Lisa Marie Presley Teaming With Goo Goo Dolls For Fair Dates

NewsMay 12, 2003Unknown source

Lisa Marie Presley Teaming With Goo Goo Dolls For Fair Dates

By Don Muret
Publication: Amusement Business
Date: Monday, May 12 2003

Nearly 48 years after her father played his first fair date, the St. Francis Country Fair & Livestock Show in Forrest City, Ark., on Sept. 5, 1955, Lisa Marie Presley will grace at least three state fair grandstands with a 40-minute performance in support of Goo Goo Dolls. The package provides a
fresh face and a legacy link to the past when Elvis initially hit the road.

Triangle Talent's Dave Snowden, through the William Morris Agency, booked the two acts at the Iowa State Fair, Des Moines (Aug. 11); Kentucky State Fair, Louisville (15); and Missouri State Fair, Sedalia (16). He is also trying to work the Illinois State Fair, Springfield, into the route, said WMA agent Paul Moore.

"We also have offers from Syracuse [New York State Fair] and Allentown [Pa.], and I have been on the phone with [Variety Attractions'] Bill Magann to see what else is out there," he added. The Eastern States Exposition's John Juliano was holding out for a date in West Springfield, Mass.

"The problem for The Big E is their offer is in September [28] and there are not a whole lot of other events we can route with that," said Moore. Juliano told AB he would wait until mid-May before shifting his focus to another pop act. The State Fair of Texas, Sept. 26-Oct. 19, could potentially stretch out the fair run.

Nancy Wiley, longtime state fair PR director and historian in Dallas, said, "We asked our promoter, Glenn Smith, to check it out. We're interested. Elvis Presley drew 26,500 fans to the Cotton Bowl during the 1956 fair. He didn't fill the stadium but they had to erect a 10-foot wire fence around the perimeter" to control the shrieking teenage crowd.

Snowden said the $130,000 guarantee is a good price, with Goo Goo Dolls scheduled for 75 minutes. "I think that show has great [gross] potential. Lisa Marie has a strong CD and a good single out now. The Goo Goo Dolls have another hit, after years past with hit after hit. This is something unique, very different."

The ticket price in Des Moines is $25 and with approximately 11,000 seats, the gross could amount to $275,000. Iowa State Fair GM Gary Slater expects the package to broaden his event demographics, something fair managers continually strive for when booking live entertainment.

"Once we get a new customer to the fair, they will come back. It's the experience. But the question is always, 'How do you expand the market and make money as well?' From a music listening standpoint, Lisa Marie's new album is getting a lot of airplay and she has a huge media push," he said.

Presley's Capitol Records release, "To Whom It May Concern," which includes the single "Lights Out," ranked 17th on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending May 10.

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