FALL 2012
The Romeo Reporter
PAGE 1 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
Another
Pay-One-Price
Ticket Success Story
The Greeley Stampede in Greeley, Colorado is the latest REG
client to try a pay-one-price ticket featuring multiple concerts.
In the past, The Greeley Stampede has hosted four to six individually ticketed concerts in its Grandstand. They found that
one or two concerts would often sell well while the others suffered poor attendance. REG suggested trying a new ticketing
format, and Greeley Stampede General Chairman Kyle Holman
agreed that 2012 was the year to try it. With the current economic hardships in Greeley, Holman figured “throwing something out there with a friendlier cost” would be met favorably.
The Stampede launched the “Stampede Super Stars Pass,”
which would get the purchaser into all five concerts at the 2012
Stampede. Passes were priced at $80 or $50, based on location.
Tickets for individual concerts were still available, but anyone
who planned to go to more than one concert immediately saw
the value of buying the pass instead. Concerts included Justin
Moore with James Wesley, Luke Bryan with The McClymonts,
Creedence Clearwater Revisited with Great White, Skillet with
We As Human, and Montgomery Gentry with Glen Templeton.
The Super Stars Pass was an overwhelming success. Luke Bryan’s popularity surge spurred sales and more than 8,000 attended his concert. The Super Stars Pass served its purpose,
and the crowds were increased for all shows, not just Luke Bryan. For example, only about 2,000 individual tickets were sold
for Justin Moore, but there were 6,000 people at the concert,
which means 4,000 extra people on grounds to eat, drink, visit
vendors, and buy tickets for carnival rides.
“The biggest difference was that people came to the event
more than once. People used to come to just one show,” explained Holman. He added that some people shared their concert pass with a friend or family member, but either way, the
pass brought more people to the concerts and the grounds.
Educating the public on this new ticketing option was a challenge, but ticket buyers appreciated the value once they understood how the pass worked. The Stampede plans to make
The Super Stars Pass a centerpiece of its marketing efforts in
2013.
Luke Bryan performed to a packed house at The Greeley Stampede in
Greeley, Colorado.
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 2
“New” Classic Rock
A new wave of Classic Rockers could be found at REG venues
this past summer. Boston, Journey, and Joe Walsh were among
the Classic Rock names that played fair, festival, and casino
venues for REG for the first time in many years or in some cases,
the first time ever.
Classic Rock icon Joe Walsh
rocked the house at The
Riverside Casino & Golf
Resort in Riverside, IA in
July.
Boston, a band known for its ‘70’s and 80’s hits such as “More
Than a Feeling,”“Cool the Engines,” and “Amanda,” played shows
at the Affiliated Foods Midwest Music Festival in Norfolk, NE
on September 2 and the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, KS
on September 8. The show in Norfolk was a sell out with 6,000
tickets sold and 5,823 attended the show in Hutchinson.
Another legend of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s era, Classic
Rock band Journey, played two dates for REG, along with tour
guests Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo and Loverboy. Through the
years, Journey has sold more than 48 million albums in the U.S.
alone and their ubiquitous hit song, “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the
top-selling digital catalog song in history. The band’s popularity was evident at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY
on July 26, where 16,399 fans attended their show. Journey
and guests also played at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls,
where there was a crowd of 6,165.
Photo: George Burrows
Joe Walsh has a tremendous record of hits songs from both his
solo career and his years with The Eagles. Joe Walsh played to
4,888 fans at the Oregon State Fair in Salem on August 25. The
Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in Riverside, IA hosted an outdoor concert with Walsh on July 14 that attracted a crowd of
3,497.
Shawn Severson, General Manager of Divots (in Boston shirt), and REG’s Bogie pose with Boston before the sold-out show in Norfolk.
PAGE 3 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
The Colbert Report
Visits The
Corn Palace
Rodney Atkins takes a break from his video shoot at the Mississippi
Valley Fair to talk with crew members.
Live from the
Mississippi Valley Fair!
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota
On October 18 Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report featured a satirical news story on REG client, The Corn Palace, in Mitchell, SD. The show, which is a parody of cable
news programs, visited The Corn Palace on September
14 and spent a full day filming and interviewing staff
members. The result was a comical tongue-in-cheek
feature on how the Midwest drought has left The Corn
Palace with two less colors of corn to use for decorating the building this year – a problem The Colbert Report
deemed “A Shucking Disaster.” All laughs aside, the segment has brought The Corn Palace more publicity than
they could ever buy, according to Corn Palace Director
Mark Schilling. Schilling, who is featured throughout the
Colbert piece, said that it has brought the venue a lot of
positive feedback and re-connected a lot of people to
The Corn Palace.
To see the sketch, go to: http://www.colbertnation.
com/the-colbert-report-videos/420364/
october-18-2012/special-report---a-shuckingdisaster---nightmare-at-the-mitchell-corn-palace
The Mississippi Valley Fair has a new claim to fame. Rodney Atkins decided there was no better place to shoot
his new music video than this fair in Davenport, Iowa.
Atkins played the fair on July 31st. Atkins’ video crew
came to the fair that day hoping to get some footage to
use for the video of his new single, “Just Wanna Rock N
Roll.” They got so much great footage that they declared
the video shoot finished. The entire video is shot at the
fair and includes Atkins hanging with his band playing a
bean bag toss game in the afternoon, his interview and
autograph signing at the WLLR radio booth, his performance on stage, and many shots of his fans enjoying
the show.
