Entertainment scarce at Show Me Center

A long time has passed since the Show Me Center had a big name concert act committed to perform.

Already nine months have passed since Trans-Siberian Orchestra drew a crowd of more than 5,000 in November for its second Cape Girardeau appearance.

By the time Ron White comes to town on Oct. 19, that span will be close to a year.

The Show Me Center announced late last week that Blue Collar comedian White would hit the venue this fall for his "You Can't Fix Stupid" tour. Ticket sales start Friday with 5,250 seats available.

For the Show Me Center, White's performance will break a long drought. That drought, says newly minted marketing director Shannon Buford, is just part of the industry.

"Sometimes ... you just hit slower periods," Buford said. "It seems almost historically that spring is a slow time. In the fall, that's about the time other facilities start to get concerts, too."

Buford said the Show Me Center has seen the symptoms of a sagging concert industry that has hit big music hard in the past few years.

Cape Girardeau's biggest concert venue felt some of that pinch last year. November's TSO show was a smashing success, but only about 2,300 fans watched Christian artist Michael W. Smith last May and only 2,100 showed up for Larry the Cable Guy in October. White sold 4,200 seats in May 2004.

The Friends of Bob and Tom Comedy Tour was canceled last year because of sluggish ticket sales. In September 2004, a show by comedian Dave Chappelle was canceled a little over a week before the concert date. Chappelle's management cited conflicts with his TV production schedule, but only 1,200 tickets had been sold by the time the appearance was called off.

But this year's drought isn't new to the Show Me Center, either. The only spring show to feature a big name last spring was Smith. Last fall, however, saw Allison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Larry the Cable Guy and TSO hit the Show Me Center stage.

So far this fall's only big name is White, except for family fare such as Disney on Ice.

Buford said that may change soon with an unnamed country act that also may hit the Show Me Center in the fall. Buford said nothing was final yet, so he declined to name the act.

However CMT's Web site lists a Cape Girardeau date on Oct. 21 for Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

With the crowd he drew last time, White's show may see high support from the local audience. Buford said already possible ticket buyers are calling for more information.

But the prospect of a White-only fall, or even one with Underwood/Paisley, doesn't sit well with many Southeast Missouri State University students who complain the venue offers them nothing in the way of the alt-rock groups they'd like to see.

"A lot of the music that comes to the Show Me Center is stuff that I don't even listen to," said senior Liz Bertrand. Bertrand, a co-managing editor for the Capaha Arrow student newspaper, said many people on campus complain that Show Me Center concerts are too country.

However, she also said she understands that a rural, regional venue like the Show Me Center typically has to book shows for the entire area audience to sell enough tickets.

Chappelle's concert was one Bertrand and her friends were excited about, but that show never materialized.

The shows that typically do the best: classic rock, family shows and country.

However, Buford said he hopes to work more with the college population as he settles in to his new post. This semester he wants to start a close working relationship with the university's Student Activities Council, a campus organization that helps bring in entertainment for students.

More additions to the fall schedule will be announced soon, Buford said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182