Albany (N.Y.)–based promotor
William Ashwood Kavanna, has revealed that he has a long-term exclusivity
agreement with the State University of New York at Albany.
Under the agreement, as sole
and exclusive promotor, he has been acting in the University’s behalf in
dealing with, securing, negotiating, and contracting for the services of
artists.
Further, under the agreement,
he is also directed to notify artist representatives of the fact of his
being “sole and exclusive production firm and representative of the University.
Albany State University,
whose concert expend- itures last year exceeded $100,000, runs approx-
imately one show a week. Last year’s list of concerts included performances
by the J. Geils Band, Jethro Tull, Leo Kottke, Clark Terry, Billy Preston,
Cheech & Chong, Aretha Franklin, Dave Bromberg, Dave Bubek Trio with
the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Rod Steward, Artha Franklin, Ike &
Tina Turner, Don McLean, Poco, Delaney & Bonnnie and Sha Na Na.
Alternating between a major show
and a mini- concert every other week, shows presented this fall under
Kavanna’s direction include:
Poco Jam Factory, Mary Travers, The Beach Boys, Kris
Kristofferson, Rita Collidge, Bonny Raitt, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Buddy
Guy and Junior Wells, Funkadellics, John Simson, Star Spangled Wash- board
Band, Gun Hill Road and The Jefferson Airplane.
Kavanna said that promotors,
working closely with a selected number of schools, can be of vast help
in planning and diversifying a concert program. |
“The entire industry benefits when
a school that formerly ran five or six events expands to over 20 major
shows per year,” Kavanna said.
He credits the expansion
to efficient internal organization at the school and proper promotion of
the shows, both only coming as a result of close working ties with
a single promotor.
“It is simple arithmetic:
if a school starts out with “x” number of dollars, a pro can rotate funds
and consequently, buy more talent, and run more shows. This aids the entire
industry,” he said. The university’s attitude
towards exclusivity favors dealing with one promotor as opposed to student
promotions.
|