When asked why the video was shot at the fair, Rodney
Atkins said, “The crowds are always so enthusiastic and
lively up at the Mississippi Valley Fair. They make it great
as an entertainer to be out there, and we thought it’d be
fun to give a little back - show off the fans, the vendors,
everybody there - they all play a role in making it a great
night.”
You can watch the video and see how well it showcases the fair here: http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=xVfFyUKYFzI
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 4
Artist to Watch: Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes on stage at the Downtown Hoedown in Vegas.
This 21 year-old from
Louisiana is on the
threshold of being a
big star.
Hunter Hayes may be only 21 years-old, but he’s been
making music for most of his life. He sang on stage with
Hank Williams Jr. and appeared on talk shows with Maury Povich and Rosie O’Donnell playing the accordion at
age 4. He’s been writing songs since age 6, and along
the way he’s appeared in a film with Robert Duvall and
played music with County music icons like Johnny Cash
and Charlie Daniels. By the age of 17, Hayes moved to
Nashville and became a professional songwriter with
Universal Music Publishing Group.
Hunter Hayes released his first studio album on Atlantic Records in October of last year after spending the
summer opening for Taylor Swift and building a legion
of new fans. His first single, “Storm Warning” sold more
than 500,000 copies. His second release, “Wanted” went
to #1 on the charts and has sold more than a million
copies. “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” his latest single, is
currently climbing the charts. He was also just named
the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year
and will tour with Carrie Underwood this fall and winter.
This talented young man plays the guitar, accordion,
drums, bass, and keyboards. He is a natural showman.
Hunter Hayes invites the crowd to sing along at The Brown County Fair
in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Seven REG clients were able to experience his showmanship first-hand this summer. Hayes played at Cheyenne Frontier Days where he opened for Reba, the SLV
Skihi Stampede in Monte Vista, CO where he opened
for Craig Morgan, the Canyon County Fair in Caldwell,
ID where he opened for Jo Dee Messina, the Montana
State Fair opening for Sara Evans, the Brown County Fair
in Aberdeen, SD and the Chase County Fair in Imperial,
NE opening for Travis Tritt, and the Trails West Festival
in St. Joseph, MO, where he opened for Uncle Kracker.
With the success Hunter Hayes has had in 2012, it’s safe
to say he won’t be an opening act for long.
PAGE 5 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
PACK the HOUSE
Eric Church plays to a sell-out crowd at the Madison County Fair. It was the biggest concert the fair has ever hosted.
REG is excited to share with you a list of shows that sold exceptionally
well for our clients this summer.
Artist: Weird Al Yankovic
Venue: Lane County Fair – Eugene, OR
Date: 8/18/12
Attendance: 9,000
Quote: “I think Weird Al did well at the Lane County Fair
due to the fact that he encompasses so many genres and
eras of music that he appeals to a huge and wide reaching
demographic. There were young kids, teenagers, adults and
seniors in the crowd and all of them had a GREAT time.” – Rachel Bivens, Lane County Events Center, Director of Marketing and Sales
Artist: Journey with special guests Pat Benatar &
Neil Giraldo and Loverboy
Venue: Montana State Fair – Great Falls, MT
Date: 8/1/12
Attendance: 6,165
Quote: “Journey was the most amazing concert in the Pacific
Steel & Recycling Four Seasons Arena with record attendance! We are looking forward to more concerts such as
Journey here at this facility!” – Lisa Bracco, General Manager,
Montana ExpoPark
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
Artist: Jeff Dunham
Venue: Oregon State Fair – Salem, OR
Date: 8/31/12
Attendance: 8,748
Quote: “Jeff Dunham’s performance was exceptional; the
show was a huge hit, both to the sold out house and at the
box office! This show was well worth the investment.” -Eric
Marcuse, Entertainment Producer, Oregon State Fair
Artist: Kid Rock with special guest Uncle Kracker
and Zac Brown Band (part of Country Show Pass
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 6
Artist: BOSTON with special guests Survivor and
Starship starring Mickey Thomas
Venue: Affiliated Foods Midwest Music Festival – Norfolk, NE
Date: 9/2/12
Attendance: 6,000
Quote: “I believe this show’s success was due to a combination of two things - an iconic classic rock headliner in Boston, who had not been in the area in over five years, along
with the strong addition of Starship and Survivor, which
made it a great rock lineup.” – Shawn Severson, General
Manager, DeVent Center
also including Luke Bryan, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chris
Young, & Blake Shelton)
Artist: Eric Church
Venue: North Dakota State Fair – Minot, ND
Date: Kid Rock – 7/20/12, Zac Brown Band – 7/21/12
Attendance: Kid Rock – 14,887, Zac Brown Band – 14,307
Venue: Madison County Fair – Madison, NE
Date: 7/15/12
Attendance: 9,000
Quote: “We are so pleased with attendance, but for us on
staff, success hasn’t been measured in numbers. We are
counting smiles of our visitors, the generally great safety
record, the many youth, their parents and supporters who
entered exhibits, and the fun that was had by folks who
chose to take in our Fair.” - Renae Korslien, North Dakota
State Fair Manager
Quote: “The Eric Church show was super - high energy and
great special effects. We were fortunate that a “superstar”
like Eric had not been in the area recently and because of his
recent hits, tickets were at a premium. It was the first time
in history that we sold every ticket and we did that in two
and a half days of sales.” – Linda Haack, Madison County Fair
Board of Directors
Weird Al Yankovic’s unique show entertained 9,000 people of all ages at the Lane County Fair.
