I just read the Jan. 2 edition of The Morning Star which mentioned the lack of events in the Wesbild Centre.
I am the promoter of the very first concert in the multiplex – Tom Cochrane, Barney Bentall and Spirit of the West for Winter Carnival 2002, and then the Stampeders in a fun-filled, cabaret event, which was to show Rec/Ex and the Regional District of North Okanagan what we/they should be doing in order to bring extra revenue to the multiplex.
Along with those, I have also done Bruce Cockburn, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Vienna Boys Choir, Amy Sky, Matthew Good, Crash Test Dummies and probably another dozen at the Performing Arts Centre and Vernon Lodge. I also started Suds N’ Cider and Pamper your Palate so I feel I should offer my feedback, and with my credentials, I feel qualified.
Now, regarding the two concerts I held at the multiplex, I broke even on the first after investing nearly $100,000 and lost money on the second, which my output was about $30,000. Who made money? The regional district. When you sell 30 to 40 kegs of beer per event,150 glasses per keg at $5 per glass, there’s $22,500-$30,000 in sales. After I paid for the rental, security, etc,, I walked away with nothing while they made the money.
So, if they did this themselves, a couple of things happen. They will make money and there will be events there.
In the past, and especially over the past six weeks, I have been in conversation with Wesbild Centre to put a concert in the multiplex. I have been in contact with an agency that is taking bookings for a tour right now featuring Flo and Eddie of the Turtles, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Gary Pucket and the Union Gap and Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
I have been also working on bringing back one of the best concerts that I did while working at the Vernon Lodge, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp.
There’s not much reaction except I will present this to RDNO. That was three weeks ago. Do you want a budget, forecasts, etc.? Talk to me, let’s get this going. I really want to do this locally because, as a local businessman myself, I believe in shopping locally and my personal mandate is to be a promoter in Vernon, not Kelowna, where the chances of making money is more realistic.
I hear they have been given seed money of $60,000 to assist in promoting concerts. When I questioned them about this, I thought seed money means they want to bring in acts on their own and try to make money that way. But it’s not for bringing in concerts. It’s to help promoters make the down-payment on the act.
Then, if and when the promoter sells the tickets, its returned to RDNO and the promoter is on his own once again. Even if he does not make a profit, the money has to be returned to RDNO as soon as the ticket sales reach the money the RDNO outlayed. As a promoter, its not much of an incentive to work with the multiplex.
I have always said, that if I win everyone should win but if I lose then everyone should lose. I have suggested several times that I will work for the multiplex at no charge to assist them in bringing concerts here and use that seed money.
We will never lose it all and should be able to bring several events here with it. They have a paid person in Penticton, Kelowna and Kamloops that does this and that is why they are getting these concerts. I said that if we make money, then pay me a percent. If nothing is made, pay me nothing. My other suggestion is to open the books for everything and split the costs and profits or loss. What I will not do is take all of the risk in this small market while RDNO makes money. If you want someone to step up, then step up yourself.
Let’s use that seed money to put on some concerts. Have a look at the total profit and economic benefit for the city and not just the ticket sales and then see whether they should continue on their own or not. At least we are doing something beside sitting and waiting.
Bob Sattler
Vernon
