Ani Difranco is no longer scheduled to play at the Field House in Gorham on Nov. 11, but the reason why is not clear.
Last Thursday the Gorham Events Board (GEB) announced to the senate that Difranco would no longer be playing at USM and would instead be playing at the Portland Exposition Building on the same night. The 90 tickets, sold by Bull Moose and the GEB, will be honored for general admission at the Expo show.
Kelly Locke, chair of the GEB, said Joe Fletcher, promoter for the Difranco show, had called her and discussed his intention to relocate the show.
Discouraged by unexpected costs (having to rent a forklift and portable stage) and low ticket sales, she acquiesced to his suggestion. Of the 3200 available tickets, the GEB sold 15 in the first week and Bullmoose sold 65.
“Joe emphasized that Ani’s management was very worried,” said Locke of the lagging number of ticket prices. When Difranco plays Merrill Auditorium she typically sells hundreds of tickets within the first week, said Locke. “It’s frustrating because people say they want a big act, but then don’t go out and buy tickets.”
When asked if ticket sales were the reason the show’s venue was changed Fletcher replied that the decision was based mostly on technical details. He said he was told he might not be allowed to make the necessary arrangements for the show to be staged. Though Fletcher wasn’t specific, he did say about the athletics department, “their focus has not been on this issue…I simply couldn’t wait for answers.”
Bill Lamont, Athletics building and ground maintenance supervisor, said that he never dealt with a promoter but had met GEB representatives regarding the concert. Lamont said he and the GEB reps had an initial meeting to discuss a preliminary plan but hadn’t scheduled a meeting to go over the specifics. Lamont said he was in full support of the show but that the details had yet to be worked out.
The GEB, though disappointed with the outcome, is planning a show for the spring. Locke hopes to work with Fletcher again. “I just don’t want him to have a bad impression of USM,” she said.
Christy McKinnon can be contacted at [email protected].