A grand tradition at the Grandstand
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Jam Productions of Chicago, tried to convince him not to book Hootie and the Blowfish in 1995 because their asking price had risen from $25,000 to $60,000, but Saputo booked them anyway. They ended up grossing $210,000 at the sold-out show, plus an additional $60,000 in merchandise, he says.
“That gave me a little more confidence to not always go by the rule of thumb,” Saputo says. He follows that up with the story of booking singer Sheryl Crow, who cost $90,000 but only brought in 2,700 fans.
“She had just released a big album, but it hadn’t gotten enough listens,” Saputo says. “The timing on that one kind of backfired.”
Managing the fair was beyond his wildest dreams, Saputo says, recalling how, as a young man, he worked as a valet parking cars at his father’s restaurant across the street from the fairgrounds.
“I grew up going to the fair,” Saputo says.
“I have a lot of great memories, both from going as a kid and from working there.”
This year’s Grandstand lineup is sure to create some lasting memories as well, with country acts like Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker, rockers Cheap Trick, Shinedown and Chevelle, and a cornucopia of other wellknown performers during the 10-day fair, which runs Aug. 13 through Aug. 22.
Ticket sales this year have been strong, Bliefnick says, pointing to a sold-out Lady Antebellum show and a Selena Gomez show that is selling “very well.” The cost to book the largest acts was collectively more than $710,000 this year – $125,000 for Lady Antebellum, $100,000 each for Darius Rucker and Selena Gomez, $85,000 for Shinedown, $75,000 each for Cheap Trick and Blondie, $50,000 for MercyMe, and $25,000 each for Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Mitchell Musso and Chevelle. Most entertainers also get a percentage of the ticket sales above a certain dollar point, which varies from artist to artist.
That may sound like a lot of money, but a sellout crowd of 13,500 on a single night could gross around $300,000, Bliefnick says. Ticket prices for Grandstand shows are pretty reasonable, she asserts, especially considering the performers.
“If you went to Chicago or St. Louis, you’d pay way more to see acts like these,” she says. A quick online comparison confirms her claim: Tickets to see Lady Antebellum in Toronto, Ontario, on Aug. 7 range from $37 to $105, compared with $18 to $28 at the Grandstand. Meanwhile, Darius Rucker tickets for Aug. 7 in Dallas, Texas, cost between $25 and $55, compared with $18 to $25 at the Grandstand.
Joe Saputo, the former fair manager, says the overall cost of attending the fair is justified.
“When people attend the fair, if they just took a step back to see the massiveness of it and what it entails to put it on, compared to what they have to pay, it is a very economical way to create some great memories with your family,” he says. “I have six grandchildren now, and I plan to be a part of their experience at the fair as they grow up. … To a kid in preteen years, going to the fair is such a great experience. I think the State Fair tradition to gear it toward the family and youth will keep those young people coming back when they become parents.”
It’s hard work putting on the fair, Bliefnick and Faires say, and it wouldn’t be possible without their staff of janitors, maintenance people, ushers and other workers.
“I love my job,” Faires says. “It can be stressful, but with all the hustle and bustle, it really gets in your blood. It’s exciting and rewarding, especially knowing that it may be a big deal to someone else.”
“When we sell 13,000 tickets and the stands are full and the crowds are cheering, it’s just wild and crazy,” Bliefnick says with a smile. “You just have to love it.”
Contact Patrick Yeagle at [email protected].
