Cover charges suck.
Nov 30th, 2005 by Alex
A cover charge differs from an admission fee. You get goods and services with an admission fee. With a cover, you usually get nothing.
I understand charging for admission if the beer is free. This is the college approach: buy keg, buy cups, charge admission for access to both. It’s simple math, just admit as many people as possible for $5. The law of averages will tell you that most people won’t drink their $5 worth before skipping along to the next party. Everyone’s happy — the underage kids who get to drink, the organizers who drink free all night and might even make money — until the party gets busted by the fuzz.
Unfortunately — in the real world — bars don’t usually work like this. Pity.
I understand charging extra for those under 21. Laws written the way they are, the venue isn’t going to see any bar revenue from this group. So why not collect a few bucks at the door? The kids are probably more thrilled to be let INTO the bar than at the extra cost.
The Eight by Ten club works this way. For those under the age of 21, an additional $3 is charged at the door.
I understand charging a cover if you’re having an absurdly good drink special: like $1 draft Yuengling, four for one shooters, etc. The venue has to make up for its reduced margins on the product. Note that I don’t say loss; bars will almost never take a loss on anything they actually sell.
The worst venues are the ones that charge an arm and a leg and then introduce a cover as well. These venues may be trendy, popular, full of singles, whatever. If that’s your game, that’s cool. However for those folks who just want to go grab a cold one, perhaps listen to a local band or two, cover fees suck.
Nottingham’s is probably the worst offender. “A distictive tavern” is their tagline, distinctive meaning overpriced. Their cover on a Saturday night is $10. Hell, their cover on a Thursday night is $5. Once you are in the door you get to play $10/hour billiards or suck down $4 beers from plastic cups. You’re paying for the eye candy, and I’m not sure it’s worth it.
O’Brien’s isn’t as bad, but they still charge a $5 cover on Friday and Saturday night after 8:30. Their pricing for beers is slightly less expensive, but still above average. At least you can go early and grab an appetizer, skipping the cover. I’d rather put $5 toward a food bill than straight into the venue’s coffers, any day of the week.
I think my whole problem with covers stems from that fact that I’m a cheap guy, and a logical one. When I do spend money, I like to get something for it. A cover is essentially a one-night license to consume alcohol at a bar. You aren’t paying for it, or reducing the price, you’re just paying for entry. You’re paying for the right to purchase more. And that feels a little weird.
