Brookfield, NY Cancelled

[FalconONE]

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/ ... _fair.html

"Brookfield, NY -- Crews tore down the main stage Friday evening at the Madison County Fair after the promoter who promised to bring national music acts to the fairgrounds failed to pay for them.

A concert by the band Survivor set for Thursday never happened because Blaine Wiggins, owner of Entertainment Trading Co., did not pay the band's manager, fair president Jeff Mayne said.

The Utica-based promoter also cancelled Friday's grandstand concert featuring country musicians Steve Holy and Mark Wills.

The fair was approached by Wiggins about six months ago, Mayne said. He wanted to help the fair with its entertainment and offered to secure national musical acts.

It was the first time in decades fair officials had seriously considered trying to attract national entertainment.

Although it was their first time working with a promoter, Mayne said an agreement was made that the fair and Wiggins would each pay half of the $50,000 cost of bringing three national acts -- Survivor, Steve Holy and Mark Wills -- to the fairgrounds.

But when fair officials sent $10,000 to the business agent for Survivor, they learned Wiggins had not paid his half of the band's fee. They became concerned a few weeks ago, Mayne said, when they learned a concert Wiggins was promoting in Potsdam was cancelled.

"He kept telling us 'It's all taken care of,'" he said.

On Thursday Survivor arrived at the fairgrounds in Brookfield, but Wiggins didn't have the $11,000 owed to the band.

"He was unable to produce the money for the band's tour manager," fair vice president Josh Walker said. "He said his accountant didn't give him the money."

The band didn't perform as scheduled, but the lead singers felt bad for the fair and played seven quick songs for a crowd before heading back to their hotel, Walker said.

Wiggins later cancelled Friday's performances by Mark Wills and Steve Holy, Walker said, despite the fair's objections.

"We should've known better to get involved with this guy," Mayne said. "I don't know. I guess he just got in over his head."

Although the fair hasn't cancelled any of its local entertainment and all the other events will go ahead as planned, officials are in the process of refunding money for hundreds of tickets. Anyone who purchased tickets online must get their refund online.

The fair's board of directors also met with its lawyer Friday to decide what to do next.

For now, however, organizers are focusing on seeing the fair through to its end on Sunday.

"We're trying to salvage the rest of the weekend," Walker said. "

[w.wetzels]

Hi my friend,
That's bad news. No Survivor concert. Bad luck.
I knew you were looking forward to it.
Hopefully you will be able to catch them on another date.

[FalconONE]

"The band didn't perform as scheduled, but the lead singers felt bad for the fair and played seven quick songs for a crowd before heading back to their hotel,"

Well At least Jimi and Dave made some songs to please the crowd. Would be interesting how It happenned.. Only Jimi and Dave accapella or with frankie on acoustic?.. on a small stage? or just in the middle of the fair?... strange.. but they have good hearts for the families that have travelled to see them...