The year 2025 has been a dark one thus far. I see very little hope for improvement. With this in mind I made a decision back in January when I knew shit was about to hit the fan, that I was going to laugh this year if it killed me. It might be all that gets me through. So, I set out to buy tickets to all my favorite comedians coming to the area.
I’m proud to report that as of the end of the year, I will have seen all my faves, but one. Josh Johnson was sold out in Louisville. Alas…. If you are interested, I have seen Jim Gaffigan and Wanda Sykes thus far. Still to come are Fortune Feimster, Leanne Morgan, Taylor Tomlinson and Nate Bargatze. I’m very excited. This is also part of my plan to spend money on experiences, not stuff. So far, so good.
Here’s where I have a problem: hidden fees for experiences. Ticketmaster and StubHub are the devil. Concert tickets are expensive enough as it is without all the added-on fees. You think your evening is doable and then they tell you, “Nope! We’re going to need some more money for a bunch of stuff that we really can’t name, but trust us, you need this shit.”
I bought three tickets to Taylor Tomlinson and the fees came to an additional $120. What!? That is total horse shit. Where is all this money going? Who the fuck knows? And the tickets were not cheap to start with. However, she is my daughter’s favorite and we are going dammit. I paid the extra money and bitched about it for the rest of the week.
I’m not complaining about paying for an enjoyable experience, but tell me how much that is going to cost me. Don’t freak me the fuck out at checkout with all the additional fees and shit. At that point, I’m committed and I will probably pay it, but I’m going to cuss and rant for a few minutes. I deserve that much for all this nonsense.
Then, because I live in the middle of nowhere, I often have to tack the cost of a hotel and a dog sitter into the bill. My effort to laugh and not cry is really coming at a price here, folks. I just want to go out and be in a safe space to laugh about the condition of the world. Is that too much to ask?
I’m not going to stop doing things, as long as I can afford them. I realize how lucky I am to get to go to these shows to begin with, but Ticketmaster needs the smackdown put on them for their outrageous extra fees and bullshit charges.
People should be able to go out, have a good time, and not have to donate an organ. I also just wish they were upfront and honest. These ticket services are greedy devils. I feel bad for the performers who have to deal with them. I feel worse for fans who just want a live experience.
I know I’m not the first person to complain about this. Thank you, Eddie Vedder, but more stars need to speak up and stop the price gouging. Can’t we all just have an affordable, good laugh or see a concert that we don’t have to pay off for the rest of the year?
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
