Definitely side me with the restaurant.

Of course, this CAN get a bit overdone...

There's a venue out here in CA that I won't go to anymore, due to the ENORMOUS amount of fees that attach to the door charge.

First off, this place charges an average $25 a head entry anyway. It's a mid-to-upper name draw kind of a place, so that is not out of line.

However...

If you just want to watch the show, there's a $10 parking fee, plus a two drink minimum, at $5 a pop.

If you want to watch the show from within 50-70 feet of the stage, you have to buy dinner, $25 a pop. Plus parking and two drink min.

If you want to sit NEXT to the stage, you must buy tickets, reserve seating (not that you get to pick a seat, but you'll be given 'preferred seating' for the show), pay for parking, buy dinner, buy two drinks, AND pay the minimum mandatory %20 gratuity.

For a show by Robyn Hitchcock (quirky alternative college-rock kinda guy), my seats for myself and my date wound up costing me roughly $120.

I do fully realize that this is the exception (at least I hope to whatever gods of venues that this is the exception). I've been to a couple smaller shows with either low door or no door who've been dependant on the exposure that having the show would get them.

Those places, I always try to support.

M