140 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



cause we put up the canvas, but we told them it wasn't possible to carry 

 on the fair without money, and we couldn't get the program unless we 

 had this money to pay for it, and after one or two seasons of putting up 

 ^his canvas the people were willing to pay. 



My friend Mr. Mullen here, when he first put on his night show at 

 Fonda, I asked him, "How are you going to work it?" and he said, "We 

 are going to drive them out after the afternoon show." He tried it and 

 almost had a riot. They didn't want to go out and they didn't go out, 

 and you can't drive them out. The next best thing is to clear your grand- 

 stand after the races, put up your canvas, and if your grandstand is not 

 big enough and you have fireworks, they would rather sit in on the 

 bleachers than in the grand stand, because if they get high up in the 

 grand stand, with the roof on it they can't see a sky rocket go up. We 

 can put up those bleachers, and then the only expense will be the renting 

 of planks that we get from the lumber yard, and those bleachers along- 

 side of the grandstand add a great deal to your income. As this gentle- 

 man said, the night show is the coming features of your fairs. I have 

 tried it and I know people will come to it. 



Another thing we do up there is this: We sell the season ticket for 

 the entire fair and charge $1.75. We sell that season ticket before the 

 fair, and you would be surprised at the number sold. We sell from five 

 to six hundred season tickets each year. This ticket is good for one ad- 

 mission at the gate each day; it is good for one admission at the grand 

 stand each night, and it sells for $1.75. If it happens to rain, nobody ever 

 asks for a rebate or rainchecks, so that we are seven or eight hundred 

 dollars to the good and have that much money to start with, while it is 

 a great reduction to the people who buy. 



Speaking about the matter of concessioners beating you through privi- 

 lege tickets. I would suggest that you offer them a card that is to be 

 punched one, two, three or four times, or simply have a coupon ticket 

 for each one of your concessioners so that that coupon is torn off for 

 that day, and if they have to go out give; them a passing-out check 

 tor their return. This pass-out return is all right for the average county 

 fair. A man who pays 50 cents and wants to get out and back again 

 without a check, and fails, is sore because he cannot come back. If he 

 had a return check he will be satisfied. 



EVENING SESSION 



The Chairman : Now, gentlemen, we will eome to order. The 

 address of welcome was to have been given by the Hon. John 

 MacVicar, mayor of Des Moines, but on account of his being out 

 of the city, Mr. H. W. Byers, corporation counsel, has consented 

 to extend to us the welcome from the city administration. 



Mr. H. W. Byers: Mr. President and Members of the County and 

 District Fair Managers: 



It is to be regretted that our good mayor is not here tonight, but what 

 is your loss in that respect and his, too, is my gain. It gives me an 

 opportunity to meet you and spend a few minutes with you. 



