A promoter for a punk show in Florida is experimenting with a novel way to encourage vaccine take-up in the state via the means of ticket pricing.
Paul Williams of Leadfoot Productions has set two prices for tickets to the upcoming gig at VFW Post #39 in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 26 featuring Teenage Bottlerocket, MakeWar and Rutterkin. Punters who have been fully vaccinated will be charged $18 per ticket to the show, while those who have not will have to fork out $999.99.
“We’re just trying to do a show safely,” Williams told local news station WFTS in Tampa Bay. “And they should go out and get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families and their community.”
“I also wanted it to be a vaccine drive to get the fence-sitters off the fence. I wanted to get the kids that want to go to shows to go out and get their shots.”
Williams says that while there haven’t yet been any takers of the $1000 tickets, anyone who does fork out for the full price will be “treated like everyone else.”
As reported by Consequence of Sound, Florida Governor’s office responded to Williams’ tactic by saying, “Charging higher ticket prices for individuals who do not furnish proof of vaccination unfairly discriminates against people who have enumerated rights under Florida law.”
According to the New York Times, Florida is averaging around 1500 new cases per day, and around 38% of the state is fully vaccinated.
View a flyer for the show here below.
