Cover Charges at Bars

[Bosibus]

Does anyone else understand this other that letting the owner pocket straight money? It is if you going to your favorite bar and you plan on having about a 50 dollar bar tab. But then you walk up to the door, and some cocky preppy white kid or an enormously large black guy says "Two Dollars". Two dollars, what the hell. I need pay two dollars to get into a bar in which I already plan to spend at least a 50. I think this is total BS, especially on a Friday or Saturday. A lot of people say, its for the entertainment, when it is usually 6 high schoolers playing good music and probably getting paid 300 dollars for a show, total BS.

The money is going straight to the owner and it is a huge scam. It is like walking to someone's party and them saying "Hey its 5 dollars for the keg, and 3 dollars to get into the door."

I protest from going to any place that has a cover charge, my personal opinion.

Edit: The worst is Seacrets in O.C. The "Beat the Clock" load of crap. Get there at 9 o'clock, pay 9 dollars, get there at 10 o'clock, pay 10 dollars, and etc. You freakin charge $3.75 for a can of beer, is there really a COVER CHARGE needed? I know you need to pay the entertainment, but you can fit an enormous amount of people in there that are buying overpriced beer by the gallons!

[bgfield]

Isn't Seacrets supposed to be "the" hot spot in Ocean City? I guess that's why they charge so much - because they can get away with it (I don't go there myself).

I'm with ya on this one, though. I hate paying cover charges. I go to a bar to drink and socialize. If there's a good band playing I might check them out, but more often than not I spend all my time sitting at or around the bar.

The best way around this is to just befriend the bouncer. That's what I did at my local watering hole so whenever he's working I don't have to pay the three dollars to get in

[Sports Guy]

I think i have been to Seacrets at least 7 times in the last 2 years and i paid a cover charge one time.

Don't forget, alot of the cover charges go to pay the band or DJ.

[Bosibus]

Don't forget, alot of the cover charges go to pay the band or DJ.

That is a valid point, but it is almost like anymore that bars make this a "priority" on a Friday or Saturday night, band/dj or not.

Also, Seacrets only has the Beat the Clock on Weekends, like most bars. Even my favorite bar down there, Macky's now has a two dollar cover charge. Fishtales doesn't though, thank goodness.

[NewMarketSean]

$10 to get into Howl at the Moon. I know it's a a unique place and all, but even that is steep. Then you have to pay to have songs played... it's a racket that's for sure.

I'll never forget the time we paid the $5 cover to get into the Green Turtle in OC and ended up going to the restaurant side of the place, which we could have done for free.

[66-70-83-??]

Cover charges help "cover the club owner's ass".

Only clubs in high demand can get away with it. These are the kind of clubs that often attract 100's of patrons into the club for reasons other than slamming drinks (socializing, hooking up, dancing, etc...) and many of these either don't drink at all or nurse one bottle of beer all night.

These people are clogging up space, using the facilities, etc.... The cover charge ensures that the club gets some $ out of them for the night.

If the average patron was comming in and knocking down 10 $5 drinks- there wouldn't be any need for a cover.

[Sports Guy]

$10 to get into Howl at the Moon. I know it's a a unique place and all, but even that is steep. Then you have to pay to have songs played... it's a racket that's for sure.

I'll never forget the time we paid the $5 cover to get into the Green Turtle in OC and ended up going to the restaurant side of the place, which we could have done for free.

I hate Howl at the moon...Think i would rather stay home then go there.

[JohnD]

When I bounced at a bar at the beach, we only charged cover on the weekends during the summer. We did it because we could, and it was 5 bucks a pop. On holidays we'd have lines down the block. Even on a regular summer night we could have a line while other bars sat half-empty with no cover charge. We got away with it because we could. That's all. Not too different I imagine than going to a movie and spending 50 bucks on popcorn and sodas haha.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Go to Adam's Morgan if you hate cover charges.

[ledzepp8]

Yeah cover charges are completely stupid. If you're going to charge one at least have it where it's going towards a drink or something so I feel like I'm not just wasting my money for some arbitrary reason.

[MChance]

When I bounced at a bar at the beach, we only charged cover on the weekends during the summer. We did it because we could, and it was 5 bucks a pop. On holidays we'd have lines down the block. Even on a regular summer night we could have a line while other bars sat half-empty with no cover charge. We got away with it because we could. That's all. Not too different I imagine than going to a movie and spending 50 bucks on popcorn and sodas haha.

Stop lying. The real reason for the long line was to see you at the front of it.

[cindyluvsbrady]

Maybe you guys should save $$ and just stay home and out of trouble? Just a thought!

[Bosibus]

Go to Adam's Morgan if you hate cover charges.

Haha, yeah right, go there and expect to pay 10 dollars a pop.

I went to Reef I believe a little bit ago with some friends from VT. I am used to my 4 dollar beers which is way too much anyways.

I'd figure I would buy the first round so I say "5 Miller Lites!", girl gets me 5 Miller Lites, "30 Dollars" she said. Then I sh&# my pants. Let's say in the first 3 minutes I was there I spent 40 bucks on 5 beers. Wowzers.

I did like drinking until 3 AM though, that was impressive.

[Bosibus]

Yeah cover charges are completely stupid. If you're going to charge one at least have it where it's going towards a drink or something so I feel like I'm not just wasting my money for some arbitrary reason.

There is an idea. If you pay the cover charge, the first two drinks should be half off!

[blueberryale77]

There is an idea. If you pay the cover charge, the first two drinks should be half off!

Exactly. A "two drink minimum" where you pay a cover (the price of two drinks at a slight discount) and get two tickets to use on drinks is a nicer idea. Of course there are those who argue that this encourages more drinking, although I personally find that if I go to one of those places I end up being more likely to stop after two because I don't want to pull out my wallet again... hmm, maybe that's why more places don't go with that option...