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Aug

2006

What Do The Fans Say?

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In this article I would like to address some issues concerning concerts. It involves some changes that I think some promoters should consider. Some of the subjects are a little touchy and most promoters do not want to discuss because of possible repercussions. But I think most readers know by now that I do not soft-peddle anything. If I think it, I say it and let the chips fall where they may.

By the way, so many concert fans have asked me about the following issues that I will address them. Who should and should not sing on the concert stage? Ticket prices continue to rise and no one particular aspect of our industry is to blame. Ticket prices range from a low of $10 to $12.00 and to a high of $20.00. For a couple that can total $40.00 and fans, or at least my people, seldom complain as long as they get quality performance from the artists.

However, they do not want to pay $40.00 and listen to the promoter's six year old child or grandchild sing four songs then encore them twice. Nor should the professional artists bring their children or grandchildren out to do a few numbers. We must admit that most of the time our children and grandchildren are not as cute to everyone else as they are to us. Neither do they want to hear a local group take 20 minutes to feed their ego. Do not get me wrong, I am not opposed to local groups. There is a place for them but I do not believe it is on a major concert stage with a ticket cost of $20.00.

I do not use any local talent on any of my concerts as my crowd will not accept that. You ask how does a group go from a local group to a concert group? Well, some do not. But to earn a spot on concerts a group must be able to draw ticket buyers and I do not mean their families. A group must show me that people are willing to pay to see them. But in most cases that group sings in a nearby church every Sunday with no ticket required.

I have groups tell me that they do not want any money, they just want to sing on a big concert for exposure. I am sorry, but my supporters do not want to be the "exposure". I attended a program recently, not mine but a ticketed event, and the promoter brought out a group and before they sang a song they made the following statement "we do not claim to be singers, but we love the Lord". I appreciate the fact that they love the Lord. My point - if they do not claim to be singers, then do not go on stage. I got up and went to the lobby and waited for the next group.

If I were on board an airline and the pilot made the statement that he did not claim to be a pilot but he loved the Lord, I would find the first exit and get off immediately. I, too, love the Lord but I do not claim to be a brain surgeon so I stay out of the operating room.

The reason I am saying all of this is not to put anyone down or discourage anyone; but more and more fans are expressing their frustrations over these issues. They just expect the best for their money. They go to hear the advertised groups and do not want to sit through 45 minutes of amateur singers.

As a promoter I listen to what my supporters and ticket buyers tell me. We must uphold a certain standard if we are to succeed. As for local groups - some of them are very good. And if they are good enough then their day will come. Believe me, if enough people start asking me for a certain group I will put them on but that number would have to be very significant.

I have not intended to hurt any feelings I have just expressed what fans are saying and what they expect. And when I book a concert with professional groups, they expect to entertain the complete program - and they should because they are the ones that the people have paid to hear. We, as promoters, owe it to the artists to give them adequate time to present their program. Our programs must be professional from start to finish and it is our responsibility to see that they are. Let's give the fans their money's worth. A large corporation puts the best they can find in their top positions. Let's put the best artists we can find on stage. Let's not put our fans through the amateur hour before the scheduled professionals.

I think I have expressed the views of many ticket buyers.

Visit our website at http://www.sgpromoters.com . UNITED WE STAND!

God bless,
Jim Hefner

Reader Comments

Jim, one concert that we attend I almost dread each year. It is put on by a local group, they sing WAY too long, they have an MC that thinks he is Aaron Wilburn and he talks way to much. We go because they have a group(somethings 2) that are really good after you sit through everything else.

The crowds are dropping off and the group promoting blames it on everything but the above. One year the feature group did not get on stage the first time until 9:45 and this wasn't an 'all-night singing'.

I don't have a problem with a good local group to open for 15-20 minutes, if they are advertised and I know they are going to be there. But many groups that promote trade out dates (I'll let you open for my concert if you will let me open for yours) and the fans have to listen to 2 or more groups they would have NEVER purchased a ticket to hear!

DeeAnn
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Commented by Dee Ann Bailey On 08/01/2006

You have certainly expressed mine and, may I add, extremely well.

Stay the course and God Bless You!!

tiger61

Commented by On 08/16/2006

You are 100% right. Perfectly written.

Commented by On 08/16/2006

One year for my birthday, my step son bought me a couple tickets for my favorite female gospel singer. We had excellent seats and I was primed and ready for a great evening. The promoter had two or three other local groups that sang before her, and she ended up only having time to sing about four songs. I was not very happy. The tickets never cost me anything, but they cost my step son $25 per ticket. I agree with you 100%.

