The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-21
Announcement Made that the
Various Speakers and En-
tertainers Will Cause a
$1,000 Expenditure.
DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE
A SUITABLE PROGRAM
Committee in Charge of this
Work Most important of All
Audiences Are Very Hard
to Please.

Inc OnlLlaLe0 90 not reauze the
amount of labor involved or dificul-
ties encountered in building a pro-
gram that will satisfy Chautauqua
program. Upon the strength and
character of the program depends the
success or failure of the venture. The
program committee which has charge
of this work, Is the most important Of
all committee connected with chau-
tauQua, and is composed OF persons
who are not only acquainted with tai
ent but who know the wants and de-
sires of the community in which the
chautauqua Is held.
The season for securing talent ex-
tends from the first of September
until the closing days of the chautau-
qua session the next year. 1t natur-
ally follows therefore, that the earlier
in the season the program is made up
the better are chances Of securing
the talent desired. AS soon as one
number is definitely booked every
thing else must work around 1t so
that the chief attractions are booked
booked Arst.
1luSI1d dl0 NAAs OOAO0 10 oOSuA VOA
to give a lecture say on August Is.
Mr.. Smith is wanted for the 18th, but
It is found that he is not available
for that date as he is booked for an
other place, but is available for the
18th. Now, IL Smith Is considered they
probably shift Jones to another Gate
II he has one open. If this can not
be done it 10 necessary to cancel the
Jones date or>drop Smith. While all
booking contracts provide for the
cancellation under certain conditions
by either party, it Is not good practice
to cancel except for very urgent rea-
sons.
An Important Item.
Another important item to consid'
er is the amount of money to be
spent The talent for ten day ses-
sion may cost from $1,500.00 upward,
it being almost impossible to get 1t
for less. Two $4,000 lectures will
cover twice as much ground as a
$4,000 one and either may be as
good or better than the higher priced
one. But the cheaper one is unknown
and requires a great deal of adver.
tising, and may fail entirely as a
drawing card. while the more expen.
sive one would succeed and might
even save the difference in cost OF
advertising alone. There are also
lectures which cost $4,000 and up
ward. They are by men of national
reputation whose names are OF sufh
cient Importance to guarantee sue
cess. The whole talent on the local
program this year woll cost nearly
$S,OO0.00 ranging from $35 to $3.50 fol
single lecture or entertainment. The
highest price ever paid by the local
committee was $500 to Gov. Folk a
few years ago.
| The program must also be well
balanced. Everything has its place
but freaks and sensations should be
avoided on the platform. The humol
and disposition of the audience is in
constant. Some want mirth and mu
sic, some want humor and laughter
some prefer the delineation Of pathos
and tragedy, while others prefer the
solid food Of the "Men With Mess
ages" the "Big Guns" as they are
frequently called. Far sighted in
deed would be the program commit
tee that could see In advance all the
obstacles that may arise and know
the character and disposition of ar
audience that will be assembled a,
any date.