Persistence Pays Off

The next time an artist complains about doing press, here’s an example that it’s worthwhile.

Two acts recently played the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Fla., and spent the four days leading up to the event doing morning television appearances (starting at 5 a.m.) in Orlando and Tampa, plus newspaper and radio interviews.

The result was an attendance of 1,400 people.

The thing is, the acts were a ventriloquist and a guy who snaps his fingers. "America’s Got Talent" winner Terry Fator and opening act Bobby Badfingers, who, well, snaps his fingers for a living, weren’t on tour and had the chance to spend some lead-in time in the marketplace.

Badfingers and venue GM Scott Sloman told Pollstar the press paid off.

"I’ve seen this for a Broadway play that will spend a week in the area," Sloman said. "But one show?"