I can see a lot of stuff in Chicago (obviously a more expensive city) for less than that. I can see blues here seven nights a week for five bucks.

Have you not paid to go to a concert in 30 years? I'm sure if Mule was playing a theatre in Chicago (they aren't), that theatre would charge the same old fees every other theatre charges. I'd pay to be in Milwaukee over Chicago, so you still come out ahead. You should go see Mule.

[Edited on 4/13/2017 by porkchopbob]

I can see a lot of stuff in Chicago (obviously a more expensive city) for less than that. I can see blues here seven nights a week for five bucks.

Have you not paid to go to a concert in 30 years? I'm sure if Mule was playing a theatre in Chicago (they aren't), that theatre would charge the same old fees every other theatre charges. I'd pay to be in Milwaukee over Chicago, so you still come out ahead. You should go see Mule.

[Edited on 4/13/2017 by porkchopbob]

It was just an observation, a commentary I guess.

My point is simply that it seems excessive.

Kind of like I started the thread with.

And I have never heard of a Historic Preservation fee.

It was just an observation, a commentary I guess.

My point is simply that it seems excessive.

Kind of like I started the thread with.

And I have never heard of a Historic Preservation fee.

Eh, I guess I've accepted that a venue or ticket agency is going to tack on a good chunk onto a ticket price.

Considering The Fillmore East is gone and the lobby is a bank, I'll happily pay $4 to preserve our old, historic theatres. Pabst is a nice one (right around the corner from the Safe House!), I'm glad to see that bands are stopping there again. I hope you enjoy, Milwaukee is an underrated city.

Yeah, I agree. It looks like a cool place. You should come up there. It's a Friday and I can always use a beer on you. 😉

Yeah, I agree. It looks like a cool place. You should come up there. It's a Friday and I can always use a beer on you. 😉

That would be rad. Bet I can get a cheap flight on United... 😉

If you need any recommendations, let me know!

Lee, it sounds like you haven't been to a concert since Dickey was in the band....with Dan Toler 😉

Lee, it sounds like you haven't been to a concert since Dickey was in the band....with Dan Toler 😉

I saw the Dickey band with Dan a couple of times. God Rest His Soul, Dan was a wonderful man. I have a letter he wrote to me and he didn't even know me.

Just out of the kindness of his heart.

Historic Preservation fee

Is that for the building or the age of the old farts going to the show?

I like the Ticket Fee. Imagine paying to go to a movie and having to pay an extra fee for going to the movie, 😛

Drum Fee? If you don't pay then we will use a drum machine.
Light Fee? Otherwise you have to watch in the dark.
Sound Fee? Hey you can look but not hear a damn thing.

Light Fee? Otherwise you have to watch in the dark.

How some of these guys have aged you may not want to see them

Light Fee? Otherwise you have to watch in the dark.

How some of these guys have aged you may not want to see them

Then they charge you double to turn the lights back off. 😛

Light Fee? Otherwise you have to watch in the dark.

How some of these guys have aged you may not want to see them

Then they charge you double to turn the lights back off. 😛

If there's a will there's a way

I get where you are coming from Lee and feel your pain. The extra fees are bogus. I have been priced out ages ago.

BUT Govt Mule is the best bang for your buck hands down, They have always been very reasonable and put on a great show.

Compared to TTB if you wanted a reserved seat it would cost you with fees 108.00 for a show here in Indy..ouch!!

Looked up a Mule show in St Louis coming up soon, with fees, general admiussion ,in front of the stage, 44.00. Sold!!! 😛 😉 😛 😉 😛 😉

Gov't Mule 6-11-1996 Lawrence, KS -Just Got Paid--Who Do You Love--Just Got Paid

I bitched about this awhile back when purchasing Brit Floyd tickets or "how two $35 tickets turn into $103" :

$35.50 per ticket, extremely reasonable, but -

Standard Adult Ticket

Ticket Price US $35.50 x 2
Facility Charge US $3.00 x 2
Service Fee US $9.60 x 2
SUBTOTAL US $96.20

Tickets/Items US $96.20

Order Processing Fee US $4.10 <-- not to be confused with Service Fee

Delivery via: Standard Mail: Allow 10 to 14 days for delivery US $3.50 <-- stamps are still under .50, right ?

