Why Dodge City Events FAIL!

[Bubba]

I recentely found out there was a concert not that long ago at the Civic Center in Dodge City. It was Sammy Kershaw. My assessment of Sammy Kershaw, he is kind of a "has been," he had some good songs in the early 90's that did well if my memory is correct, I even liked some of his songs and I am not big on country music. I wouldn't have minded going to see him in concert if the price of admission wasn't more than $15-20.

Now, to why things Fail in Dodge City...I knew nothing about the concert before the concert took place. I don't subscribe to the Dodge City Daily Globe, because I can't see supporting a publication that calls itself an area newspaper that doesn't know how to report the local news. I don't listen to local radio stations on FM or AM, because I don't care for country music or all the commercials waiting to hear music, I listen to XM radio. I don't have a home phone number and my cell number is on the national do not call registry. So, if they advertised the concert in the Globe or on local stations they missed me in their advertising. If they made direct calls to promote it, they didn't call me. Who promoted this concert? How was it promoted? I saw NO flyers around town talking about an upcoming concert, I saw NO portable signs around the area promoting an upcoming concert. I saw NO billboards announcing any upcoming event. I heard no "buzz" before the concert from other people that knew the concert was going to be here or that they had tickets and were going.

If anything is going to work, you HAVE to get the word out. I feel that the concert might have been something that I would have enjoyed seeing and it was on an evening that I didn't have to be at work. The promoters just failed to do their job and promote the event so that people knew that it was going to be here.

If and when the Special Event Center is built in Dodge City, I HIGHLY recommend that the promoters that promoted this concert NEVER be allowed to promote any event at the Special Event Center. Unless the goal is to have poor attendance at the event.

[lurker]

Nice rant Bubba.

[dodgehighforeve]

Bubba, who put on the concert? If it was the Highway Patrol, they don't advertise. They do a concert fundraiser every year, but sell tickets by phone and mail only. They always get a country person, and not always a current one.

[lurker]

Show Info

I missed the last show but have attended several. Restless Heart and John Anderson are both still playing with their original band members.... the same ones who recorded their albums. Kinda like the Stones are still together...

Anyhoo, their performances were nearly identical to their recordings.... the same "licks" so to speak; but this doG don't understand how licks aren't always LICKS.

[lurker]

FWIW, HPPR's FRIDAY NIGHT BLUES program with Dodge City's Brother T-bone is on tonight until midnight. 92.9 FM or High Plains Public Radio then click the now playing button on the left to hear it online....

Tomorrow (Sat. 8-10pm) night's Mountain Stage is supposed to have Tommy Emmanuel as a guest.

Same hick station.

[Administrator]

Just added that station to the vBRadio selection.

Now you can listen through DodgeBoard.com!

[lurker]

Thanks Admin. Including HPPR was tried earlier but it Clintonnovalied.

[Army_of_One]

Another reason why events are hard to sell out or attract a lot of people is that Dodge City is looked upon as a city of xx,ooo when in reality it is TWO citys of 1/2 of xx,ooo. Most events either draw from the caucasion crowd or the hispanic crowd but very few draw from both. Recently Garden City had a "ultimate fighting champion" type match going on in their arena. The guys were here heavily promoting their match by doing radio broadcasts here in Dodge City and such. The tickets for this thing were NOT cheap and it looked like they were headed towards selling out. I know it's hard to attract people from both crowds here but if that was possilbe it would be more likely to sell out.

[TexKan]

We have lots of events that attract both - it's called Tex Mex...... you get an opening band with some savy that plays both. Then a named person for each group. Once the party starts - you find everyone just really likes music....... There is a band that Houston uses (local) that play both tejano and white boy music....... and country......... it's all about gettin the crowd ready - and there is more $$ when youattract both. Tejano's are populous enough they can have just a tejano event and actually sell out - not likely with the white boy crowd. There ain't enogh of em and they are sooo finicky about the music. When it shoould be about the adventure and what you are supporting.

FYI - Michael Murphy came to DC, did the Hiway patrol thing, and I would be willing to bet that the civic center wasn't 1/2 full - it was a white boy event...... it was a really nice entertaining time - plus Michael took the opportunity to sell his wares (he has great coffe blends) I bet he made more money than he got paid from the Hiway patrol.

Siezing the opportunity - that's what it's all about. Makin it fun for everyone - not just one group of folks. Afterall - when it comes right down to it - ya'll all live in the same town - there's plenty of time for desention and disagreements - it it's to benifit the "town"...... hell can't everyone just get along for a little party????

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Another reason why events are hard to sell out or attract a lot of people is that Dodge City is looked upon as a city of xx,ooo when in reality it is TWO citys of 1/2 of xx,ooo. Most events either draw from the caucasion crowd or the hispanic crowd but very few draw from both. Recently Garden City had a "ultimate fighting champion" type match going on in their arena. The guys were here heavily promoting their match by doing radio broadcasts here in Dodge City and such. The tickets for this thing were NOT cheap and it looked like they were headed towards selling out. I know it's hard to attract people from both crowds here but if that was possilbe it would be more likely to sell out.

What I was trying to say was that I was the type of person that they should have been attracting and I would have went, but I knew nothing about it before the event.