MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Indiana State Fair 2015 concert paydays revealed

David Lindquist
david.lindquist@indystar.com
Jake Owen performed at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Aug. 14.

Stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesias ranks as the highest-paid concert performer at this year’s Indiana State Fair, according to public documents.

The fair paid $135,000 for an Iglesias performance on Aug. 13 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Iglesias, also known as “Fluffy,” attracted an audience of 3,871, the biggest crowd among four concerts presented at the 8,200-capacity venue.

Because ailing pop star Meghan Trainor canceled her Coliseum performance, the Indiana State Fair Commission didn’t release documents related to what Trainor’s guaranteed payment might have been.

Most concert contracts are private, but ones negotiated by the fair commission, an entity of state government, are public record.

In addition to financial details, the documents reveal colorful requests made by artists. Country star Jake Owen wants people to get his name right, R&B showman Morris Day wants to be paid in cash and the Village People want to talk about their disco heyday on civilized radio programs.

One Coliseum show, the old-school hip-hop “93.9 The Beat Summer Jam,” was not overseen by the fair. It’s unknown what Naughty By Nature and other acts were paid, but the concert attracted an audience of 2,207.

Check out the top 10 paydays arranged by the fair commission:

1. Gabriel Iglesias

Gabriel Iglesias requests pork rinds but no onions for his dressing room.

Aug. 13 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum

Payment: $135,000.

Attendance: 3,871.

Noteworthy contract details: Before his performance, Iglesias told The Indianapolis Star that he has dropped more than 100 pounds in recent months. Food and drink guidelines for his dressing room included spring water, Diet Coke, orange-tangerine flavor Mio water additive, a fruit tray of blueberries and pineapple, pork rinds, Krave beef jerky and a deli tray with turkey and American and jack cheeses (“no onions or tomatoes”). The fair commission doesn’t accommodate artist requests for alcohol, but Iglesias typically seeks one bottle of Patron tequila.

2. Jake Owen

Jake Owen performed at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Aug. 14.

Aug. 14 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum

Payment: $125,000.

Attendance: 2,747.

Noteworthy contract details: On the topic of advertising Owen’s performance, his contract advised: “Please note that Owen is NOT spelled with an ‘s’ ... not Owens, but OWEN!!!” Backstage, the tour requested 12 medium-ripe bananas, clean and un-bruised. Owen also typically seeks one case of Bud Light, one case of Budweiser and one case of Newcastle Brown Ale or an alternate imported dark beer.

3. Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”

Garrison Keillor “speaks in a low conversational tone,” according to his performance contract.

Aug. 12 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum

Payment: $80,000.

Attendance: 2,876.

Noteworthy contract details: This tour wants Keillor’s voice to be in good shape and able to be heard. Backstage guidelines included a tea service with some herbal throat-soothing flavors, Ricola throat lozenges and breath mints. On the topic of amplifying the show, his contract advised that “every single audience member must be able to clearly hear every word Mr. Keillor says, and he speaks in a low conversational tone.”

4. “Happy Together Tour”

The Turtles (Mark Volman, left, and Howard Kaylan) would be OK with locally produced beer, had the Indiana State Fair been able to provide it.

Aug. 12 at the Free Stage

Payment: $65,000.

Noteworthy contract details: Of six acts on this pop-rock oldies bill, three requested alcohol. The Turtles sought one six-pack of bottled beer, noting that local brew is acceptable, and one bottle of Beringer Knights Valley wine. The Cowsills sought 12-packs of bottled Heineken, Samuel Adams and Bud Light beer, as well as one bottle of Clos du Bois red wine. And the Buckinghams sought one six-pack of Molson, Amstel or Miller beer, as well as one bottle of red wine. (Again, the fair commission doesn’t oblige alcohol requests.)

5. KC & the Sunshine Band

KC & the Sunshine Band provides specific yogurt instructions.

Aug. 20 at the Free Stage

Payment: $50,000.

Noteworthy contract details: KC & the Sunshine Band provided specific yogurt instructions: two 8-ounce individual servings of plain yogurt. No flavors, “just plain! Also please no large containers!”

6. Creedence Clearwater Revisited

Make no mistake: John Fogerty is not a member of Creedence Clearwater Revisited (from left, Kurt Griffey, John Tristao, Stu Cook, Doug Clifford and Steve Gunner).

Aug. 13 at the Free Stage

Payment: $50,000.

Noteworthy contract details: This band, featuring ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival drummer Doug Clifford and bass player Stu Cook, has feuded with ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival vocalist-guitarist John Fogerty (songwriter for signature tunes “Born on the Bayou,” “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son” and more) for decades. According to the Creedence Clearwater Revisited contract: “Under no circumstances may Creedence Clearwater Revival recordings be used in advertisements for the engagement. Purchaser may not advertise or promote artist’s performance as a performance of ‘Creedence Clearwater Revival’ or imply that John Fogerty participates in or endorses the performance.”

7. Indigo Girls

The Indigo Girls (Amy Ray, left, and Emily Saliers) read The New York Times while on the road.

Aug. 7 at the Free Stage

Payment: $35,000.

Noteworthy contract details: Citing “ecological reasons,” this tour forbids Styrofoam backstage. Group members Emily Saliers and Amy Ray each requested a current copy of The New York Times, something noted as being “very important” to Saliers.

8. John Schneider and Tom Wopat

John Schneider and Tom Wopat don’t want their teapot tainted by coffee.

Aug. 14 at the Free Stage

Payment: $30,000.

Noteworthy contract details: Similar to Keillor, former “Dukes of Hazzard” stars Schneider and Wopat are fond of tea. The “Return of the Dukes” contract requested organic green tea, Agave Nectar sweetener and a hot pot that “has never been used for coffee.”

9. Morris Day & the Time

Morris Day prefers to be paid in cash before he performs.

Aug. 8 at the Free Stage

Payment: $27,500.

Noteworthy contract details: The fair commission does not arrange flights for artists, but Day typically seeks one first-class round-trip airline ticket while the other nine members of his party fly coach. Morris Day & the Time requested payment in cash one hour before show time, in contrast to the customary check payment following the show. Day typically seeks one bottle of Ketel One vodka and six chilled bottles of Heineken beer for a show.

10. Village People

The Village People performed at the Free Stage on Aug. 17.

Aug. 17 at the Free Stage

Payment: $25,000.

Noteworthy contract details: Backstage, members of the Village People prefered to eat hot chicken strips, “not fried.” Before the show, the disco hitmakers would not appear on “morning zoo” radio shows or any “shock-jock” type of show.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.