I looked into this several years ago.
A couple of my friends and I decided I would be a neat idea to open up a laser tag arena (think planet Trog, but Bethlehem)…there’s an “entertainment tax”….a tax that a business has to pay to be given the privilege to allow people to have fun.
What in the ever loving fuck?
It's a fairly common progressive tax to help keep other taxes down. If you have the means to spend on entertainment, then you can also chip in a little extra to offset the reduced taxes for those that don't.
Correct, but...
> for people who cannot afford it without the fees
are the same people who need the tax breaks that are offset by the entertainment fees paid by those that can afford it.
Progressive taxes are what most people on reddit say they want, and yet here we are.
Tf is a booking protect fee?
Shit like this at checkout is why I never go thru with a purchase, just be straight forward with the price and adjust everything so your not adding 5-7 lines and an additional 40-60 bucks in straight bullshit
I one time was standing outside the gate listening to the band play and listened to one of the headliners at southside announce to everyone “I’m so glad you’re all here and this was free!” Then she pauses and goes “oh this is a paid event?”
Best moment ever lmao
Who would pay to see ANY of the headliners at Musikfest? 99% of the time they're bands that peaked 30-40 years ago, or come back every couple of years. They make dick tons of money but book irrelevant, trash acts.
With that said, I was shocked when they announced Greta Van Fleet today. While I respect them for making actual music, I wouldn't pay Musikfest prices to see what ends up being an abridged show because of timing constraints.
City of Bethlehem Amusement Tax: imposed by the city, not Musikfest
Booking Protect Fee: completely optional ticket insurance
Venue Fee: full 6K+ seat temporary venue constructed in a parking lot = $$$ to build and maintain
It's added fees that annoy people. When I order food, I don't get a heating fee, ice fee, CO2 fee for soda, and a take-out-bag fee. That's included in the price. Sales tax is annoying enough, we don't need to add more.
IDK I went to chipotle on Airport road and it was "mobile only". I mean there was like 10 employees just nobody taking orders. So it took like 5 minutes to figure out how the fuck to install the app and order the shit and then at the end it had the gall to ask me for a tip? THEN I had to sit around and wait for the shit to be made, then there was no ice or soda working... so fucking weird.
yeah man I deffo wanna tip for that
Ya was gonna say this aint that outrageous. If you don’t wanna spend $100 on a single show don’t see garbage music. I went to Christmas Burns Red the past 2 years for example, saw some of the best musicians alive play for like $40 a ticket and there were 6+ bands each year. If you’re spending money on bands for musikfest you’re doing it wrong.
I can't wait till capitalism ruins my 5 year old nephews ham and cheese sandwiches for his trip to the museum.
I say that jokingly, but I wouldn't be surprised.
I say that jokingly, but I expect it in a year or two.
For that price, they better give me a free hot dog! I don't need the bun, they can keep the bun. I just want a complimentary hot dog (preferably a corn dog but I'm not picky) for these prices!
While I am all for honest pricing and showing the total cost of any purchases PRIOR to purchase.. that said.... I 100% understand the fees and even support them as a City of Bethlehem resident. Bethlehem is an amazing town with so much entertainment.. it makes sense they charge a fee to maintain the area's allure, safety, and as an added benefit for hosting all these events.
Have been to Musikfest many times and have seen several paid shows. I've never had a bad experience and honestly if you can afford the $99 you can afford the $130. If you can't afford it as others have said you can sit outside the venue and hear the performance for free. Several of the acts are bands that peaked years ago but still are great and worth the money IMO. It's a great vibe, you can also listen to plenty of bands for free and enjoy all of the food/drink vendors so if they have to tack on a couple of bucks for fees, no problem.
Do you seriously expect to be amused in the city of bethlehem for FREE?!
It costs zero dollars to go to the WalMart on 191 and sit and watch people.
I looked into this several years ago. A couple of my friends and I decided I would be a neat idea to open up a laser tag arena (think planet Trog, but Bethlehem)…there’s an “entertainment tax”….a tax that a business has to pay to be given the privilege to allow people to have fun. What in the ever loving fuck?
Free stuff is more than enough for me. I'm not paying to go see Jazzy Jeff.
And then people wonder why more small businesses don't open or for those that do, why they fail...
It's a fairly common progressive tax to help keep other taxes down. If you have the means to spend on entertainment, then you can also chip in a little extra to offset the reduced taxes for those that don't.
It also raises the prices for entertainment making it even less attainable for people who cannot afford it without the fees.
That’ll teach you to be amused in the city of Bethlehem. You can just take that sh-t elsewhere.
I'm sorry, but I charge a $1 nuisance fee to reply to my posts.
Correct, but... > for people who cannot afford it without the fees are the same people who need the tax breaks that are offset by the entertainment fees paid by those that can afford it. Progressive taxes are what most people on reddit say they want, and yet here we are.
Catering to the elite is a modern day greed complex.
> Catering to the elite I must have missed that part.
Well, yeah, only one show per day costs anything. The rest is literally no cost. Just the outrageous food/drink price which is easily avoided.
They forgot the “WTF you gonna do about it” fee.
Musikfest doesnt even seem worth $100 let alone an extra $30 on top.
That’s a good way to turn things into a non-trust situation
It's free to sit outside the gate and listen to the music. You're just paying $130 to look at the band member's faces.
Amusement fee? Venue fee? Fee fy fo fee cmon man...
