While the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band concert is still a few months away, already 650 tickets have been snatched up by music fans.
The classic band will be performing at the Badlands Community Facility on June 27. Randy Martin of Karizma Entertainment, who is promoting the show said this type of show is a win-win for the community.
“Not only is it impossible for the town to lose money, it is impossible for the town to not make money. The only entity that takes a risk, 100 per cent, is me,” said Martin.
Martin has been promoting shows in Alberta for three years and says he fills a niche in communities larger promoters overlook.
“Nobody is catering to the secondary markets like Drumheller, where they have a facility that holds 1,500-1,700 people,” he said. “We come into a market where people really appreciate it.”
Economic Development officer Bob Cromwell explains the Town of Drumheller has rented the field house to a promoter, and is receiving a commission for ticket sales. The town also has the opportunity to generate revenue through bar and food sales.
“What it does is allows us, as a community, to support the event and generate revenues from it,” said Cromwell, adding that seven sponsorship tables were sold out in the first week. “That to me says this community has stepped up large and wants this kind of thing.”
Cromwell said the community facility will benefit from the show.
Martin said if successful, this could lead to more shows.
“The way Drumheller has responded, I feel really good about it. At the end of the concert when the numbers are all tallied and there is a successful concert, this could lead to two concerts a year,” said Martin.
