Poll: Is the Civic Center doing a good job at bringing in musical acts

[bombermwc]

On the dress front....I agree with the desire for people to remember how to dress at CCMH events. I wish they wouldn't let people in without at least khakis on. They way you dress has an impact on the way you act. If you dress in a hole-ridden stained shirt, you probably are less likely to act in a dignified manner at say the Phil. It just goes with that statement on "you are what you wear".

Now that being said, in response to people going to other countries and seeing similar CCMH events, let me remind you of the Royal Albert Hall in England. This is one of the premier venues in the world. They make it a point for their symphony concerts to attract the masses in whatever dress they choose. At those events (often televised here on one of Cox's HD channels), you will see someone in a sweatshirt next to someone in a blazer...but they're all getting along and enjoying classical music...and not just pops. So both sides can co-exist, but you have to stop putting a label on someone and assuming that they don't "get" what's going on because they are in a ugly shirt.

Sort of negate my own posting huh? Oh well.

[animeGhost]

The Beacon is another good example:

Beacon Theater New York NY - tickets, seating chart, info at New York City Theatre.com

You know, another place that seems to rest on its laurels is the Zoo Ampitheater. Maybe it's not big enough or nice enough, but we also miss a lot of outdoor concerts that go to ampitheaters like the Smirnoff, Coors, Shoreline, etc. It's very rare you get any act there whose vintage is not at least 20 years old. But, again, maybe we're just an older market as far as entertainment goes. Maybe our younger demographic isn't into live music or it's just too small...?

being part of the younger generation i can say were definetaly into live performances and are sick and tired of having to drive to dallas to see a good concert.... i kno their are ppl who like that 80's hair band stuff but i would like to see a concert from an artist who's made music after my birth.

[blues66]

Zulu,

A couple of more points to contend with.

#1. The day after "Wicked" moved out (Sunday night/Monday), another performance group moved in (Tuesday). In between that time, CCMH staff had to clean and reconfigure the stage requirements as set in place by another large Broadway production. These are very labor-intensive and time-consuming shows, especially to do two back-to-back, as is in this case. Lyric is in rehearsal now for its summer season, which starts next Tuesday with the Centennial performance of "Oklahoma!"

#2. Season shows usually book out - or at least hold their dates - a year to 2-years in advance. Even if the full season line-up is not solidified by each of the performance groups, the dates are still held in place, with season contracts signed, solidifying those dates.

As it stands, the bulk of the remaining dates to book shows at the CCMH are Sundays and/or Mondays - NOT your best concert-going nights, especially if you are charging a premium ticket price.

#3. Touring shows usually only book 45-90 dates out, which is why they can be so troublesome. It can be a marvelous boon to facilities which have openings, but to those that don't, it is unfortunately, a loss. Regardless, the management has to weigh whether 'tis better to: 1) bring in a "rehearsal" date that it KNOWS will bring in money to the organization, and/or 2) keep an open date in the remote possibility that a promoter may come a'callin'. In most cases, the guarantee of some income is better than the risk of no income at all.

#4. The City is no longer in the business of actual show promotion, simply because it is such a high-risk enterprise. While CCMH staff does work closely with a number of promoters locally and regionally to book touring acts, we'd rather the promoters themselves assume the financial risk than risk tax-payers' dollars on a $150-ticket, Monday-night-show, that may prove a loss to us. Promoters are smart (most of them). They know when and at what price they can risk their dollars.

The reality is at this point, in most cases, when a touring show comes a calling, the dates are simply not available because they are already booked by the season shows.

Please do not blame this on laziness or incompetence of the CCMH workers. If you were fully able to realize the amount of work they put in to manage and operate a hall of this quality on a piece-meal budget and paltry staff size when compared to other facilities of this size and scope, you would be in awe. They work wonders with very, very little. For the record, the CCMH is one of the last-remaining municipal-run performing arts facilities in the U.S..

I assure you there is no lack of attempt on the part of the CCMH. What venue wouldn't want to bring in a "guarantee" of dollars from an outside promoter. But, if a date is not available, it's simply not available.

Hi all. I found this forum while googling something else but very interesting topic that I would like to chime in on. I am a small independant promoter similar to the promoter that brings Tommy Emmanuel here. I deal with the same set of circumstances that all promoters deal with. Fritter Girl gave some really good insight to the process and issues that we face when booking acts in this town.

There are very few promoters here and they all have a niche that they fullfil. They all need access to rooms which are in short supply. I will take the Ford Center out of the discussion. I know nothing about it. It is out of my leauge.

Having done shows from the Sooner Theatre to the Will Rogers and several stops inbetween. Most recently the Stage Center once when the Arts Council managed it and once when the CCMH management company aquired the facility. I have never done a show that would require a venue the size of The Civic Center but I am working on a show at Rose State this fall.

I would like to clarify a few points that people don't seem to realize. Oklahoma City is not a major market. It is a routing point. Midweek shows are the shows that agents look to OKC to fill. On acts that are what some might call sure things can easliy be outbid by larger markets such as Dallas. I venture a guess that any weekend dates are booked by Live Nation.

Even if you aquire a date the guarantee for the artist is based on ticket price number of seats to sell, expenses then promoter profit is allowed. If there is any additional profit the artist wants to split that. 85/15% 85 to the artist.

Say your artist wants $10,000 guarantee you have 10,000 in expenses. After putting up $20,000 you get the first 15% that is $3,000.00 So anybody want to gamble $20,000 over several weeks hoping to profit $3,000.00. Trust me your odds are better in Vegas.

The real money is made on concessions and ticketing. That is what venues keep.
The Zoo doesn't make enough on ticket sales to stay in business they make it on beer.

I do it because I love music. Breaking even is the most I hope for. But I must walk in with the attitude. What are acceptable losses. Even non profits can't stomach the losses promoting music. I don't receive any concessions only ticket sales. I don't receive any Ticketmaster kickbacks. I don't lie about my expenses. If I don't sell tickets I loose money.

My experience with the CCMH management has been nothing but good. They are not the problem in this town. The problem is this is a small market. Not well supported by what population we do have. The Civic Center made it possible for me to see Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, and Seinfeld. I think that is the kind of act that works there. I saw George Thorogood there as well and he was like a duck out of water.

So any body want to invest in a show? I have been looking for OPM to loose.

[blues66]

Been a while since I first posted here. I would like to update the above post. Last Friday night March 26th I saw and heard why the Civic Center Music Hall could be one of the best rooms for live music I have ever been to. Joe Bonamassa rocked the house in a bluesy kind of way. 1,500 in attendance. Probably one of the best concert experiences I have ever had. Having not been to many shows there I moved about the room and from every vantage point the sound was amazing. YouTube - Joe Bonamassa - "Blues Deluxe - OKC - 3/26/10