Even The Biggest Promoters Can Panic Over Slow Sales

Somebody should eat some crow over this, and maybe it should be me, for being too gullible.

First, we had the Riverfront Park people saying that the Sheryl Crow concert, scheduled for Sept. 21, was canceled because her album release was delayed until October and the tour had to wait on the album.

Now I find that Sheryl Crow is booked into the Puyallup Fair on Sept. 16 and the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum in Pullman on Sept. 20.

What’s going on here? Was this tour delayed or not?

Obviously, the answer is “not.” Carl Pennington, the Seattle promoter who booked Crow into Riverfront Park, explained it like this. The album was supposed to come out in August. It was delayed, but only until just before the Spokane date (the first single is already being played on the radio). The Crow people called Pennington and asked if he thought that would be a problem. He said yes. Ticket sales were already slow. So they agreed to cancel the show, even though it was still more than two months away.

So I guess I was wrong back in July, when I wrote that “even the most timid of promoters wouldn’t panic this early.”

Subsequently, Crow booked the date at WSU, which should have a more concentrated core of Crow fans since she appeals to the college crowd.

Siegel in Spokane

Remember Mike Siegel, the Seattle radio talk show host who was fired from KVI-AM for airing those Norm Rice rumors?

You can now hear him in Spokane. Siegel’s show, which was moved to KRKO-AM in Everett (“Talk Too HOT For Seattle”), is now syndicated statewide. Spokane business-talk station KSBN-AM (1230) is airing the Mike Siegel Program from 3-6 p.m. weekdays.

This is one of 15 stations which has picked up the show statewide. Some others are KCVL in Colville, KULE in Moses Lake-Ephrata, KUJ in Walla Walla, KTCR in the Tri-Cities and KQQQ in Pullman.

Siegel said his show will be “the only way for politicians to get their message to the citizens of the state of Washington in one broadcast.”

What Siegel doesn’t point out is that most of these stations are not exactly powerhouses. KSBN has ratings too low for Arbitron to measure, although maybe Siegel’s show will pique some listener interest.

Still, KSBN doesn’t get much respect. The press release about the Siegel show misidentified it as “KBSN.”

An AIDS cabaret

In what has become an annual Spokane tradition, some of the city’s top performers will present a musical cabaret to benefit the Spokane AIDS Network.

“Remember Broadway!,” featuring songs from ‘50s and ‘60s musicals, will be performed next Sunday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Crescent Court Ballroom. A $15 donation will be requested.

These AIDS cabaret nights have always been produced and organized by Spokane’s Scott Bailey. This year’s show, however, will be a tribute to Bailey, who died last year.

Recovery Road radio

KSBN is also premiering another new talk show today: Recovery Road with Stanley Fields, from 6-8 p.m.

This syndicated show, based in Portland, deals with recovery issues and has included such guests as presidential candidate George McGovern and former Texas governor Ann Richards.

It will air every Sunday at 6 p.m.

A ‘Tom Sawyer’ revival

Here’s another worthy benefit. The Spokane Children’s Theatre will present a revival performance of “Tom Sawyer” on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Spokane Civic Theatre.

It’s a benefit for the Tom and Carolyn Maloney family. Tom Maloney is suffering from cancer and the family needs financial assistance.

And here’s what makes this production so appropriate as a benefit: Their son, Zeke Maloney, plays Tom Sawyer and daughter Anna plays Lyda.

This is the original cast that was in the SCT’s spring production of the show.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under. Call 483-3853 for reservations.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.