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
PAGE 7 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
Small Talk with
Josh Turner
Josh Turner burst onto the Country music scene in 2003 with
the Gospel-tinged hit single, “Long Black Train.” His distinctive
baritone voice is his trademark. The South Carolina native grew
up singing in church and attended Belmont University in Nashville. He has released five albums with MCA Nashville, which
have produced 12 Top 20 singles, including three number #1
songs. His latest album, Punching Bag, came out this past summer and its first release, “Time is Love” has already sold more
than 500,000 copies.
REG’s Mindy Klein recently had the chance to ask Josh a few
questions over email while he was on a tour stop in Fort
Worth, Texas.
M: As you know, we book a lot of fairs and festivals. What’s
your favorite part about playing at fairs or festivals? What’s
your least favorite part?
Mindy: What’s the best thing about your job?
J: My favorite part of playing fairs and festivals is the people.
They are always very excited to see us and make the show
very worthwhile. My least favorite part is the facilities. We
don’t really get dressing rooms or a good place to eat catering and if the weather is bad it’s even worse.
Josh: It takes me to a lot of interesting and beautiful places
and allows me to sing-my favorite thing to do.
M: Which song that you’ve written resonates with you the
most?
J: Long Black Train
M: Tell us a little about your new single, “Find Me a Baby.”
I read that your wife and 3 young sons contributed to the
song.
J: Find Me A Baby features my wife Jennifer and our three
boys. We had a blast recording this and I’m thrilled that it’s
now a single! I really hope the fans love it.
M: I know that your wife plays in your touring band with
you. Do you bring the whole family on the road? Are any
of your sons showing an aptitude for singing or playing a
musical instrument?
J: Traveling with my family is something I cherish because I
realize it’s something we may not always be able to do. We
have fun seeing the world together. The boys love music but
their interests seem to change everyday. After all, they’re all
6 and under! Haha.
M: Is it hard to adjust between life on the road and life at
home?
J: It can be hard adjusting between the road life and the
home life. The first day on the bus is always a struggle because we have to be a little more patient with each other and
share the space. The first day at home after being on the road
is hard to describe. We get to spread our wings but none of
us want to do anything. We always seem to crave getting in
the car and going to eat Mexican food right after we set everything down inside. Very peculiar, I know.
M: Do you have a favorite “fair food?”
J: I’ve gotten away from eating fair food since I cleaned up
my diet.
M: You’ve cut tracks with Ralph Stanley, Trisha Yearwood,
and Diamond Rio. Which other artists would you like to
work with in the future?
J: I’ve worked with a lot of cool artists but I don’t have anybody on my list at the moment. That could change tomorrow
though!
M: What song or artist would people be surprised to know
is on your iPod?
J: Most people may be surprised that I have Andrea Bocelli on
my iPod. I have no idea what he’s saying but it sounds good!
M: What hobbies or interests do you enjoy in your spare
time?
J: Hunting, fishing, lifting weights, basketball.
M: If music hadn’t worked out, what do you think you’d be
doing for a career?
J: My backup plan for a week was forestry. Glad the music
thing worked out!
M: What are your plans for the upcoming year?
J: My plans for next year are straightforward. We are gonna
tour close to same amount as the last few years and 15 of
those dates will be sponsored by Ariat International. I’m very
excited to be working with them.
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 8
Luke Bryan rocked the house at Burlington Steamboat Days despite the rainy weather conditions.
The Next Big Thing: Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan is on course to become Country music’s next superstar. Nowhere was his growing popularity more evident than
the five shows that REG booked with him in 2012. Here’s a look at how those shows did.
City
Event
Show Date
Luke Bryan
Concert Attendance
Burlington, IA
Burlington Steamboat Days
6/15
15,000
Grand Junction, CO
Country Jam
6/22
13,000
Greeley, CO
Greeley Stampede
6/23
8,000+
Eau Claire, WI
Country Jam
7/21
22,000
Minot, ND
North Dakota State Fair
7/22
11,967
Luke Bryan first experienced success as a songwriter in Nashville before becoming a recording artist. Bryan had his first big
hit in 2007 with “All My Friends Say.” Since then he has released three albums and has had a slew of platinum-selling singles
including “Do I,” “Rain is a Good Thing,” “Country Girl (Shake it for Me),” “I Don’t Want This Night to End” and “Drunk on You.” A
tour with Jason Aldean last summer helped bolster his move to the next level of stardom.
Luke Bryan’s live show does not disappoint. Scott Smith, Vice President of Marketing for Burlington Steamboat Days described
Bryan’s show like this, “The atmosphere was much like that of a Garth Brooks Concert. For one and a half hours, as the heavens
let loose [with rain], there was a connection between the artist and his fans with lyrics we all could relate to – a connection that
only a Super Star could command. His lyrics brought laughter, excitement, and reflection. It was a moment in time where
everyone forgot about all that is happening around them. We were all connected to this Super Star and no one in the crowd
wanted to let go as the ‘Luke Experience’ came to a close.”
In 2013, Luke will headline his first major tour, the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour.”
PAGE 9 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
Billy Currington
is happy to be
at the Montana
Fair in Billings.
An aerial view of the Styx concert at the Western
Idaho Fair in Boise, ID.
Charlie Daniels plays the fiddle like only he can at the Grays Harbor
County Fair in Elma, WA.
Red River Valley Fair Assistant Manager Jodi Buresh and
General Manager Bryan Schulz take time for a photo with
REG’s R.J. Romeo during the fair.
