Holts Summit residents could see an annual live concert added to their city's summer calendar.
DAC Entertainment Productions is interested in developing a "signature event" in Holts Summit. Nick Kaufman with DAC Entertainment said an event like this could bring more interest to the community. He added that he thinks Holts Summit, because of its demographics and proximity to Jefferson City, has a market for an annual event.
"This would be a way for Holts Summit to define itself," Kaufman said. "Being able to have an event here at home ... I think people would be excited about it."
Kaufman discussed the possibility of establishing a community event, which could attract thousands of people, with the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen at its work session Monday. He said the entertainment company is still trying to secure a good day, free of other conflicts, and it needs to solicit a musical artist.
The entertainment company is set up to do mobile shows, he said. DAC Entertainment Productions regularly holds concerts at KC Country in Kingdom City and started Music on Main in Auxvasse.
DAC Entertainment would fund and manage the concert, but Kaufman added that it would also ask the city for some assistance. He estimated that the city's part in building a brand for the annual event and lending assistance in other ways could total at most $2,000. Kaufman said the company would handle private security, graphic design needs, concert set up, booking an artist and other concert logistics.
DAC Entertainment, he said, would ask for the city's help with the space used for the concert, a convenient parking situation, additional police officers and some minor maintenance items such as orange fencing materials and barricades if available.
Kaufman said the lower ball field in Holts Summit's Greenway Park would be an ideal venue for the concert. City Administrator Brian Crane told Kaufman about the work the city is currently doing to that ball field to fix drainage issues and enlarge it. Kaufman said that area is a natural outdoor amphitheater space and will be large enough for their concert needs, especially since the city is widening the field. If Greenway Park's ball field is used, Kaufman said they would most likely work the park's name into the name of the annual event.
Regarding parking, Kaufman suggested that the city talk to the area Lions Club and other organizations about managing parking lots nearby. One group or multiple organizations could charge a small fee for parking then use a shuttle or bus to take people from the parking lot to the venue. With multiple organizations chipping in on the shuttle, Kaufman said the cost would be reasonable. The parking fee could serve as a fundraiser for the organizations or city as well, he said. While DAC Entertainment makes its money from the concert tickets, Kaufman added that it works with entities on fundraising efforts.
While the concert provides private security within the concert venue, Kaufman said it may be a good idea for the city to have extra police officers on patrol during the concert. He said law enforcement looks for signs of possible crimes while private security manages the crowd. Additionally, he said extra law enforcement could assist with excess traffic or car accidents due to the extra traffic.
Kaufman added that the entertainment company would also appreciate if an officer or two could be present near the company's office tent, which holds any cash needed on site, as a precaution. Holts Summit Police Chief Kyle McIntyre said that with private security inside the concert venue, his department's full-time staff and reserve officers could handle an event of that size.
Kaufman said DAC seeks to make concerts mobile, accessible and affordable while helping the community develop a brand. When it comes to building a brand, Kaufman said DAC Entertainment would create the brand but would need the city's assistance. For example, he said the city may want to set up a website for the annual event, which comes at a cost. And the city may want to purchase marketing materials with the event branding.
The city, he added, would own the brand. Kaufman said that ownership is important because it gives the city flexibility. If in the future Holts Summit decides to create a committee or organization to run the annual concert after DAC Entertainment has established it, the city would have the rights to the branding associated with the event.
"We want to build you a signature event and help you in that process," Kaufman told the board.
The City of Holts Summit sought input on the possibility of adding an outdoor annual concert via its Facebook page and received positive feedback.
Regarding the production company's shows at KC Country, he said businesses receive more customers during their concerts.
"We like the fact that it spills over into the community," Kaufman told the board.
If DAC Entertainment does produce a concert, Kaufman said they cannot yet guarantee that it would happen this summer.
Kaufman said the production company needs to first secure a day and has been looking at July dates for the event. He is trying to find a date which does not have a long list of conflicts with other activities in neighboring cities. After the company finds a date, he said they will come back to the board of aldermen to pitch their full proposal and suggested artist for the concert.