Zep Fest 2011 Ticket Prices

[Kurt Rompf <RompfK@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://zepfest.com/home/ZEP_FEST.htm

My wife and I were tossing around the idea of taking our vacation in D.C. this 
year, and possibly hitting the Zep Fest while we were there.  I haven't been 
since Cleveland 1998, so it could be fun.

I hadn't done any serious looking until today, and then I saw the prices.  
Ouch!  I guess I wasn't expecting that kind of charge.  Now I'm not saying it's 
not worth it, because it looks like this thing is going to be pretty cool; and 
in comparison to the traveling and lodging costs, it sort of fits right in; and 
I'm not saying that we aren't going to go (but we will not be doing 3 days for 
sure, just one.)   But I'm fairly sure this kind of pricing is going to keep 
all but the die-hard Zep fans away.  If I'm questioning it, then I think part 
time fans will certainly question it.  I think even the casual D.C. residents 
will be disappointed that they just can't plunk down a quick $50 for a day of 
fun.  Heck, I remember when some people complained about the O2 tickets prices. 
 JMO, but those prices were much more worth it than these.  For me, seeing a 
bunch of "normally $10" cover bands and "normally free" guest speakers is not 
very important, while I would have paid big bucks to be at the O2.  I will be 
going mostly to see the memorabilia collection, and $174 is more than any 
museum I've ever gone to.  Now if we knew what the "secret" shows and 
"surprise" guests are, things might be different.  Jason Bonham showing up 
doesn't count as much for me.

I've been to 3 Zep Fest conventions, so I know meeting people is all part of 
the fun, if not the main part of the fun. It was also about hunting down and 
finding some cool stuff to buy, but thanks to the internet, that adventure is 
dead.  I guess I'm just getting old, but spending $348 (my wife and I) just to 
talk with people, see a few bands, and check out some Zep related stuff for one 
day is a lot of coin.

I'm not looking to sir up sh*t or to start any arguments here, just your 
thoughts and discussion.   What do you all think?   Am I the only one feeling 
this way, or all the rest of the folks here such die hard fans that money is a 
non-issue?

Cheers ---- Kurt