The crowd waits for a show to begin at the Canyon County
Fair in Caldwell, ID.
Creed plays at the Clark County Fair in Ridgefield, WA.
Demi Lovato makes her debut
at the Evergreen State Fair in
Monroe, WA.
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 10
Heart performs at the Eastern
Idaho Fair in Blackfoot.
Dierks Bentley owned
the stage at the Medicine Hat Stampede in
Alberta.
County duo Thompson Square performs
at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in
Mount Pleasant, IA.
Rodney Atkins gets his
picture taken with Buffalo County Fair Manager Dave Roseberry
before his show at the
fair in Kearney, NE.
Hot Chelle Rae rocks out at the Deschutes County
Fair in Redmond, OR.
Preston Brust of the LoCash Cowboys ventures into the crowd with
a camera at Country Jam in Eau
Claire, WI.
2012 Photo Memories
Zac Brown looks out into the crowd of more than 15,000
people at the North Dakota State Fair.
3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold locks hands with a fan during the show at
Fremont Street in Las Vegas.
Jake Owen lit up the stage at the First Premier Bank
employee party in Sioux Falls, SD.
PAGE 11 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
Anniversaries
Observed
Wyoming State Fair
The Wyoming State Fair in Douglas, Wyoming celebrated its
100th year from August 11-18, 2012. The first Wyoming State
Fair was held in 1905, but there were seven years in which the
fair was not held because of extenuating circumstances such
as World War II, The Great Depression, and a polio outbreak.
This eight-day annual fair features rodeo, live musical entertainment, a carnival, many 4-H and open class exhibits and
competitions, vendors, a demolition derby, and many other
activities. The fair has maintained its focus on agriculture and
Wyoming heritage throughout the years.
To celebrate its 100th year, the fair did several things including hosting additional free stage entertainment, performances by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, an enhanced
parade, new competitive events for both adults and youth,
and offering more special rewards and prizes for those competitions. Another way the fair celebrated is by having several
concerts. In recent years, the fair has put on just one big concert, but in 2012 there were four big shows – Western Underground did two shows, one on August 12 with the Doo Wah
Riders opening, and one on the 18th with Chancey Williams
and the Younger Brothers Band, The Guess Who performed
along with Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band
on Aug. 14, and Dierks Bentley headlined with Larry Gatlin &
The Gatlin Brothers as special guest on August 15. The Dierks
Bentley show was the first concert to ever sell out at the Wyoming State Fair, with 4,500 tickets sold.
When asked the biggest way the fair has changed in the past
100 years, Fair Director Vicki Rupert mentioned the type of
livestock exhibits that are offered for competition and changes in rodeo and entertainment offered. She also explained
that the fair started out strictly as an agricultural event and
the challenge over the years has been to maintain that tradition, but also offer a complete entertainment package. The
fair strives to educate and entertain, and put an important
focus on the youth because they play such an important part
in the future of agriculture.
Rupert thinks the Wyoming State Fair’s founders would be
proud of today’s event and the way the fair has served the
youth of the state. She thinks the founders would be shocked
by the change in livestock, horses, and other agricultural
products on display, and also amazed by the role technology
plays in the fair.
Here’s to another 100 years!
Medicine Hat Exhibition
and Stampede
The 125th Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede took place
from July 25-28, 2012 in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede (MHE&S) is a “Not for Profit”
volunteer community service organization, established to
provide the City of Medicine Hat and District with programs,
events and facilities. Its premiere event is the Stampede each
July, which celebrates the community’s western heritage.
The Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede is put on
with the help of more than 500 volunteers, led by a
Board of Directors and small core of paid staff. The annual Exhibition and Stampede includes rodeo events,
night shows (concerts), a parade, midway rides, casino
games, beer gardens, dances, horse shows, exhibits, demonstrations, and a wide range of free entertainment.
The first Exhibition was held in 1887, and it consisted of
livestock exhibits which were displayed at the CPR stockyards and other exhibits such as poultry, grains, garden
vegetables and preserves shown in a place called Government Hall. The purpose of this first exhibition was to bring
urban and rural people together, which is still part of today’s mission statement for the event and organization.
An anniversary cake and ice cream presentation was held
the opening day of this year’s event to commemorate
the 125th anniversary. Also, a special 125th anniversary
flag was flown by the Grand Entry Girls prior to each ro-
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 12
deo performance. Other special events for the 125th anniversary included a daily performance by native Indian
group The Nekaneet Dance Troupe, a Best of the Best event
showcasing local talent, trick shot riders at the rodeo, and
the Alberta Light Horse Cavalry parade on horseback.
Three big concerts were also part of the 125th event including Dierks Bentley on July 25, Big & Rich with special guests Cowboy Troy and Brad Gaskin on July 26, and
Craig Morgan featuring Mackenzie Porter on July 28.
When asked about how the Stampede has changed through
the years, Corporate Development Manager JT Tennant stated
that the biggest change has been the rising cost of entertainment, competition for entertainment, and how people’s perception of entertainers has changed over the years. The cost
of securing big name entertainment and production costs
create a challenge for smaller events like the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede. Tennant added that he thought the
event’s founders would probably be most surprised at the
amount of money it takes to put on the annual exhibition today.
Through the work of many dedicated volunteers, the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede will continue their mission
of promoting community events that celebrate western heritage.
Craig Morgan rocked the stage
at the 125th Annual Medicine
Hat Exhibition and Stampede.
