SHOW ME CENTER TO BOOK MORE ROCK

The scheduling of a Crosby, Stills & Nash concert Aug. 24 (see story, Page 12B) signals a new willingness by the Show Me Center to book rock 'n' roll shows.

This is the case despite last Sunday's dismal turnout for a concert by Eddie Money and Kansas. Though fewer than 1,200 people attended that show, Show Me Center Director David Ross attributed the small turnout mostly to "lack of interest" in the musicians.

Ross has no such doubts about Crosby, Stills & Nash, who recently were nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and after 25 years of successful recording and touring are a reliable draw. They were one of the first supergroups and, if recent reviews are accurate, still come out punching.

The DuQuoin State Fair, the Sikeston Bootheel Rodeo and the Southeast Missouri State Fair will provide a near saturation of country music during August and September. "From that aspect, here's a musical genre (rock 'n' roll) that's not being represented and there should be some demand," Ross said.

Rock 'n' roll shows have been scarce in recent years at the Show Me Center, which has relied heavily on sure-thing country music to bring in customers. Prior to Money/Kansas, the last rock concert was by the Moody Blues in March 1994. Yet the most successful show in Show Me Center history was the July 1988 rock 'n' roll concert by Aerosmith and Guns 'n' Roses that drew 7,357 people.

Though admitting that "the crystal ball's a little cloudy," Ross thinks the time may be right to book more rock bands.

"We have had a steady diet of country music when its musical star was shining greatly and rock 'n' roll was left for awhile," he said. "This is now a move back to a more balanced entertainment offering."

The Show-Me Center is co-producing the show with Miami, Fla.-based Legendary Concerts. That means it will share in the profits if the concert is a success or share some of the losses if anything akin to the Money/Kansas debacle occurs again.

Mt. Vernon, Ill.-based Midwest Video Productions was the sole promoter for the Money/Kansas concert, and fortunately cleared enough to pay the Show Me Center its rental fee.

As for the promoter, "I would say he took a large bath," Ross said. "I'm just thankful it wasn't my show."

Scheduling that concert at the end of a four-day holiday weekend also might have contributed to the poor sales, Ross said.

Besides booking more rock 'n' roll acts, Ross said he also will ask the Show Me Center Board of Managers to consider the return of alcohol sales for the CS&N show.

The Show Me Center has sold alcohol at only one concert in its history. After receiving two complaints, the board decided not to sell any more. But more and more concert venues are recouping costs through alcohol sales, Ross says.

"It's a revenue source we've not used to its full potential. At the same time, we want to be responsible to the community."

He noted that some artists won't allow alcohol at their shows, and that the young demographics of some audiences would make alcohol sales inappropriate.

But in the case of a band like CS&N, whose demographics are older, selling alcohol could help the Show Me Center at a time when it is struggling to break even.

"If we can generate revenue without having price increases it should help us attract additional shows," Ross said.