandanavian I thinK)

Believe was at bamboo a couple of years ago.
Was at Portofino in 2010 and Mersoy this year

Enjoyed him and always encouraged us to have another Efes or three

Pete.

Blyth Spirit wrote:

adewolves wrote:I suppose it also comes down to what the bars can afford to pay for entertainment as well.

Exactly, in other Med resorts (Benidorm for example) that have live bands & shows etc. the bars with entertainment of any quality reflect the entertainment you get in the bar prices and some are quite highly priced for drinks because you get entertained.

Maybe Icmeler could do with a 'rock' bar that has decent tribute acts & live bands but as Ade says they would have to pay for it so would everybody be prepared to pay a canny bit more for there Efes.

To us who were Icmeler first timers in July the charm of the place was it was different to places that offer live bands tribute acts etc. and the entertainment you got while have meals & drinks in places like Romanace Palace etc. is top notch for effectively being 'free'.

So to pay or not to pay that is the question !

The reason I and my friends and family love Icmeler is because it is NOT like Benidorm and places like that. I don't want the entertainment exactly as I have at home or like Benidorm or Ibiza etc. In my honest opinion some of the bars with or without entertainment in Icmeler are part of Icmeler. Why try to change it? There is choice as it is now-Turkish nights, Drag shows, Quiet bars etc. With all due respect if you want live bands then surely its time you looked for other holiday destinations?

It doesn't have to be like Benidorm, god forbid if it ever did...BUT. It has to change sooner or later because the entertainment is so repetitive now, some is utter garbage to be honest. I'm not talking loud music or filthy comics just something a little different, local stuff for instance. To me it seems they try to give the Brits what they think we want, the thing is we don't want that, we want to embrace their culture...well I do anyway.

I hadn't heard of the Whirling Dervishes before. On doing a search I found http://www.whirlingdervishes.org/whirlingdervishes.htm
which is very enlightening and I would love to see these in Içmeler. Without reading this website I wouldn't have realised that you do not applaud the act whilst watching and only do so after the dervishes have left the stage, as it is a spiritual act.

Thanks for that Dragon.
I first saw a couple of Whirling Dervishes perform at the Galeria hotel a few years ago (now the Olyum Prestige) and I could not believe how beautiful and hypnotic it looked. I have since seen them at the KarvanSaray (spelling?) Turkish night at Marmaris but they did not perform for long. Try it yourself- I guarantee after a few twirls you will fall over like you have really overdone it on the Efes so is really not as easy as they make it look- they are amazing doing it. For those who dont know what they are like take a look;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Cf-ZxDfZA

first time last year we saw the dances its lovely to watch. have to agree on the entertainment we like it a bit more lively but no more michel jackson or tina turner but for first timers to icmeler its ok. i still love the stella show but we get the bus into mamaris i like the marina at night go to a roof top bar just sit and watch people

Chocoholic wrote:Thanks for that Dragon.
I first saw a couple of Whirling Dervishes perform at the Galeria hotel a few years ago (now the Olyum Prestige) and I could not believe how beautiful and hypnotic it looked. I have since seen them at the KarvanSaray (spelling?) Turkish night at Marmaris but they did not perform for long. Try it yourself- I guarantee after a few twirls you will fall over like you have really overdone it on the Efes so is really not as easy as they make it look- they are amazing doing it. For those who dont know what they are like take a look;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Cf-ZxDfZA

Thanks for the link..............sheesh, I felt dizzy just watching them.

Hi Mary , Feeling Dizzy at this time of day a bit early for the vodka even for you .
Denis.

With all due respect if you want live bands then surely its time you looked for other holiday destinations?

Travel somewhere else on holiday , sorry that not going to happen while I still love Icmeler but it's good that we all have different opinions and thats what makes this forum.

I do like the suggestion to see the Whirling Dervishes as I have never seen them before.

Traditional Turkish Dancing that we could all participate in,

Another good idea especially if they teach you the steps etc,.

Guy with keyboard / Guitar and vocals ( Scandanavian I thinK)

Sounds good.

Although no longer a requirement for us when we first started visiting in 2002 some type of entertainment for the kids would have been good a bit earlier in the evening.

A possible suggestion for next year is we start a thread so people can report back which entertainment is at which bar/restaurant that will enable people to make an informed decision.



Dave

dksbbs wrote:A possible suggestion for next year is we start a thread so people can report back which entertainment is at which bar/restaurant that will enable people to make an informed decision.

Definitely a good idea. Up until this year I'd managed to avoid the robot. Don't know why but I'm absolutely terrified of it. I was sitting happily in the Paris restaurant when my daughter told me to look down and to keep my head down until she told me I could look up. She then told me that the robot was on its way in. Absolute panic! As soon as he took his headgear off she told me I could look up and I was fine even when he walked (normally) past me. My fear doesn't make sense but I for one would be glad to know which restaurants to avoid on certain nights.

I think as many have said its down to personal preferences.
We saw the Michael Jackson guy and he was ok, but not to see over and over.
The guys that worked in coco beach restaurant I think, the dancing waiters, they were quite something, natural talent and rhythm and we went back several times to watch them.
We saw the dancing robot several times and also never tired of seeing him, the coreography and good dancy tunes made that really good.
Worst one was the male belly dancer.
When he came on in coco beach it was like the place had been raided, so many people left its untrue!
He was going up to guys, me included and rubbing his sweaty belly in your face.
I was in high spirits, twas our second night, so laughed along and thought it was funny, but many other guys didn't enjoy the attention.
We personally would love to see maybe a man/woman with just an accoustic guitar, playing away and singing, be it Turkish or English songs.
Also why not encourage local people with talent to sing in the bars/restaurants in the knowledge that they only get paid in tips from the tables/customers??
We have that often in one of my locals and some of them are amazing and get good tips too!
I would happily pay for what you get, and thus it would save the owners paying out for acts!!

Chris & Anita