IAFE Convention 2012~ Las Vegas, Nevada ~
Nov. 25TH – 29th, 2012
In appreciation for your business,
You are cordially invited to attend a private reception
Monday, November 26, 2012
From 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
At the Romeo Entertainment Group Suite
In Bally’s Las Vegas
(Call Bally’s front desk or any reg staff member to get suite number)
Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres will be served
Performances by special guest artists
Hosted by Fran Romeo, Bob Romeo
& the Romeo Entertainment Group Staff
We look forward to seeing you in Vegas!
PAGE 13 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
NE W CLIENTS
Family Service, Inc. “Hope for Solid Ground” Benefit
Location: Billings, Montana
Event Date: October 20, 2012
Concert: Craig Campbell
First Premier Bank Private Party for Employees
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Event Date: September 16, 2012
Concert: Jake Owen
Fremont Street Experience
Poison’s CC DeVille gets a great reaction from the crowd at Black Oak
Mountain Amphitheater.
Here’s a look at some venues that were new
to Romeo Entertainment Group in 2012.
Autumn Fun Fest
Location: Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada
Event Date: September 14, 2012
Concert: Dwight Yoakam with special guest JT Hodges
American Fork City Steel Days Celebration
Location: American Fork City, Utah
Event Dates: July 14-21, 2012
Concert: SheDaisy on July 21
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Event Dates: Multiple Dates in 2012
Concerts: Summer Concert Series:Vince Neil on May 26, Dennis DeYoung on June 9, Night Ranger on June 22, ASIA feat. John Payne on
July 7, Warrant & Skid Row on July 21, Bret Michaels on August 4,
Survivor on August 18, Dee Snider on September 1; Concert with
UFC Event - 3 Doors Down on July 4; The D Grand Opening - Bret
Michaels on October 13 and OneRepublic on October 20; Downtown Hoedown on December 5 – Dustin Lynch, Uncle Kracker, Jana
Kramer, and Clay Walker; New Year’s Eve – Downtown Countdown
– Quiet Riot, Queensryche, Otherwise, Buckcherry, Pop Evil
Garden City Area
Chamber of Commerce Banquet
Location: Garden City, Kansas
Event Date: August 16, 2012
Concert: Henry Cho
Glanbia Foods 21st Birthday Bash
Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater
Location: Lampe, Missouri
Event Dates: Multiple Dates in 2012
Concerts: Country Throwdown featuring Gary Allan, Justin Moore,
Josh Thompson and more on May 19; Cinderella with Sebastian
Bach & Quiet Riot on July 20; Def Leppard with special guests Poison
and Lita Ford on August 29
Bluegrass at the Fair
Location: Filer, Idaho
Event Date: June 30, 2012
Concert: Montgomery Gentry
Hamilton County Fair
Location: Aurora, Nebraska
Event Dates: July 26-29, 2012
Concert: Casey Donahew Band on July 28
Location: Pueblo, Colorado
Event Dates: June 1-3, 2012
Concerts: Claire Lynch Band on June 1 plus additional regional and
local acts
Midwest Balloon Fest
Emery County Fair
North Umpqua Music Festival
Location: Castle Dale, Utah
Event Dates: August 1-4, 2012
Concert: The Lost Trailers & Glen Templeton on August 4
Location: Roseburg, Oregon
Event Date: July 20, 2012
Concert: Elvin Bishop plus local and regional Blues acts
Eureka’s Big Q Celebration
Rock the Foundation MultiCare Health Foundation
Location: Eureka, South Dakota
Event Dates: July 5-7, 2012
Concert: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on July 6
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Event Date: September 21, 2012
Concert: The Doobie Brothers
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Event Dates: August 10-11, 1012
Concert: Clay Walker on August 11
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
Tooele Arts Council Fourth of July Celebration
Location: Tooele, Utah
Event Dates: June 29-July 4, 2012
Concert: Little Texas with Restless Heart on June 30
Washington County Fair
Location: Hurricane, Utah
Event Dates: August 8-11, 2012
Concert: Little Texas on August 10
Brewfest at the Ballpark
Location: Centene Stadium, Great Falls, MT
Event Date: July 13, 2012
Concert: Eddie Money
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 14
Service Reps Get
Schooled (on Weather)
Last February, REG sent two permanent staff members, Bogie and
R.J., and two of our service reps, Johnny Setser and Rob Tamisea, to
a specialized course to learn more about how venues can be better
prepared in the case of severe weather. The conference was called
“Severe Weather Preparedness and Planning for Public Assembly
Venues and Events” and was presented by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) and the Academy for Venue Safety &
Security (AVSS) and was held February 28-29, 2012 at the National
Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
The class lasted two days, and students learned how to develop
a severe weather preparedness plan for all types of venues, fairs,
expositions and other events where large crowds assemble. Topics
covered included: severe weather, atmospheric electricity, large
damaging hail threats, straight line winds, tornado threats, storm
prediction center products for all venues and events, the weather
forecast office, tour the national weather center, tools to assess risk
and maintain situational awareness, role of private meteorological firms, legal considerations, crowd dynamics, and social science
issues.
At the end of the course, all attendees had to take an exam and
received certificates.
Elvin Bishop and his band play at the North Umpqua Music Festival.
See Us Online!
You can find us online at our website
www.romeoent.com
Facebook: Search for Romeo
Entertainment Group and “Like” our page!
Twitter: @RomeoEntGroup
Please send your 2012 photos
to add to our website!
