Fair pumps up the jams
San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA
July 24, 2007
It includes the act that sold out the fastest, the highest ticket prices, and the most money ever budgeted for entertainment — $ 2.8 million — in California Mid-State Fair history.
This year’s concert line-up at the fair, which starts Wednesday at the Paso Robles Event Center and runs for two weeks, is already record-breaking before a note has been played.
The fair has a long history of bringing in big names, and this year is no exception. From Aerosmith on opening night to Martina McBride and other major country names, Godsmack for hard rockers and the Jonas Brothers for the preteen set, this year’s fair includes diverse musical variety.
The fair is spending about $700,000 more on entertainment this year than ever before. Nearly half of the total fair budget of $6.6 million is designated for entertainment. For the past three years, total cost for performers has been around $2 million each year.
“I feel we have the best entertainment lineup that we’ve ever had,” said fair chief executive officer Vivian Robertson.
Genres from Christian rock (Jars of Clay) to oldies (Chubby Checker and the Wildcats) are covered. Throwback favorites Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and the iconic Bob Dylan are all performing. And one lucky local band will get into the mix if it wins a contest to open for Godsmack.
When it comes to country, the entertainment staple of any traditional American fair, concert-goers have McBride with Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley and LeAnn Rimes, Daughtry, Phil Vassar and Rascal Flatts with Jason Aldean to choose from. Those groups are all performing in the 15,321-seat Main Grandstand Arena....
Angling for Aerosmith
The announcement of a big name coming to the Mid-State Fair is always a big deal at the winter fair banquet, and that of Aerosmith’s performance was greeted with raucous cheers. It wasn’t surprising to those observing the ticket sales that the group sold out in three hours.
“People are talking about it all over the place,” said the fair’s entertainment booker, Ron Pateras of Jam Productions in Chicago, who noted that a longtime relationship between Jam Productions and the band’s handlers helped make it possible to secure the group. Having a major booking company handle negotiations with artists has been a large part of the fair’s entertainment success.
Aerosmith has not played at fairs in the past, making their appearance a particular coup.
Mike Minnala of Los Osos waited in line overnight in front of Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo to get Aerosmith tickets in the eighth row. The ticket prices, at $78 for the best seats, are the most expensive in fair history.
Minnala, who has been going to shows at the fair for 20 years, said he’s enjoyed seeing Van Halen, ZZ Top, Velvet Revolver, the Steve Miller Band, and Creedence Clearwater Revival over the years.
He doesn’t mind the high ticket prices.
“At $78, to have them 30 minutes away, it’s nothing. If you go to the valley, go to L.A., go to San Francisco, you’re going to have to pay five times that much in gas, travel and food,” Minnala said.
Aerosmith is performing at the Konocti Harbor Amphitheatre in Kelseyville, Calif., following the Paso Robles appearance. Tickets for the Kelseyville show are going for $225.
Keeping ticket prices down helps the fair attract more people, who often spend money on other concessions and must buy a ticket to enter the fair before they can see a show. Strong ticket sales help enhance the fair’s overall bottom line. As of Friday, Aerosmith was the only show to sell out this year...
July 24, 2007
It includes the act that sold out the fastest, the highest ticket prices, and the most money ever budgeted for entertainment — $ 2.8 million — in California Mid-State Fair history.
This year’s concert line-up at the fair, which starts Wednesday at the Paso Robles Event Center and runs for two weeks, is already record-breaking before a note has been played.
The fair has a long history of bringing in big names, and this year is no exception. From Aerosmith on opening night to Martina McBride and other major country names, Godsmack for hard rockers and the Jonas Brothers for the preteen set, this year’s fair includes diverse musical variety.
The fair is spending about $700,000 more on entertainment this year than ever before. Nearly half of the total fair budget of $6.6 million is designated for entertainment. For the past three years, total cost for performers has been around $2 million each year.
“I feel we have the best entertainment lineup that we’ve ever had,” said fair chief executive officer Vivian Robertson.
Genres from Christian rock (Jars of Clay) to oldies (Chubby Checker and the Wildcats) are covered. Throwback favorites Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and the iconic Bob Dylan are all performing. And one lucky local band will get into the mix if it wins a contest to open for Godsmack.
When it comes to country, the entertainment staple of any traditional American fair, concert-goers have McBride with Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley and LeAnn Rimes, Daughtry, Phil Vassar and Rascal Flatts with Jason Aldean to choose from. Those groups are all performing in the 15,321-seat Main Grandstand Arena....
Angling for Aerosmith
The announcement of a big name coming to the Mid-State Fair is always a big deal at the winter fair banquet, and that of Aerosmith’s performance was greeted with raucous cheers. It wasn’t surprising to those observing the ticket sales that the group sold out in three hours.
“People are talking about it all over the place,” said the fair’s entertainment booker, Ron Pateras of Jam Productions in Chicago, who noted that a longtime relationship between Jam Productions and the band’s handlers helped make it possible to secure the group. Having a major booking company handle negotiations with artists has been a large part of the fair’s entertainment success.
Aerosmith has not played at fairs in the past, making their appearance a particular coup.
Mike Minnala of Los Osos waited in line overnight in front of Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo to get Aerosmith tickets in the eighth row. The ticket prices, at $78 for the best seats, are the most expensive in fair history.
Minnala, who has been going to shows at the fair for 20 years, said he’s enjoyed seeing Van Halen, ZZ Top, Velvet Revolver, the Steve Miller Band, and Creedence Clearwater Revival over the years.
He doesn’t mind the high ticket prices.
“At $78, to have them 30 minutes away, it’s nothing. If you go to the valley, go to L.A., go to San Francisco, you’re going to have to pay five times that much in gas, travel and food,” Minnala said.
Aerosmith is performing at the Konocti Harbor Amphitheatre in Kelseyville, Calif., following the Paso Robles appearance. Tickets for the Kelseyville show are going for $225.
Keeping ticket prices down helps the fair attract more people, who often spend money on other concessions and must buy a ticket to enter the fair before they can see a show. Strong ticket sales help enhance the fair’s overall bottom line. As of Friday, Aerosmith was the only show to sell out this year...
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