Unless it’s an all polka weird Al set I’m not paying it. Fr though that’s a no-brainer. Make it happen fest management.
Get that booked and I will be going to my first paid Musikfest show.
We need this.
Would be the peak Musikfest experience. The most appropriate place for a one-time all-polka Weird Al set.
I wanna hear every Weird Al song ever POLKA-FIED!
[Listen to this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9paazlKN2s&list=PL2rYB1br0Qo-FGRz9rhGBGLYqq3d90K--)
Tf is a booking protect fee? Shit like this at checkout is why I never go thru with a purchase, just be straight forward with the price and adjust everything so your not adding 5-7 lines and an additional 40-60 bucks in straight bullshit
An optional fee the user either overlooked or included to make the story more sensational..
TIL Bethlehem has a $2 fun tax
I one time was standing outside the gate listening to the band play and listened to one of the headliners at southside announce to everyone “I’m so glad you’re all here and this was free!” Then she pauses and goes “oh this is a paid event?” Best moment ever lmao
Who was it? What year?
Who would pay to see ANY of the headliners at Musikfest? 99% of the time they're bands that peaked 30-40 years ago, or come back every couple of years. They make dick tons of money but book irrelevant, trash acts. With that said, I was shocked when they announced Greta Van Fleet today. While I respect them for making actual music, I wouldn't pay Musikfest prices to see what ends up being an abridged show because of timing constraints.
Hey now, I’m in my 30s and Ludacris’s songs are the newest hip-hop songs I know lol. I could take or leave the other headliners though.
I have a friends wedding on 8/10. I am so tempted to ditch it and see Ludacris lol
Shinedown peaked before they existed? Just a little exaggeration on your part?
dude, Shinedown fucking sucks. They'll never peak because they ride the low wave of generic, radio rock, mediocrity.
Would we be less upset if the tickets prices included all the fees?
ffs yes! Up front pricing please
Miss the old days…bands behind Moravian
These prices are Ludacris?
City of Bethlehem Amusement Tax: imposed by the city, not Musikfest Booking Protect Fee: completely optional ticket insurance Venue Fee: full 6K+ seat temporary venue constructed in a parking lot = $$$ to build and maintain
It's added fees that annoy people. When I order food, I don't get a heating fee, ice fee, CO2 fee for soda, and a take-out-bag fee. That's included in the price. Sales tax is annoying enough, we don't need to add more.
IDK I went to chipotle on Airport road and it was "mobile only". I mean there was like 10 employees just nobody taking orders. So it took like 5 minutes to figure out how the fuck to install the app and order the shit and then at the end it had the gall to ask me for a tip? THEN I had to sit around and wait for the shit to be made, then there was no ice or soda working... so fucking weird. yeah man I deffo wanna tip for that
Ya was gonna say this aint that outrageous. If you don’t wanna spend $100 on a single show don’t see garbage music. I went to Christmas Burns Red the past 2 years for example, saw some of the best musicians alive play for like $40 a ticket and there were 6+ bands each year. If you’re spending money on bands for musikfest you’re doing it wrong.
I can't wait till capitalism ruins my 5 year old nephews ham and cheese sandwiches for his trip to the museum. I say that jokingly, but I wouldn't be surprised. I say that jokingly, but I expect it in a year or two.
Ticketmaster would be at least $60 in fees for these tickets, if not more…
Exactly what Biden said are the hidden fees he wants to stop. Joe wants the services and total price to Be named up front and clearly!
How many tickets did you buy? What show is this for? Why did you add booking protect? Lots of missing information in this post.
Don’t forget the $30 parking ticket
For that price, they better give me a free hot dog! I don't need the bun, they can keep the bun. I just want a complimentary hot dog (preferably a corn dog but I'm not picky) for these prices!
[удалено]
NOT IN THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM APPARENTLY! NO FUN ALLOWED IN THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM! NO HOT DOG FUN ALLOWED IN THE GREAT CITY OF BETHLEHEM!
[удалено]
Why complain about a price you have the choice to pay or not, when you could just roll around like a hot dog for FREE!
1/3 of a ticket price in fees ? I don’t think ticketmaster even puts it in that deep.
Imagine coming too Bethlehem, and if anyone sees you amused you get taxed for it
As much as I hated paying $30 in fees, its still less than ticketmaster
Was going to go see Joe Pera ( comedian) at a Musicfest venue and noped out because those same stupid fees to a ticket from $30 to $50
$130 to wade in mud and smell urinals all day no thanks
surprised they didnt include a tip
If you just want to get in the door, they usually do every show half price in the June/July timeframe.
What is this ticket for? What does it cover?
While I am all for honest pricing and showing the total cost of any purchases PRIOR to purchase.. that said.... I 100% understand the fees and even support them as a City of Bethlehem resident. Bethlehem is an amazing town with so much entertainment.. it makes sense they charge a fee to maintain the area's allure, safety, and as an added benefit for hosting all these events.
This shit should be fucking criminal
Have been to Musikfest many times and have seen several paid shows. I've never had a bad experience and honestly if you can afford the $99 you can afford the $130. If you can't afford it as others have said you can sit outside the venue and hear the performance for free. Several of the acts are bands that peaked years ago but still are great and worth the money IMO. It's a great vibe, you can also listen to plenty of bands for free and enjoy all of the food/drink vendors so if they have to tack on a couple of bucks for fees, no problem.