Amphitheater wars: Price heads to ‘The Fred’

Tue, 10/14/2008 - 4:21pm
By: John Thompson

Fayetteville’s loss is Peachtree City’s gain.

Nancy Price, who has served as Fayetteville’s Main Street and Downtown Development Authority director, confirmed Monday that she will head to Peachtree City Nov. 3 to serve as the new director of the Frederick J. Brown Amphitheater.

“I’ve been here for seven and a half years and I’m proud of our accomplishments, but this gives me a chance to go home,” Price said.

When “The Fred” first opened, Price helped put the first sponsorship package together and also staged independent events at the amphitheater. She had applied for the director’s job, which ultimately went to Kristi Rapson.

Price is excited about the new opportunity awaiting her in Peachtree City.

“It’s now being paired with the Recreation Department, which I think gives us a lot more opportunity to get the community involved,” she added.

During her years in Fayetteville, Price received accolades for staging several community events at the Villages Amphitheater, and hopes to be able to have the same success at The Fred.

Meanwhile, the city of Fayetteville finds itself without the two employees who guided the Main Street program. Main Street’s other employee, Jennifer Cleland, left at the beginning of September to serve as Senoia’s new Welcome Center director.

“There’s never a good time to lose an employee like Nancy, but fortunately, this is a slow time of year for events,” said City Manager Joe Morton.

With only the Halloween festival and Christmas lighting left on this year’s schedule, Morton said the city will look at rewording the job description for Price’s position and start advertising. Cleland’s position was frozen because of budgetary constraints, he added.

“We wish Nancy all the luck in the world and know she will do a fine job in Peachtree City,” Morton said.

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Submitted by Bonkers on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 10:43am.

Have we gone mad? With the payroll that we now have in PTC, we are adding another big bucks position in show business!

I know ads have to be sold for this thing but do you know how easy it is to hire talent to put on shows here? Just have a certified check sent!

The following artists are currently available at some time or the other---during the week or weekends, They will range from 20,000 dollars to 100,000 dollars in cost.

We can sell up to 100,000 dollars worth rather easily for our best talent in the USA! Charges would vary from $30 to $75 per person. List may differ next year--what is going on this winter?
Who is running the recreation department now?

BETTE MIDLER, BRIAN WILSON, CARLY SIMON. CHUBBY CHECKER, CHUCK BERRY, DIANA ROSS, DIXIE CHICKS, ELVIS COSTELLO, ENGLEBERET HUMPERDINCT, JERRY LEE LEWIS, JIMMY BUFFETT (BIG ONE), JOSE FELICIANO, JULIO IGLESIAS, LITTLE RICHARD, LIZA MINELLI, NEAL DIAMOND, SHANIA TWAIN, TOM JONES, WILLIE NELSON

Some of those a profit could be made on others not.

If we don't have to support such overhead and tennis operations!

Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 11:31am.

Not another hire per se. A reorganization where the old manager is replaced with a new one, plus a different business model.

We still have the Tennis Center to iron out in November. Then Tourism in general. But remember the majority on Council will have the final say.

Revising these areas will impact certain existing jobs once complete, as in greatly reduced or no longer needed.

This is far from over. And if it does not go well in all areas in 2009 then 2010 will probably have a new vision in these areas under a new Council. But what is done now will be the reality in 2009.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


Submitted by Bonkers on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 12:34pm.

I do not know what you said!

Did you add one to the payroll or not?

Is it a big ticket cost?

Are you saying that decision has been put off until November?

How does one justify another big ticket head-count to hire people for the Amphitheater for a few months? I'll do the hiring if you get some pros to sell the ads for 20%.
You and the mayor can be the concierge for these prima-donnas!

Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:53am.

In the workshop, Doug Sturbuam and I, both businessmen, stressed no more running the Fred by committee. It had to be run by a manager who knew what they were doing. Committee rule got us into this problem. I know no one on Council is skilled in Amphitheater management either.

We also stressed the Fred had to begin appealing to broader demographics, not just a narrow sliver with narrow interests. As well as a better advertising approach.

And as an opinion, I put on the table for the manager's consideration, instead of having the year divided into two halves with season ticket holders getting seating for across the board genre, some of which they may not care for, having ticket sales why whole season for those who like everything and by genre, as in all country one ticket run, rock another, etc. That should give season ticket holders better seating within each genre and be more economical, thus encouraging more multi-event sales packages.

Staff used our model to develop the job description and hunt.

Now that a manager has been hired, if all can avoid the temptation to put their fingers into the pot and let the manager run the show, literally and figuratively, the success or failure of the Fred will rest with the professionalism of the new manager.

Good luck to our new manager.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


Spear Road Guy's picture
Submitted by Spear Road Guy on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:57am.

