The weakened economy has not helped the efforts of the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center over the last two seasons.

Although an estimated 8,171 Sampson County students are expected to enjoy a week full of performances as part of the 2008-09 Class Acts series for students next week, the regular Sampson CenterStage Series continues to run up against hard times.

At Thursday’s advisory board meeting, Ray Jordan, executive director, said that he has been “astounded” at the lack of sales this season.

“We have had some really good shows here,” he told the board. “To be honest with you, I thought that this season was probably the one that had the most variety of all of them and the people just are not coming out. I don’t know what it is going to take, but we might have to consider some other options when it comes to next season ...”

Jordan admitted that he hadn’t started booking shows for next season yet because, “we should see what we are going to do.”

Things aren’t going to be easier going into the 2009-10 season either since the Sampson County Board of Commissioners have already asked for a two percent decrease in the budget for next year and repairs to the already 11-year-old building are needed, as well as revamps to the stage, stage lighting and other miscellaneous items.

After The Letterman failed to sell out back in December of 2007, the board decided the best thing to do would be to drop the December show altogether for this season, moving back the season’s schedule from the usual eight shows a season to seven.

Jordan suggested to the board that if things don’t get better, they may even have to drop some more.

“My thought is that we should look at going from seven shows to about four or five,” he said, “and start (the season) in January. I also think that we should think about not having shows scheduled during holidays ...”

Jordan was referring to the recent Livingston Taylor show, which sold just 363 tickets (a sell out for CenterStage is 784 seats), an estimated loss of $2,868.

“The turnout wasn’t good for Livingston Taylor,” he said. “And that really surprised me because he did a great show.”

Board member then discussed the reasons for the lackluster sales.

“Last year, we lost about 38 season ticket holders,” explained Jordan. “Our regular ticket sales stayed about the same ... The reasons? Some people were getting older and couldn’t get out; some people said that they didn’t like enough of the shows to purchase the full season; and some people were just doing other things. We have noticed that some people like the time at 7:30 p.m. instead of an 8 p.m. start. It is just one of those things, you can get folks home earlier with a 7:30 p.m. start and that is what will need to think about for next season. Hopefully, some of that will change the numbers in attendance.”

On the upside, Jordan did note that a steady push for the next show, upcoming country band Cowboy Crush, with ads in print and on the radio.

“We are working with (radio station) WKML for the Cowboy Crush show,” Jordan said. “They have this thing called Super Tuesday, I believe, where they promote the show and give away tickets and all of that to promote the show. It works as a trade and we will get about 10 days of advertising with it.”

The Cowboy Crush show is scheduled for April 25.

“This band has currently got a video running on CMT and they are going up the charts,” Jordan said. “We have already sold a pair of tickets to some fans who are coming in from Highland Springs, Virginia. They saw the concert listed on their website and called us and bought tickets.”

The executive director also noted that the final show of the CenterStage season will be on May 16, with “Doo Wop Live” featuring Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, The Marvelettes and The Platters.

For more information, click on to www.sampsoncenterstage.com.

To reach Doug Clark call (910) 592-8137 ext. 139 or email to sisports@intrstar.net.