TOTAL CHARGES US $103.80

Pre-order the new Mule cd and they want over $6 to mail it.

Some of my recent online ticket purchases, the Metallica stadium tickets makes ABB Beacon tickets look like a bargain!

Mule - Red Rocks (ticketmaster)
ticket $39.95
convenience fee $14.10
standard mail fee $3.50
---------------------------
$57.55

I still like having the hard ticket mailed to me. This used to be a free option, but now as they push people towards print at home or electronic tickets they often charge for mail.

Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett - Kent Stage (ticketfly)
ticket $25 x 2
restoration fee $4
service fee $6
standard mail $3.50
--------------------------------------
$63.50

Metallica - Mile High Stadium (ticketmaster)
ticket $155 x 2
service fee $25.25 x 2
facility charge $4.00 x 2
order processing fee $4.05 x 1
standard mail FREE!
----------------------------------------
$373.55

Revivalists - Vilar Performing Arts Center (purchased through venue website)
ticket $42 x 2
internet service fee $4
order transaction fee $1
resort fee $4
will call/ std mail $2.50
----------------------------------------
$95.50

Sometimes tickets purchased at the Venue have lower fees; but when they are sold on site they are almost never released the first day of the sale. Irks the hell out of me

I often buy tickets from the box office. Definitely for MLB games. Often for concerts that I know won't sell out. For example, Trombone Shorty is coming to Richmond. There are pit seats available on line, but they are either the last seat to the far right or to the far left. Day of show I'm certain to get a great seat due to drops.

Of all the ticket fees mentioned, the only fee I don't mind is the historic preservation fee. Those fees saved Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre. I spent five years working for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and I fully believe in the importance of saving our beautiful historic landmarks. Lee, I can't imagine Chicago without the Chicago Theatre or without the Auditorium Theatre. I've seen great shows and toured both. Those buildings are really expensive to preserve.

The "service and convenience fees" are abject robbery initiated by low life scum sacks. They hurt the fans and ultimately hurt the artists. Overcharging to mail a ticket is also despicable.

My problem is I love live music and am often willing to pay a premium. I paid the fees for the upcoming Gov't Mule show at the Warner Theatre in D.C. and really don't mind. Mule is still a bargain. Warren and the boys will work their collective asses off to make sure the audience enjoys a stellar experience. Currently there are many tickets, mostly balcony, available for less than $40. There are some "premium" seats available for $180. I'm hoping those seats become available for less as we get closer to the show. I want to turn a couple of friends onto the show. I know they will have a great experience in the balcony but I'd rather seat them in the orchestra.

From the Pabst Theatre website:

"What is the Historic Preservation Fee?

A $1.50-3.75 per ticket fee that goes to the maintenance, protection and conservation of The Pabst Theater, Riverside Theater and Turner Hall Ballroom » more info"

[Edited on 4/14/2017 by BillyBlastoff]

You can see pictures of the Pabst Theatre restoration here:

I'd love to see the Mule in this space. I tip my hat to you Lee for investing your time and money in what will certainly be a memorable night.

[Edited on 4/14/2017 by BillyBlastoff]

A few months ago I paid more than 52 ea to see Mule in a field with zero comfort accommodations, with a metal building off to the side and a highway in the viewshed behind stage.

So with all due respect I don't understand the issue. I don't look at proportional allocations within the ticket cost, it is a 52 buck ticket. Then I equate it to what it took me to come up with that 52 bucks. And then I make a value decision on the money / entertainment exchange and if it is too disproportional to the value I get, then it is as they say, a conundrum. I paid way too much to see Neil two years ago and it was worth it, so it varies.

