Show Me Center lineup filled with big names

Anyone looking for entertainment options won't have to look far this fall. The Show Me Center's fall lineup is filled with big names, starting with Wednesday's performance by bluegrass saviors Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Krauss kicks off two months of shows that include Larry the Cable Guy on Oct. 22, Willie Nelson and the Family Oct. 23, the Friends of Bob and Tom comedy show on Nov. 5 and the popular Trans-Siberian Orchestra making its return Nov. 16 (sponsored by the Southeast Missourian).

Show Me Center marketing director Brad Gentry said the busy fall lineup is really just the luck of the draw.

"Really it's rather cyclical," said Gentry.

The Show Me Center, said Gentry, is a considered a secondary or even tertiary market by many big touring acts. Promoters book shows at the venue to cover travel between other dates in larger markets.

This fall Cape Girardeau got lucky -- the open dates worked with tour schedules. But for two of this fall's shows, Larry the Cable Guy and TSO, the bookings are the result of great success before -- Larry the Cable Guy in January 2004 and TSO in November the same year.

The first Larry the Cable Guy show was originally set for about 2,000 seats but went on to sell around 4,200, while the TSO show was set for 2,500 seats and sold about 4,300.

'Big expectations'

A sellout crowd is 6,000 to 7,000 seats. Gentry said TSO may reach that level this year.

"Naturally, with Trans-Siberian Orchestra there are some pretty big expectations," said Gentry. "Their second time in a market they normally double their sales, and that would sell our building out. Last year's show created a big buzz in the community."

This isn't the first fall in which the Show Me Center has featured such a strong lineup. In 2003, shows featuring matchbox twenty and Nickelback drew strong crowds of rock fans to the Show Me Center, followed by country acts Brooks and Dunn and Larry the Cable Guy's show in the winter and spring.

"It's great for the Show Me Center, because it seems to be contagious," Gentry said. "Once you have some shows out there and promoters see those dates, they tend to look at you as well."

'He's a legend'

Cape Girardeau couple Shaun and April McClintock are excited about both the Alison Krauss and Willie Nelson shows. They're not really country fans, but like the "alternative" country acts like Krauss and Nelson.

"You've got to go see Willie," said April. "He's a legend."

Gentry said the Show Me Center is always trying to bring in the big acts that will draw a lot of people, but the decision is ultimately left up to the promoter, who assumes the financial risk of the shows.

Complaints will commonly arise from some sectors of the community, like college hipsters, about the venue not offering more modern rock acts. But Gentry said the shows known to do best are the country shows, family fare and classic rock acts.

High ticket prices often keep some people from attending. Local musician Jerry Swan isn't typically interested in the Show Me Center's fare.

"If I go see a show anymore, I'm more apt to go to SIU," said Swan.

Swan has seen both Elton John and The Smashing Pumpkins in Carbondale, Ill., but wanted to see Krauss at the Show Me Center.

His budget kept him from buying tickets, a problem that has probably led to a decrease in concert attendance in recent years.

The rock concert industry is currently facing slumping ticket sales, a trend that has hit promoters hard in the last few years. Those promoters are less likely to take a chance on bringing their acts to a smaller venue like the Show Me Center, said Gentry, and the venue doesn't want to take the risk on losing money by taking such a show on by itself.

"They're very expensive, and in this market I don't know if we would sell enough tickets to cover those expenses," said Gentry. "This market is conservative."

So far ticket sales for the upcoming shows have been steady, Gentry said. Good seats are still available for the Alison Krauss concert on Wednesday.

Expect more events to be announced later in the fall, said Gentry.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182