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CONCERT FANS FRUSTRATED BY SUBSTITUTE ARTIST, NO REFUNDS

BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Sunday, October 25, 2009 12:03 AM CDT

More than 200 people crowded in and around the Pine Bluff Convention Center Saturday night, many upset because they had bought tickets to hear Frankie Beverly and Maze and were told the group wouldn’t appear.

Photos: Special to The Commercial/William Harvey

Instead, concert-goers were told another R&B singer, Johnny Gill, would perform the 7 p.m. concert.

Participants told The Commercial that they were not only frustrated about the substitution, but because they couldn’t get their money back for the Frankie Beverly and Maze concert.

“If we don’t pay for what we get why can’t we get our money back?” one resident asked.

The same sentiment was echoed throughout the crowd.

The biggest problem for most seemed to be the fact that this concert was promoted during the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s homecoming, although it was not an official part of UAPB’s scheduled activities.

“This is a disgrace for the African-American community of Pine Bluff,” another resident complained.

The tickets state that there would be no refunds or exchanges, however several people said they thought it was wrong not to give refunds in this matter.

Inside the convention center, music from the substitute concert was going on as aggravated patrons wandered around waiting to see if there would be a resolution to their problems.

Some people left after hearing that there was a substitute artist. One couple said someone announced the issue over the public address system so they decided to leave since they were loyal Frankie Beverly and Maze fans.

Pine Bluff Police Lt. Bob Rawlinson said that two off-duty police officers were already scheduled to work the concert and the department planned to send another unit to help disburse the crowd.

Although people were upset, the issue was a civil matter that patrons would have to take up with the promoter. It was not a criminal matter, he said.

Cedric Sterrett was listed as the promoter on the convention center’s schedule of events. Sterrett didn’t return phones calls to a reporter seeking comment Saturday night.

William Harvey, Bobbie Harville and Ray King contributed to this article.

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