Five dollars can buy a McDonald’s value meal, rent a movie or pay the cover at most local bars.

Bars with a Class A or Class B license are allowed to have a cover charge when they have entertainment not regularly scheduled. This entertainment can include live music, a disc jockey or karaoke competition among other things. It is up to the establishment to determine what “entertainment” is, said Cory Warren, deputy liquor commissioner.

A live entertainment permit must be purchased for $200 a year by an establishment to have such events.

Otto’s Niteclub & Underground, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, typically has a cover charge on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, which is when most of its acts perform.

“Most of our shows tend to be in the $5-$7 range, but there are a few that are higher for big name acts,” said Marco Valentino, general manager. “I don’t think we ever charged a cover when there was no show. Every once in a while, we even offer a show for free.”

Bar One, 1000 W. Lincoln Highway tries to maintain a low cover charge and does not start it until later in the evening, usually around 10:30 or 11 p.m., said Bob Myers, owner.

“Our typical cover charge starts out at $2,” Myers said. “It steps up incrementally as we get busier in the night.”

Bar goers wondering what the cover charge pays for only need to look around.

“Cover charges are, not surprisingly, used to cover the cost of the show,” Valentino said. “These costs can be substantial, which, in addition to the band pay, include production costs, advertising, hospitality, hotels, sound technicians, box office costs, equipment rentals, etc.”

At Bar One, guests are paying for the dance club atmosphere, DJ included.

“You get a night club feeling here in DeKalb without driving toward the city and a $2, $3, $4 cover charge to get in,” Myers said. “To a lot of students, that’s cheap to get in for the dance club atmosphere.”