(Email: [email protected])
“With all of the weather related issues we face while putting on
concerts, it is necessary in today’s post-Indiana world to have a
deeper understanding of the threats we face and safety measures
that should be taken to protect the public and our clients,” explained R.J. Romeo. “REG’s decision to send several of our service
representatives to obtain the IAVM certification demonstrates our
commitment to safety and providing the highest quality service to
co
our clients.”
o
PAGE 15 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
The Off Season
Country artist Jake Owen poses with The Corn Palace staff before the show, which was the first off season show REG has booked for this venue.
Romeo Entertainment’s history lies in booking entertainment
for fairs, but over the years we have expanded to booking festivals, casinos, corporate events, charity events, one-off concerts, and more. So besides booking talent for the upcoming
fair season, REG also spends the off season producing many
non-fair events. One of those successful ventures has been
booking concerts at fair venues in the off-season. Many REG
clients have the perfect facilities to do concerts year round, not
just during a fair or festival.
The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD is a client that recently started
booking shows with REG in the off season. REG books four
nights of concerts during the annual Corn Palace Festival each
August. In 2012, we worked with The Corn Palace to book two
additional concerts outside of the festival, including Billy Currington with special guest Jake Owen on September 14 and an
upcoming Christmas show with the Oak Ridge Boys that will
take place December 20.
Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling is excited to work with REG
to bring more concerts to the venue. “This is what the people
of Mitchell have been waiting for,” said Schilling. “Our patrons
want more shows and bigger shows outside of the festival.”
The Corn Palace has booked concerts through other promoters as well. When asked about the advantages of working with
REG Corn Palace Director Mark Schilling explained, “They are
professional and will give you honest answers. Some enter-
tainment companies want to sell you a show, whether it is right
for your venue or not. Romeo Entertainment works with you
to find the right show and helps you from start to finish.”
Divots in Norfolk, NE is another client that works with REG to
put on concerts in the off season. REG works with Divots to
produce two or three concert events each summer, but also
books shows year round in its indoor venue, the DeVent Center. (The summer concert series takes place outdoors.) Divots
will host an Oak Ridge Boys Christmas show on December 19.
Country artist Lee Brice has been booked for a show in March,
which will be part of a fundraising effort for St. Jude’s Children’s
Research Hospital.
The Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena, MT is home
to The Last Chance Stampede and Fair in July, but also works
with REG to book an event called SpringFest in May. In 2012,
the fairgrounds also booked a concert by new Country artist
Glen Templeton to follow a rodeo competition in April.
Promoting concerts in the off season can be a great revenue
generator for fairs and festivals. A concert can also be a great
addition to existing events held on your event grounds including corporate meetings, trade shows, holiday parties, and rodeos. Are you interested in working with REG to bring a concert to your fair venue in the off season? Contact your Romeo
Entertainment agent to discuss the possibilities.
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 16
Meet the Newest Service Reps
We would like to introduce some of Romeo Entertainment
Group’s newest service representatives. Some of these
guys have been working shows for a few years now, but we
wanted to take the chance to formally introduce the newest
members of the Romeo Staff!
Name: Rob Tamisea
Home: Omaha, NE
Education/Experience: I went to undergrad and Law
School at Creighton University. I’ve worked as In-house
council for First National Bank of Omaha and In-house
council for Fidelity National Financial. I’ve worked as a
production assistant on Fremont Street during ACM
week for five years.
Personal Note: I grew up on a 5th generation family farm that I am still a
part of to this day. Favorite time of year is fall. If it doesn’t burn gasoline
or gunpowder I’m not interested :). In my spare time I enjoy restoring
hot rods and classic cars. I’m currently working on two Model A Ford’s.
Favorite Thing about Being an REG Service Rep: I enjoy meeting new
people and hearing people’s stories when they come to see the entertainment. No matter who you are it seems like you can always make a
connection with someone through music.
Name: Phil Potter
Home: Lincoln, NE
Experience: Lifelong career in the entertainment industry as a musician, agent, promoter, and talent buyer.
Personal Note: Avid Baltimore Orioles baseball fan…
also avid golfer. I didn’t say GOOD! I keep up with current music trends via my 18 year-old son.
Favorite Thing about Being an REG Service Rep: I love the spirit of the
fairs…I have learned there is nothing on a fairground that can’t be accomplished!
Name: Paul Fleming
Home: Carpenter, WY
Education/Experience: Attended Western Connecticut
State University, where I majored in Justice, and Law
Administration. Played both football and baseball there. I am the Sales
Manager for Wyoming Building Supply, and have been for the past 17
years. Prior to that I was the youngest Store Manager in the history of
Ernst Home Centers. I became involved with entertainment through
my involvement in Cheyenne Frontier Days. I have been Involved with
the Night Show Entertainment there for the past 20 years. I started servicing shows for Romeo Entertainment about 15 years ago. I am a former Volunteer Of The Year For Cheyenne Frontier Days, and a member
of the Heels Of CFD. In addition to several other awards, I was recently
named Cheyenne Business Person of The Year for 2012.
Personal Note: I am married to my best friend Dee, and we have 2 children. Jasmine is a senior at the University of Wyoming, and Trey is a
sophomore at Cheyenne East High. I have coached basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, and football in Cheyenne for over 20 years. I continue to coach youth football at this time and run the Seminole Football
Team. I am a life member to the Southeast Wyoming Builders Association Board of Directors and Life Member of The Wyoming Home Builders Board. (In short, I’m kind of a big deal).
