Katie Montgomery spoke to the Lions Club Monday about the role of Hempstead Hall in the community and reported on its recent services as well as what attendees can expect in the near future.
In a little over two weeks, the venue will host some country music royalty, a full-grown guitar-playing former child prodigy who has recorded 22 albums and become one of the genre’s most familiar faces and most important curators.
“I'm sure you've seen Marty Stuart. I'm sure you see the posters around and all the best friends. He's coming in February. February 20th is just right around the corner. Tickets are selling very quickly. So if you want some, I encourage you to get them sooner rather than later,” Montgomery said.
On April 25th, as Hempstead Hall announced on its website Saturday, two-time Grammy-winning Christian Contemporary singer Jason Crabb. Montgomery explained that tickets become available on a convenient day for thoughtful romantic partners: “Tickets for that go on sale February 14th, which is Valentine's Day. So if you're like my husband and don't ever know what to get your wife, start with Jason Crabb tickets. How about that?”
Hempstead Hall tries its best to make its ticket prices competitive, avoiding the sneaky costs of other ticket suppliers. “These are low cost and have no hidden fees, just your standard tax, which we all love. We could not do this without sponsors,” she said, naming Pafford Medical Services, Farmers Bank and Trust, Hebrews 11:1, Miracle Farms Market and Southwest Arkansas Cattle Company.
There is always room for more sponsorships, too, Montgomery said. “If any of you or your businesses are ever interested in sponsoring shows, please let me know. I'd be glad to let you know all the perks we have for being a sponsor.”
One of last year’s events Montgomery looks back at most fondly occurred in August. “After much persuading, we attempted what we called the Indoor Yard Sale Weekend. We had 48 booths that individuals could rent for one or two days and sell their junk. It was an absolute hit,” she said with all 48 booths being reserved the day the event was announced. So the Hall will host another such sale April 4th and 5th.
“We're expanding into the hallways and into the rotunda to allow for more booths. We will have food trucks and concessions, maybe even giveaways and door prizes,” Montgomery said.
Among the questions asked by Lions was one about whether tickets will be available at the door. Montgomery said the box office at Hempstead Hall is open during business hours and will sell tickets the days of shows if tickets are still available.
Asked about genres of music attendees may hear in future shows, Montgomery said, “So far, we have country and southern gospel. I am working on some more southern gospel for later this year. Yeah, I know that's a very popular genre. We are working on some more southern rock. So just keep your ears open.”
The average cost to Hempstead Hall for a show, Montgomery said, is about $20,000, which is covered with a budget consisting of ticket proceeds and funds from sponsors.
About the process of booking shows, Montgomery explained, “Sometimes I work through an agency, and I ask who you have available in this area, and I give them our budget, so it takes some back and forth on our part to settle on an artist, but usually I'm looking for something specific.”
To a questioner who asked if performing at Hempstead Hall offered advantages to artists, Montgomery said, “If they have other shows in the area, most of the time people will book shows around your event, or your event will be around other shows. So a lot of times we'll catch people on what is called a routing date, where they will have a show in maybe Mississippi and Texas, but there's an empty date in between, and we'll try to grab them on that date.”
In 2024, the 65,000-square-foot Hempstead Hall, Montgomery said, “hosted nearly 600 different events in our building, while welcoming over 100,000 people through the doors.”
After her talk, Montgomery was officially inducted as a new member of the Hope Lions Club by Past President Claudia Griffin.
