Louis C.K. and Todd Barry have found their way into Milwaukee and someone convinced them to perform. The last time Todd Barry was set to take the stage here a few years back, a huge ass snow storm hit and made the travel a dicey proposition. This may be Louis C.K.’s first ever performance in Milwaukee, we’re not really venue that a lot of comics are drawn to despite our proximity to Chicago, Minnesota, and Madison. The lack of strong venues for stand-ups doesn’t help. Jokerz tends to book mostly comics starting out or who have faded fast. But, what can you expect when the place is in the basement of a strip club next to the freeway? The Milwaukee area really lacks much in the way of a welcoming venue for the mid-range comic.
Tonight’s show is at the Pabst Theater, which is a nice venue for the show—if you’re in the lower level. The problem with the Pabst tends to be the price. Lately, the Pabst Theater’s calender has featured a more diverse selection of entertainment and ticket prices for their weeknight show’s can be in the $20 range.
That, however is the deceptive part.
The tickets for tonight’s show are $25 for any of the three levels. Totally acceptable. I would’ve even considered $30 sorta reasonable. What I don’t find remotely acceptable is the additional fees tacked on. Old, tired complaint, I know. Still though.
There’s a service and tax and an order processing fee of which a holding fee is apart. This brings the cost up to $34.57 for one ticket. Who or what is doing the holding? A computer database will be doing that heavy lifting. The very same computer, which will print the two tickets I bought when I arrive. There’s no holding being done. Paper and ink, that’s it. And a printer. You don’t even need a ticket person to slide them through the window the same machine could just spit them out at me.
I’d gladly hand Louis C.K. and Todd Barry the $15.64 extra. They’re working for it. If they’re holding my tickets, I’ll be glad to hand them $3.50, but this is why I go to the Pabst maybe once every three years. Beautiful building, but fucked up prices. I expect though, that Louis C.K. and Todd Barry will give me my moneys worth.
Call me petty, sure, but I’m not a high roller. If the Pabst really wants a diverse crowd to fill their seats they should reconsider their prices.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Sean Mattner // Feb 17, 2008 at 3:33 pm
What are you talking about? Jokerz has some reputable talent performing on their “stage.” Andrew Dice Clay was there in October and Pauly Shore just performed there. Quality. Grade A Prime Cut Comedy!
2 Hennessy // Feb 20, 2008 at 10:15 pm
One thing I didn’t realize that the Pabst Theater would be doing was selling drinks all evening long.
Even Todd Barry commented on the oddness of having waitresses coming up and down a theater aisle with a tray of drinks.
It was more like being at a ballpark than a performance.
The Marquette fratboys in front of us were constantly up and down paying top dollar for a Pabst!? Just so you can have a Pabst in the Pabst?
I felt sorry for the couple at the end of their aisle. I don’t know how tolerant I would’ve been if that’d be me.
Fuck the Pabst.
3 Hennessy // Feb 20, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Shit, if they’re doing a comedy act they need to figure it out—are we “comedy club” or theater atmosphere?
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