Favorite Thing about Being an REG Service Rep: It was a natural progression for me because of my involvement with so many shows that I
have run for Cheyenne Frontier Days. I enjoy the challenges and satisfaction of the position. Once all the fires are put out and the show goes
on, my biggest satisfaction comes from watching the enjoyment the
crowd has during the performances.
Name: Chris Semrau
Home: Grand Forks, ND
Education/Experience: My full-time job is the Director
of Events/Booking at Ralph Engelstad Arena, and I have
been at the facility since its opening in 2001. It is gratifying to work with a dedicated staff at a beautiful facility and host amazing events.
Personal Note: Truly blessed to have a wonderful spouse who is understanding of my irregular work hours and have two amazing kids (Nora,
4, and Gordon, 1) who keep my priorities in order.
Favorite Thing about Being an REG Service Rep: It is great to see other
venues and meet new people with a common passion for the live event
experience.
REG Sweeps 2012 IEBA Award Nominations
Romeo Entertainment Group accomplished a very unique feat at the annual International Entertainment Buyer’s Association (IEBA) Conference this year. REG was the first talent buying agency to have agents nominated
for awards in three different categories.
Fran Romeo was nominated for Corporate Buyer of the Year, Steve Bogdanovich was nominated for Casino
Buyer of the Year, and R.J. Romeo was nominated for Fair Buyer of the Year. Fran went on to win for Corporate
Buyer of the Year.
IEBA hosts the SRO Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction each year during its annual conference in
Nashville. Fran Romeo, Bob Romeo, and Don Romeo have all been IEBA Award winners in past years. Don
Romeo, founder of Romeo Entertainment Group, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. This year, Don’s
grandson, R.J. Romeo, continued the family legacy by receiving his first IEBA Award nomination.
PAGE 17 | THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012
We asked the Romeo Entertainment Group Staff to answer the
following question:
“What is your worst travel experience in recent history?”
Fran Romeo, President/
Agent: This past summer I
was rushing to the airport
one morning because I was
running late. When I got to
the airport, I received a call
from my husband asking if
I had forgotten anything. I didn’t think I
had. That’s when he informed me that I
forgot my luggage! Luckily, he was able to
get it to the airport in time, but that wasn’t
the end of my forgetfulness. Later that day,
after a layover in Minneapolis, the plane I
was on was about ready for take-off when
a voice came over the loudspeaker asking
if someone had forgotten their luggage at
the gate. I sheepishly had to raise my hand
and admit it was me!
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
thoroughly searched everywhere because
we changed our flights at the last minute to
get home, making us a terror threat. Then
we spent a night on a bench in the O’Hare
airport.
Jenny Fitzpatrick, Executive
Assistant to Fran Romeo:
Anytime I run out of Dramamine, it’s a bad travel experience.
Katie Kinderknecht, Assistant to Steve Bogdanovich/
Publicity Assistant: A few
years ago, I was scheduled
to service a show for our client at the Riverside Casino in
Riverside, IA. I left a day early
in after IAFE a few years back – we stayed an
extra 3 days after the convention was over.
However, you can’t really complain about
being stuck in Las Vegas!
Robert J. (R.J.) Romeo, Senior Account Representative/General Counsel: The
story that sticks out in my
mind is one that happened
on a personal rather than a
business trip.
In October of 2008 my wife (then fiancé),
April, and I were leaving for Jamaica to conduct our nuptials and start our married life
together. We were to go from Omaha to
Memphis then from Memphis to Jamaica.
April had called ahead to the airline and
made sure to ask if the plane we would be
flying on would have a captain’s closet so
she would be able to hang her wedding
dress. Both planes were supposed to have
closets and all was right in the world. That
was until we boarded the flight to Memphis
and were told that there was no closet available and the dress would have to go into
the overhead bin. April’s eyes began to well
up at the thought of folding up her beautiful dress and watching it be crushed and
dirtied up by luggage. The stewardess was
not very friendly when we informed her
that we called ahead and were told there
would be a closet. I believe her response
was something along the lines of we don’t
have a closet; deal with it. After going back
and forth with the stewardess in a friendly
banter and telling her that the dress was
not going in the overhead she said you can
hold it on your laps, but keep it out of the
aisle. Ah-ha - a plausible solution that did
not involve tears and a trampled dress. April
leapt on the suggestion and yours truly was
tasked with holding my arm up the entire
flight to keep the dress in pristine condition. The drama wasn’t over though. During
the flight my arm would tire and I would occasionally rest it. During those occasional
rest periods the tail end of the dress would
seep over into the aisle a couple inches. It
was then that our previously unfriendly
stewardess would walk by and tell April to
keep her dress out of the aisle. The stewardess came by at least twice and told us this,
problem was that every time she came by
April had her earbuds in and could not hear
her. So I would relay what I think I heard
and on we went. About 30 minutes before
landing the stewardess came by again, but
this time she handed April a typewritten
note saying she was in violation of federal
law for not following the flight crews’ instructions and if she did not immediately
Staff Round-Up
to avoid a blizzard that was supposed to
hit the morning of the show. Instead, the
blizzard came early and I drove through it
during the second half of my drive. Perfect
timing! I’ve actually driven through a few
blizzards, flooding, and rain on trips to RivSteve Bogdanovich (Bo- erside, but at least now I’m good at finding
gie),
Vice-President/ the buttons for the windshield wipers and
Agent/Production Man- the defrost in most rental cars!
