The Brown Amphitheater lost money this year because of poor attendance at "spotlight" concerts, the director says, but next year the Peachtree City venue should increase revenues by presenting events for two nights in a row.

Actual dollar figures on the amount of loss are not yet available, according to Peachtree City Development Authority member Robert Truett. The figures should be presented at the authority's Nov. 16 meeting, Rapson said.

Kristi Rapson says that the amphitheater's nine "spotlight" concerts were not well-attended. Only the Swingin' Medallions Beach Party broke even, while two others "came close," she said. Regular series concerts continued to be sold-out events, she says, a reason why the amphitheater planners thought the onetime concerts might be profitable.

"We had so many people in line for the lottery for series tickets," She said, "that we thought there would be a demand for onetime concerts. There wasn't, and we won't do them again unless they make really, really good sense for us."

In 1999, the amphitheater will expand its series of five concerts to include Saturday nights also, Rapson said. Season-ticket holders, who are always given first option for the next year's tickets, will be able to decide whether to stay with Friday nights or move their attendance to Saturdays, she said. She added that a waiting list for season ticket purchases will be created for 1999, "something we've never been able to do before."

The "gold tables" for group purchase will also be moved to the front section for Saturday performances, Rapson said. The facility seats 2300 including the front table sections, regular seats, picnic and lawn areas.

Having groups for two nights may attract a "higher level" of performers, Rapson said. The amphitheater staff is working now on booking performers, setting up season ticket sales and lining up sponsors. Once season tickets are sold, the staff will know how many individual tickets are available for onetime attendance. The price of all tickets, she says, will depend on "who's playing."

The amphitheater season is financed through tickets and sponsors, Rapson said, and a volunteer advisory committee helps set policies. In 1998, the authority made some capital improvements, including the addition of a catwalk and table section and renovation of the cast house.