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Wednesday, May 23, 2007 

Rolling On The River Concert Series

DOES ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE NEVER CEASE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW THE EASIEST, SLAM-DUNK IDEAS ARE TYPICALLY THE HARDEST TO SELL? Here's one: One of the more popular hits my CCR tribute band (Creedence Again) plays is "Proud Mary" - "rollin, rollin, rollin on the river..."

Good or bad, one of the strongest sources of musical gigs in this country are CASINOS. Although they have a MILLION rules, security cameras everywhere, tight restrictions on drinking booze onstage, etc., they do have guaranteed budgets, regardless of attendance numbers. FYI, although I'm guessing there may be data somewhere to support this claim, I think in hard times, entertainment value goes UP - along with liquor sales - not the opposite. And a lot of folks are hoping to hit it big via gambling --- yet another conversation.

That said, I put some hard effort at the beginning of this year in creating some marketing materials for our "Rolling On The River" Concert Series, thinking this would FOR SURE get all kinds of interest from riverboat casinos. WRONG. With the exception of a random cold-call to an agent in southern Indiana that actually turned into a 3-night gig at a casino called Casino Aztar in Evansville, Indiana this Memorial Day Weekend, the concept was universally ignored by each and every talent buyer I reached out to. Damn...

However, my hope is doing this show may jump-start interest with other casinos (nobody likes being the first, right?). NEXT UP: Pat Benetar.

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