ager: Earlier this year, my
wife and I were traveling
Mindy Klein, Marketing Diand we were supposed to
rector: Last summer I flew
have a connecting flight in
into Denver and planned
Minneapolis.
to drive up to Cheyenne for
We somehow ended up in Atlanta instead
Frontier Days. When I got to
of Minneapolis (we are still trying to figure
the rental car counter they
out how that happened). Well, once we got
informed me that my
into Atlanta we forgot to set our watches
ahead an hour to Eastern Time. We real- driver’s license had expired in February. I
ized it right as our flight was boarding. We had no idea! Luckily, after a few phone calls,
sprinted halfway across the airport, then I was able to find a shuttle bus that runs
flagged down a guy with a cart to drive from Denver to Cheyenne, but I had to rely
us the rest of the way to our gate (which on others for rides during the five days I was
was actually slower than walking!). When in Cheyenne. Needless to say, I will always
we got there the door was closed and they pay attention to when my driver’s license
would not let us on our plane. We ended expires in the future!
up having to spend the night in Atlanta
and fly out the next day!
Michelle Romeo, Junior
Agent / Email Marketing /
Publicity: Getting to the airHarlan Burggraaf, Accounport only to be told when I
tant/Office Manager: On
checked in that I had missed
our favorite vacation, my
my flight by 24 hours –
wife and I were touring the
showed up at the right time
islands of Hawaii. Everything was great until Maui, just on the wrong day. The worst part of
the last island stop.
the story was that I was flying to Omaha for
Maui had the worst storms in years. I lost Fran’s wedding and I was the Maid of Honthe keys to our car and house. Then we or! Thankfully I was able to hop on a later
missed our flight to go home. This was flight. That was my biggest “oopsy” moonly two months after 9-11-2001. We were ment. My close second was being snowed
ROMEO Entertainment GROUP
comply she would be fined up to $25,000
and be subject to imprisonment upon our
landing. Needless to say both April and I
were shocked and appalled by this threat. I
don’t really recall what transpired after that
because the experience was so surreal, but
I do remember having a heated chat with
a customer service representative in Memphis after we landed. Despite this awkward
beginning, the next flight was great and the
stewards much more accommodating. We
made it to Jamaica, had a wonderful wedding celebration and honeymoon. I have
never flown the airline since, and I don’t
plan to.
Margaret Ryan, Executive
Assistant to Bob Romeo &
R.J. Romeo: My worst travel
experience was last year
coming back from the IAFE
convention in Las Vegas. I
got pulled out of line at the
THE ROMEO REPORTER | FALL 2012 | PAGE 18
my purse (which happened to end up there
accidentally without my knowledge). After
a few tense minutes, they let me proceed
through security….only after inspecting
and returning the knife to me. Fly safe everyone!!
Bob Romeo – Chairman of
the Board: I was sitting at the
gate and it was time to board
the plane. The airline representative came over the
loudspeaker and said there
would be a “short
delay for some minor mechanical repairs.” I
sat there for a minute and looked out the
window. I saw that they had the cover off
the engine and it looked like they were
taking the engine out of the plane! I went
ahead and booked another flight and got
out of there. That plane never did leave
despite the airline’s assurance that there
would just be a “short delay.”
REG Service Reps
Richard Ashby
Keny Griffith
Dave Harrington
Rick Later
Eric Marcuse
Steve Owen
Wayne Rouse
Johnny Setser
airport by a TSA official for having a knife in
Staff News
Trooper of the Year
Trooper of the Year award goes to REG’s Steve
Bogdanovich, best known as “Bogie.” Bogie
suffered a broken leg on July 4th, but that
didn’t stop him from servicing all of his normal gigs throughout the summer. He even
has a commemorative cast signed by all the
artists he worked with this summer! Runnerup award goes to REG Service Rep Johnny
Setser who broke his ankle while servicing the
Colorado State Fair. Nothing keeps these guys
down, and you can look forward to seeing
them out on the road next year!
CFD Hall of Fame
Romeo Entertainment Group was inducted
into the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) Hall of
Fame this year. The CFD Hall of Fame showcases individuals and organizations whose
distinctive contributions to Cheyenne Frontier Days have helped grow one man’s dream
Carv Thompson
Bogie shows off his cast in Catering.
into “The Daddy of ‘em All.” ® REG has booked the
concerts for the CFD Night Shows since 1988.
Throughout the years, REG has guided CFD
through not only entertainment matters, but
also consulted on production, ticketing, promotion, legal, and logistical issues. Bob Romeo,
agent and member of the CFD Contract Acts
Committee, accepted the award.
Bob Romeo accepting his induction into the CFD
Hall of Fame.
Carv Thompson Inducted into
South Dakota Hall of Fame
Long-time REG Service Representative Carv
Thompson was inducted into the South Dakota
Hall of Fame this year. Carv was recognized for
his tireless devotion to promoting his hometown of Faith, South Dakota. Throughout the
years, Carv served as the Faith Country Development Corporation and headed numerous
volunteer projects, including fundraising efforts for a new church and new school, but is
best known for his role in bringing grandstand
entertainment to the Faith Stock Show, beginning in 1963 – a tradition that continued for
28 years. He later became the Entertainment
Director for the South Dakota State Fair. In addition to all of this, he was a successful businessman, once owning as many as seven pharmacies in South Dakota. He has also served
on numerous state and local boards and even
served as a South Dakota legislator for four
years. Congratulations to Carv for his well-deserved induction.
5247 North 129th Street
Omaha, NE 68164
402-359-1010
www.romeoent.com