Commented by On 08/17/2006

I will say that there have been many times that I have gone to a concert where I have paid money and been disappointed with the "local group or artists" but if we don't give them a chance to display their talent and ability, how else are they going to get it done? I understand if it is a group that is not interested in pursuing a professional career in SGM, then let them stay on the local circuit. But if you have a qualified, talented group of people that want to excel and go further, then by all means, promote them. Just think about this, when The Hinsons came along in the early 70's, they weren't a polished, refined group. (If you don't beleive that, look around and listen to one of their earlier albums) If the promoter out in California had taken this position regarding them, they might never had been discovered. But they had potential. All I am saying is look for the potential and try to promote good quailty talent. And just a note here, always listenting to the crowd doesn't always pay off in the long run.

Commented by On 08/18/2006

If you wanna show there buddy, go to a theatre, pay the ticket for an entertainer, and those that wanna be entertained, whats the point! well god help them, stuff like this is whats wrong with our sgma, its called gospel, which ,means the truth, you are a prime example of the problem, compromising, there is no compromise.
Entertainment only last for so long, then it's gone, true worship will last forever, if this is really your true opinion of the situation, then your in the wrong place, along with those who complain to you!!!

Commented by On 08/23/2006

I think that people need to realize, that in order for the gospel to go forth, that it takes money to do so. And without people going to concerts and either paying for the ticket or putting something in the plate when it is passed that SGM singers and musicians cannot do what they do. God does provide, but guess what? He uses you and I to do that. (Luke 6:38)

I don't see that going to hear a group and paying to hear them is "compromising." I sure don't beleive that I am going to be condemned by God for wanting to hear Christian entertainment. I can still worship God even if I pay $20.00 to hear a full time professional group. I see nothing wrong with that in SGM. While I do feel that there are a lot of things that can be fixed in this industry, I see nothing wrong in paying to hear someone sing. And I don't have a problem with a good quality local or regional group having a small part in a professional concert. I can still worship and still enjoy good christian entertainment at the same time.

Commented by On 08/23/2006

i do agree with you there, i just meant the whole local group thing, the blog you wrote just seemed to put those local groups down, when they really dnt understand the real world of the sgma, i understand the money, and the need for it to continue, i just thought that you were, condemning the locals, and yes i do know that singers are a dime a dozen, and there are those that are just singers, they are on every corner, my point is locals get there start from somewhere, thats how they become known professionals, in the southern gospel industry,as we call it, southern goepel fans, dont understand the whole industry, and we gotta be carefull how we portray our comments and suggestions, thats all. and i am in the southern gospel indys\utry

Commented by On 08/24/2006

In a business, and Southern Gospel music is certainly a busines...compromise does not pay the bills. I attend concerts in my area where there are four local groups that regularly appear. three are sortra kinda OK and one (Journey Bound)is fanstastic. If the promoter would only sample an audience he would see that generally speaking, a local group will only have one or two songs that are considered ready for prime time. I too, often wonder how a group will ever get to the main stage at NQC...but at the same time I don't want to sit through 20 minutes of non-enjoyable "somebodyelses" music there either. If they have a very good arrangement let them sing one song as an interlude, a cameo appearance, etc...when they can field four or five very good songs...then feature them.
If full time gospel singing was not a business, we would not have the quality and selection we do...so Mr. Promoter...sit in the audience and give a local group a "darn good listening to", before you put them on your show.

Commented by On 08/28/2006

I must agree with this article. The message can get lost in so many things, and for me, the message in the song is the whole point. However, some local groups, as they are being called here, sometimes don’t have the polish needed to get that message across. Wrong notes, four people on stage calling themselves a quartet and all singing unison, one song the bass singer sings bass and on another song he sings tenor … that is very distracting and the message can get lost. (Please notice I said can get lost … and not … does get lost). So, with any criteria of stage able talent, it would go to show that going around and seeing the local talent before would be in order before allowing a local group one set of two to three song before the main group.

What I have to disagree with here is the absolute stance of “no local talent”. There are groups that would love to stand on a big stage for the sake of the big stage granted (and those you can for the most part spot a mile away) … however … most just want to get out in front of people and sing the Lord’s words in song. Just maybe, that concert attendee will go back to their church and get them for a Saturday or Sunday night. So, the big group/big stage promoter can help a local group … and here is the point … can help them LOCALLY. … … and there is no wrong in that … in fact it is a big help to the local group.

“Iron sharpens iron” … and if no one wants to put the work into a local group and make them sharp … they will just stay dull and un-stage-able.

Commented by On 08/28/2006

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