Fest inflation

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2013



This year, the price at the gate is going up again.

After holding steady last year, the price of Jazz Fest tickets has inched up again this year.

Early birds were able to pick up $50 tickets. Advance tickets, on sale now, are $55 per day, excluding service fees. Latecomers and last-minute weather-watchers will have to pay $70 at the gate.

That’s up $5 across the board from last year, when the same tickets went for $45, $50 and $65, respectively.

We talk about this every year and end up shrugging. In that Advocate article you'll find most of the usual explanations they trot out every year. Most of them are legitimate... given the fest's aims which are their own separate issue. It costs more and more to book the high-profile headliners, festgoers are demanding more "amenities" although I don't see anything here that seems like it justifies a 40 percent increase in the walk-up price since 2008.

Festivals have also added amenities to make for more appealing environments. They are no longer just the grungy parties in open fields they were decades ago. Many provide more — and often cleaner — restroom facilities. Modern services like ATMs and cellphone-charging stations abound.

“You try to build an environment where people can be comfortable and enjoy the weekend with some comforts other than a (portable toilet) that’s been there more than three days,” said Stephen Rehage, founder and producer of the Voodoo Music and Arts Experience.

Okay, but they've had ATMs on site for quite a while now and something tells me we're not paying $20 a head more for phone charging stations.  I'll be sure to keep an eye out for those improved restrooms, though.