Fair Payment

[michelej1]

Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA), The Tribune, December 29, 2007

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/polls/story/231509.html


Aerosmith's payday: More than $750,000
TRIBUNEEXCLUSIVEREPORT | MID-STATE FAIR CONCERTS The band was the highest paid in Mid-State Fair history, a Tribune public records request reveals


Leah Etling, [email protected]

Aerosmith grossed more than $750,000 as the highest paid entertainment act in California Mid-State Fair history, The Tribune has learned.

On top of its $750,000 flat fee, the band received 70 percent of the gross ticket sales over $830,000 from its sold-out show, according to the performer's entertainment contract with the Mid-State Fair. Tickets for the show were $52 and $78. The fair's Main Grandstand Arena seats more than 15,000.

Aerosmith's fee represented a sizeable portion of the entire

$2.8 million spent on entertainment for the 2007 fair. Expected total revenues from entertainment are about $3.1 million, according to fair Chief Executive Officer Vivian Robertson.

The overall income projection for the 2007 fair is about $1.4 million in profit, with total earnings of $8 million, Robertson said.

The Tribune learned of the payments to some acts after petitioning the state for contract documents.

It's common for venues to offer artists a large percentage of the sales over a certain amount of proceeds. This allows a venue to meet the artists' flat fee and other costs of putting on the show before profits are shared. If the venue loses money on the show, it's usually because not many tickets were sold.

At the 2007 Mid-State Fair, legendary songwriter Bob Dylan made $275,000 plus 85 percent of sales over $355,000. Country singer Martina McBride made $225,000 plus 70 percent of sales over $320,000. Another country star, Dierks Bentley, made $100,000 plus 70 percent of sales over $255,000 for a dual concert with LeAnn Rimes.

Robertson did not respond to a request for the amount of money each show made. The fair is not required to provide that information to Sacramento until March when it sends a 2007 year-end report, she said in an e-mail.

Concert ticket sales were up 16 percent in 2007, according to information the fair released earlier this year. A total of 62,210 tickets were sold.

Stephen J. Chambers, executive director of the Western Fairs Association, says the Mid-State Fair is a national anomaly -- a big fair in a small community that manages to provide headline musical acts.

"All the time I get asked by people, Â'How come our fair can't have entertainment like the Mid-State Fair?' The answer: Â'I don't know, but don't try it,' " said Chambers, who believes the fair's expenditures on entertainment are reasonable.

"Most fairs are not doing well in the big-name entertainment business."

The Mid-State Fair, however, continues to bring in bigger and better acts while other fairs have lost out on competitive bidding to amphitheaters and, often, Indian casinos, Chambers said.

Fair entertainment buyer Ron Pateras noted that a longtime relationship between his company, Chicago-based Jam Productions, and Aerosmith 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.

Economics also plays a role. Many fair-goers are drawn by the entertainment offerings initially and then stay longer to do and see other things. Earlier this year, the fair released a study of its attendance, which showed that more than 75,000 people came from outside San Luis Obispo County in 2006 -- many drawn by a concert or musical act.

Aerosmith was the only act of this year's fair to sell out, which happened within hours of tickets going on sale.

Attracting the aging rock band, which was touring last summer, was a coup for the fair's entertainment bookers. Aerosmith was on a short list of dream bands that Robertson established when she started in her position several years ago, she said previously.

Acts on the free stage are paid a flat fee. Jars of Clay, a popular Christian rock band, made $40,000 for its performance, which is on the high end for the free stage, Robertson said.

Other acts in the main grandstand included Rascal Flatts, Stevie Nicks, Daughtry, Godsmack and the Jonas Brothers. Their contract details have not been released, despite a request by The Tribune.

Rascal Flatts made Pollstar's list of the top 10 highest revenue-generating concert tours of 2007, with $41.5 million in ticket sales.

Last summer's fair lineup was considered one of the most successful so far by those involved with its production as well as music industry representatives.

One staffer from a national music magazine was incredulous last summer when informed of the fair's lineup, asking: "Are you sure they're not tribute bands?"

There's no guarantee that the success can be duplicated in future years, Robertson said.

"As far as pulling more acts of the Aerosmith caliber in 2008...we never know who is going to be touring in any given year, and certainly, this year's success has nothing to do with next year," she wrote.

Planning and entertainment booking is already under way for the 2008 fair, to be held July 23 through Aug. 3.

* * *

WHO MADE WHAT AT THE 2007 FAIR

Here's what the California Mid-State Fair paid grandstand entertainers during the 2007 fair:

Aerosmith

$750,000 plus 70 percent of gross ticket sales over $830,000

Bob Dylan

$275,000 plus 85 percent of gross ticket sales over $355,000

Martina McBride$225,000 plus 70 percent of gross ticket sales over $320,000

Dierks Bentley $100,000 plus 70 percent of gross (with LeAnn Rimes) ticket sales over $255,000

Note: Contracts for Rimes, Stevie Nicks, Daughtry, Godsmack, the Jonas Brothers and Rascal Flatts have not been released.

SOURCE: CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

[David]

Oh, no! Stevie's on the state fair circuit?!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by David

Oh, no! Stevie's on the state fair circuit?!

But in good company, with Bob Dylan and one of the year's top selling groups: Rascal Flatts. So, these days, it's not a place for the losers that I used to see at the fair.

Michele

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by michelej1

But in good company, with Bob Dylan and one of the year's top selling groups: Rascal Flatts. So, these days, it's not a place for the losers that I used to see at the fair.

Michele

That is true. its not what it used to be.

[strandinthewind]

I think it is hysterical that no one has bitched about the fee Aerosmith got. Let La Nicks make that much money and she is called a covetous shrew has cares little for her fans

Thanks for posting this though - It was interesting!

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by David

Oh, no! Stevie's on the state fair circuit?!

If it helps, think of it as an outdoor bar mitzvah reception, and cheaper than the indoor one from last year.

- Jake

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think it is hysterical that no one has bitched about the fee Aerosmith got. Let La Nicks make that much money and she is called a covetous shrew has cares little for her fans

Well, first, lets see Stevie gross $850K+ for a show. If she had that kind of drawing power, she wouldn't be a covetous shrew to request it.

That is a pretty impressive lineup, though- just another reason why Jam Productions is a first class promoter all the way.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Well, first, lets see Stevie gross $850K+ for a show. If she had that kind of drawing power, she wouldn't be a covetous shrew to request it.

That is a pretty impressive lineup, though- just another reason why Jam Productions is a first class promoter all the way.

Ha - people around here were horrified that FM had the effrontery to charge as much as they did for the SYW tour, which I suggest had close to this drawing power when you consider the combined receipts and they toured extensively.

Note - I fault no one for charging what they can get and leaving some cheap seats in the balcony.