‘Green’ No Good In Texas

A McKinney, Texas, promoter has gone out of business after saying his being a concert neophyte was a factor in selling tickets for a six-concert series of classic rock acts but only being able to deliver one.

Hundreds of concertgoers reportedly bought tickets to see acts including America, KC & The Sunshine Band and others. Electric Light Orchestra is the one concert that took place, according local television station WFAA.

Scott Wilson of Sidebar Entertainment said in a September 1st statement that soggy weather led to losses on shows he promoted at Myers Park, McKinney Performing Arts Center and Garland Special Events Center, which left him no choice but to shut down.

"At this time there are no investors willing to front the large costs for the remaining shows at any venue. We are unable to refund money to ticket holders because the remaining bands will not refund the deposits paid to them," Wilson said. "We are attempting to find companies who will take the remaining event bookings and honor existing ticketholders."

Concerts by KC & The Sunshine Band and Kansas have been moved to Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., which will honor tickets sold by Sidebar. Concerts by America and Joan Jett were still in the air at press time, according to the statement.

WFAA quoted Wilson as saying he lacks experience in booking shows and "is very green." Former Sidebar employee Karen Helton, who worked for the promoter for two months, had a different theory.

"Sidebar was mismanaged in my opinion. And I feel the weather may not have been an issue, if it had been managed more properly," Helton told WFAA.

Helton is allegedly owed thousands for her unpaid salary and company bills she paid out of her own pocket, the TV station said.

Wilson told WFAA he hoped to have a refund policy in place by mid-September.