Events

[Towntalk]

So you're saying that we could have several major shows on the same night say:

Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops at say Powers
Road show version of Cats say at the Stambaugh Auditorium
Paul Anka say at the Chevy Center

and still have large crowds at each location?

YSU basketball and shows at Oakland are hardly huge draws. Neither are professional commanding thousand of dollars just to present.

As to Hockey ... every weekend when we had more than 7 high schools football drew large crowds true, and there was a time when we had three major theaters that brought in road shows at the same time, but those days are gone. We are not Cleveland where they can bring in big shows and draw large crowds.

The family budget just will not support running off to some venue every week, just as most people can not afford to dine out every night.

What we should be looking at is a well scheduled series of events that are spread out over the year so that once a month a family can have a night out as a family to events that won't cost an arm and a leg. Lets face it. at $40 - $50 dollars a ticket to a show is not something that the average family can afford to spend every time a new show comes to the Chevy Center, Powers, or Stambaugh Auditorium, and that does not take into consideration the cost of food.

On the other hand, the shows at the various commuity theaters is another matter, and I'm all for supporting them.

[jay]

Downtown Events This Past
Saturday, January 19, 2008

Beeghley Center at YSU           Basketball,  YSU vs Butler

Chevrolet Centre                    Hockey, Steelhounds vs Bossier-Shreveport

Oakland Center for the Arts     Theater,  "In The Moonlight Eddie"

Powers Auditorium                  Symphony, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra's Tribute to MLK

These events attracted over 11,000 people.
(estimate by the Shout Youngstown Blog)

[Towntalk]

Here is a portion of a performers standard contract:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bolton1.html

[Towntalk]

And where would we get the money to pay for all these events? Lets say that there is a major event a the Chevy Center, a major event at Powers, a show at Oakland, a band at Ceaders, all on the same night. This would draw a huge crowd downtown but that crowd would have to be divided between three venues, none of which would benefit from a full house.

Events cost money ... a lot of money ... throw in overtime for YPD ... parking ... and cleanup. If the venues can't make a profit, there will be fewer shows.

Personally I don't think that you realize just what it costs to put on a show either at Powers or the Chevy Center ... the costs are huge. Shows coming into these venues cost. For example, the operating expences for the venue, the up front costs for the shows just to get them here, house staff: stage hands, etc, ancellary costs built into the performer's contract, and security.

[jay]

There are many audiences for entertainment events.  Some people follow sports.  Others attend the theater.  Still others just like to listen to live bands.  I see no problem with all of these events taking place at the same time in downtown Youngstown.

The city events coordinator must give priority to the events already booked for the year.  City sponsored events should only be added as needed.

[Towntalk]

How many events can we have before people get burnt out on attending? Events cost time and money to put together, and no one group is so flush with cash that they can afford to throw a big bash that few people show up at. Then there is the scheduling problem. It doesn't make sense to have several groups competing for our attendance on the same day but in different locations.

Why for example did the weekly Friday bashes downtown burn out? It seemed like a good idea but ultamately dies because of poor attendance.

One suggestion is to take a serious look at some of the events that are held in Cleveland that are not tied in with professional sports or Playhouse Square. Every weekend 45/49 has a program that spotlights smaller events that are well attended, and we could get some fresh ideas from them. "Our Ohio" Saturdays at 6:00 PM.