Pollstar News Briefs 1991

December 31, 1991 — CAA Announces Nashville Office Plans

With the recent addition of John Huie to its booking team, CAA has decided to move forward with the formal opening of a branch office in Nashville.

Ron Baird was hired earlier this year as the agency’s liaison with the Music City community while it formulated plans for its move into country music.

CAA has always been a one-office operation and the move was not taken lightly by the agency.

CAA exec Tom Ross said, “We want the Nashville community to know that it’s important to us and that we want to be a part of it. What makes CAA work is our synergy as a team and, as best we can, we are going to take the 2,000 miles that separate us and make it seem like it’s next door.”

For those who may be wondering, Ross also said the agency has absolutely no plans to open a New York office.

The agency has begun the search for office space and expects to announce its location next month. CAA will hire some support staff for Baird and Huie but doesn’t plan to add more agents in the immediate future.

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FBI Shutters New York Booking Office

Following the merging of FBI into the Los Angeles-based InterTalent Agency, FBI has apparently closed its New York personal appearance booking operation. The offices were not expected to reopen after shutting down for the holidays.

FBI head Ian Copeland is working out of InterTalent’s offices as is former East Coast agent Gerry Gerrard and West Coast staffer Mitch Okmin. Buck Williams was expected to relocate to the West Coast but there has been considerable speculation he may consider other options.

Paula Leone has decided to stay in Gotham and Chuck Beardsley is also not making the move westward. The two-time Nightclub Talent Buyer Of The Year is mulling other opportunities and can be reached at (212) 688-3596.

Lisa Miller is also not moving est and she may start her own small agency after the first of the year to service her young clients which may not be absorbed by InterTalent. The agency has yet to specifically name which FBI acts will be on its debut music client roster.

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The New Operators Of Alpine Valley

A Walworth County, Wis., judge appointed the Sony Music/Pace Partnership a receiver to operate the Alpine Valley Music Theatre, a contract once held by the apparently defunct Joseph Entertainment Group.

JEG head Joseph Balestrieri was represented at the December 23rd hearing by his attorney, Christopher Hale, who argued that the existing contract should give Balestrieri at least until January so he can try to recoup some of his business there.

The promoter, who had financial disasters at three other venues, couldn’t pay taxes and rents at Alpine Valley this summer. The theatre’s principal owner, Joseph Zilber, has started an eviction action against Balestrieri, and that hearing is scheduled to begin January 14th.

Also, Wisconsin Resorts has started a foreclosure action against Zilber and other minor owners for not paying the mortgage.

Sony/Pace has been in negotiations with Zilber to buy or rent the shed, and Hale said because of that interest alone, the company should have not have been granted the receivership. Pace Facility Group president Rodney Eckerman said he expects to hire a general manager shortly and marketing for the ’92 season needs to start immediately.