Don,

You've got the wrong people on the association.

You can bet Cyndi Plunkett is the wrong council representative for the association too.

The trash on the old development authority did a better job.

Vote Republican


Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 11:20am.

The Fred is no longer under Tourism, now under Rec. We will be doing rework on the Tennis Center in November. Tourism does need rework, as in promotional items promoting the Tourism Authority instead of PTC, which is its job to do, reducing Hotel & Motel Tax they receive, etc. But they have admitted such and are working on issues.

We will pivot liaison jobs in January. After a year working with DAPC they are well on the way to becoming a very effective group now that I am very pleased with. It has been a huge job. Off the shelf, where they had been put, and active again, in a very healthy way now.

Doug Sturbuam will probably rotate to DAPC. I will probably go to either Tourism or Planning. I see issues on both. And as of now I think WASA as well.

Doug and I recognized issues with ordinances (several changes done and revisions for GC and LUC up for vote in November. I submitted changes Doug is fully on board with that stop a lot of excuses for negotiating with developers) and some authorities and commissions when we came on. We have been vocal and working, but we cannot be everywhere at once and are still the 2 in the 3-2 votes.

But your points are well made and received.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 7:06pm.

You should not be posting your thoughts/beliefs/screeds on here anyway. You are an elected official that represents everyone and posting your stuff on here is clearly inappropiate.

No elected official has ever done it before and you are not significant enough to be the first one to do so.

Cut it out, now. I will be at city council in December to propose that that the city prevents you from posting/speaking/bloviating.

It is not just that you are stupid and uninformed, nor is it the fact that Steve Brown is giving you advice and it is not even the fact that you have the arrogance to think about running for mayor - no, it is none of that, It is simply that most of us don't care to hear what you have to say.

Get off the stage. Now.


Submitted by MYTMITE on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 2:15pm.

From the outpouring of blogs against your nasty and uncalled remarks regarding Mr. Haddix and his posts, it should be clear to you that people do not appreciate your hate filled spewing. Also, it should also be clear that the influence of the 'hubby' you mention that should have Mr. Haddix shaking in his boots is no more. That little clique that ran things here for so long are on their way out. After the next election, when Mr. Haddix may chose to run or not run, I predict you will see that group lose even this last tenuous hold on the city. People are tired of the 'old boy' network and to paraphrase from a well known movie "We are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore." So, pack up your vitriolic rhetoric, your hate-filled venom and keep your promise to move to Canada. If you choose to stay and blog, have the good sense to see that no one cares to read the garbage you write and strive to post accordingly.

Main Stream's picture
Submitted by Main Stream on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 10:05am.

What a nasty little post from a nasty little blogger. I DO hope your style of political thinking is dying out, with the obvious backlash against the Republican party in the prez election as well as on the local level with your attempt to silence Mr. Haddix. Nobody likes that style any longer, mudcat, and most folks on here appreciate Haddix for coming on here and keeping us informed about local issues that are impacting our community, so take a hike. We want to hear from our local government officials and I've grown to respect Haddix and Brown because they do talk to the community.

What kind of back-room politics do you practice anyway, that tries to pull strings and silence others? I can only imagine.


Steve Brown's picture
Submitted by Steve Brown on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 11:20pm.

Not to worry Councilman Haddix, no one takes Mudcat seriously anyway.

His Direct PAC people are hurting because their developer base will most likely lose their stronghold on PTC in the 09 election.

I think Coucilman Haddix would do well in a race for mayor.


Mike King's picture
Submitted by Mike King on Fri, 10/17/2008 - 12:43am.

...we have found a common ground, Don Haddix will make a fine mayor for Peachtree City. His Honor, the current mayor has not enhanced the Direct Pac effort.

The mayoral election will indeed be interesting. Perhaps Dar will give it another shot, or maybe we'll see a reelection bid. I, for one, would like to see the city live within its budget for awhile.


Don Haddix's picture
Submitted by Don Haddix on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:31pm.

Mudcat,

I know who you are. Your "hubby," as you called him, is no longer Mayor.

I have to say, Directpac trying to create a lie I am a puppet of Steve Brown is getting pretty desperate. Everyone who knows me gets a pretty good chuckle at the mention of such a thing.

Yes, Steve is a friend, not a close friend, but a friend. We have run into each other twice this year, including a Workshop, and he has asked me constituent questions about 3 times this year via email. He never ventures to tell me what to do and I never ask his opinion of what I should do. Make of that what you will.

As for silencing me, been tried and failed.

That is all I have to say on this subject here.

Don Haddix
PTC Councilman
Post 1
donhaddix.com


sniffles5's picture
Submitted by sniffles5 on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:15pm.

Please, do not presume to speak for anyone other than yourself here.