If the entertainers let me set ticket price, all would be ten bucks But they call the shots, right or wrong, in some fashion.

convenience fee $14.10

Convenient for who? LOL

This one always kills me as WTF does it even mean?

convenience fee $14.10

Convenient for who? LOL

This one always kills me as WTF does it even mean?

Haha! Bought fell out of my seat. I guess it's convenient whose wallet is getting padded !I

Light Fee? Otherwise you have to watch in the dark.

How some of these guys have aged you may not want to see them

Then they charge you double to turn the lights back off. 😛

Don't laugh, when I used to exhibit at trade shows in Chicago, you had to pay an electrician to plug your display unit into the power source (which you paid for as well). Even if you did not ask to be unplugged, you got charged for it, and at time and a half if the show ended after 5PM.

On ticket prices in general, I think I precisely know when everything changed.

I know alot of people remember when the best shows were like $10 or less to get in back in the day. The first year I started going to concerts was just 1993. That year I saw Neil Young, waited in line, got 4th row when tickets went on sale and it cost $30, don't know about the fees as they were probably on the torn off part of my stub. Saw some other shows, Smashing Pumpkins, STP all of those were cheap, under $20.

But then 1994 happened and Pink Floyd toured, hell froze over the Eagles toured, the Stones were on the road that year - and I have always thought that was the beginning of what we have now.

I know I am probably preaching to the choir here but this seems crazy to me. Considering taking a train up to Milwaukee from Chicago next month to see Gov't Mule.

Tix are $38 general admission. So obviously $76 for a pair. Then the fees per ticket:

Ticket fee: $5.00
Sales Tax: $2.62
Historic Preservation Fee: $3.75 (Are you kidding me?)
Order Fee: $4.22 (This one was only once).

So my $76 order turner into $104.96.

I have to be there this weekend so I am going to stop in and ask about this but I kind of doubt I will get anywhere.

I guess they figure if you are willing to pay $38.00 to see a show you won't mind coughing up $52.48 each. I can see a lot of stuff in Chicago (obviously a more expensive city) for less than that. I can see blues here seven nights a week for five bucks.

🙁

If you are there this weekend just buy the tickets from the box office. My guess is that you'd only pay the sales tax and preservation fee there.

Evidently convenience fee is an archaic charge going back to the days of "theater". It is for when you provide a ticket outside your normal method of selling, meaning box office is their method and mailing is an optional "convenience". Like you can walk up to box offices anymore, ha..... Had to Google this one, as curiosity got best.....

Also, owning a historic home, a historic fee for a vintage building would be the least offensive to me, although it could be argued it is their personal choice issue to own one.

It's kinda funny that laws that demand an itemization of ticket fees actually cause more resentment.

If a ticket was $75 flat to begin with and you didn't have any idea what went into that $75, would you care as much?

Yes, I'm being completely facetious.

It's kinda funny that laws that demand an itemization of ticket fees actually cause more resentment.

If a ticket was $75 flat to begin with and you didn't have any idea what went into that $75, would you care as much?

Yes, I'm being completely facetious.

Well, actually you have a point. I was just looking at my airline ticket to Denver this summer on Frontier:

Airfare: $65.12
Options $12.00 (seat, bags)
US Transportation Tax $4.88
Carrier Interface Charge $19.00
US 9/11 Security Fee $5.60
US Domestic Flight Segment Tax $4.10
Pittsburgh Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
-------------------------------------------------------
Total $115.20

Frontier didn't say the price was $65.12 on the first screen and then surprise me with everything else later. I knew right off the bat (minus my options), but didn't see any of the breakdown until the final screen.

Now rental car companies on the other hand, that is a pet peeve of mine. Most just show the car rental cost on the first page and hide all the taxes and fees until later in the booking process. Sometimes those taxes and fees are as much as the actual car rental!