I doubt that very few people (other than perhaps "Teachur4U") share your anti-American habit of wanting to censor people you don't agree with.


JeffC's picture
Submitted by JeffC on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:19pm.

Lay off mudcat. She is moving to Canada after Obama wins. Enjoy her for the next 19 days.


bad_ptc's picture
Submitted by bad_ptc on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:03pm.

From your rantings I can only guess you're a regular at both of these web sites daily.

John McCain’s facebook page

Barack Obama’s facebook page

If it's good enough for these two, it's good enough for our Councilman Haddix.

P.S. Why haven’t you gone to any of the other PTC City Council meetings? Is your zoning change request scheduled in December? If you gave a darn about how and why things are done the way they are around here you would make it to more than one City Council meeting per year.

Perhaps it's just easier for you to sit around in your underwear and blab, type, from your living room then to actually get involved.

I take that back. You and hubby did try getting involved once when you and your DPAC buddies tried to pull a fast one by taking Steve Brown to court for speaking as a private citizen.

Come to think of it you didn't show up for that one either, did you?.


carbonunit52's picture
Submitted by carbonunit52 on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 9:02pm.

I like Mr. Haddix and I enjoy his postings on this site, and that is all that I have to say about that.

"I can't wait until tomorrow, because I get more lovable every day."


Submitted by MYTMITE on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 8:29pm.

want to see or hear? I, and many others appreciate the fact that Mr. Haddix does blog here and keep us informed. Other than his pretty pamphlet with the message from the mayor--we never hear from Logsdon. And all he does in that forum is pat himself on the back and undeservedly so. Why would it be arrogant for any resident of Peachtree City to think of running for Mayor? It is the right of any citizen of the city to run if they so choose-and the good Lord knows that anyone would be better than your good ole buddy Harold. I get the distinct feeling that you are solidly entrenched with 'the old guard' and will do anything to discredit Mr. Haddix or anyone else who is for the everyday citizen. And what gave you the right to decide who is significant enough to blog here, be they a city official or not? Your posts are always vile and mean-spirited regardless of whom they are directed toward. You must be a very unhappy person or else one convinced they are superior to everyone else. I think you really need a chill pill.

Note to Mr. Haddix: Keep posting and continue to let us know what is going on in our city. Many of us do appreciate it. Thank you

Submitted by PTC Avenger on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 7:37pm.

How dare you try to silence Mr. Haddix. He is one of the few reasons I have faith in the future of our city. To say that because he is a publically elected official he cannot post here is outright ludicrous. If you do in fact go to the meeting to speak out, I'll see you there.

Submitted by Arf on Wed, 10/15/2008 - 7:52am.

Maybe "the Fred" will come back to life if they will leave Nancy alone and let her do her job.

Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 6:05am.

For sure she will be in charge without meddling from the knownothing board members. That is why she was so effective in Fayetteville.

The most commonsense thing she did was to poll the season ticket holders to help select the following year's acts. Which help to increase season ticket sales.

If she forces the few physical improvements still needed at The Fred, it will become a first-class venue and outshine Fayetteville.


mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 6:46pm.

Love Nancy and what she does. We can get the Fred back on track, get some good acts and maybe even Fred (the real mayor) Brown will come back.

How about Neil Sedaka, Frankie Avalon, Judy Collins and Kansas???


Submitted by skyspy on Wed, 10/15/2008 - 6:28am.

Maybe we could get some groups that haven't been kicked out of vegas yet? Ticket prices would go up, but for good artists from today it would be worth it.

carbonunit52's picture
Submitted by carbonunit52 on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 8:14pm.

Neil Sedaka? Frankie Avalon? Judy Collins? Make the Fred part of the "Dino Tours" circuit?

"I can't wait until tomorrow, because I get more lovable every day."


Submitted by Nitpickers on Wed, 10/15/2008 - 5:36am.

Get some people still alive and producing.

Willie

Fats

Woodie

Leno

Put me in coach!

and on and on!

Submitted by rmoc on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 7:17pm.

It would be nice if we could get a few acts that appeal to those younger than 40..Cheap Trick would be great..How about Weird Al Yankovich? Kids would love him...

Findu Veryfunny's picture
Submitted by Findu Veryfunny on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 7:37am.

I tried really hard NOT to reply to your post,...but, , I gotta:
OK, a lot of those younger than 40 may not even know who Cheap Trick is (was),...so, really? Cheap Trick, really?!
Weird Al?
And I am proudly 40, wanna know what I want to hear? Bring in Five Finger Death Punch, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint or Killswitch Engage!!! Yeah, now that would be more like it!!!!
Don't think that just because someone is 40 or older that they want to hear 80's hair bands or Neil Sedaka! Smiling
Rock on.


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