State Fair spent $4.1 million to book performances

Grandstand Performers:	Guarantees:
Aerosmith	$1,000,000
Jeff Dunham	$200,000
Rihanna	$410,000
Justin Bieber	$250,000
Rush	$450,000
Tim McGraw	$500,000
Rascal Flats	$602,500
Total:	$3,412,500

For the first time this year, the State Fair exhausted its budget for the grandstand with just seven performers. Three nights were left empty. The Fair Director said he wanted to make sure there was still plenty of money left over and to place an emphasis on Chevy Court.

During the 12 days of the Fair, Chevy Court will feature 24 acts. The total cost of all those acts was just $733,097.

The shows at Chevy Court are popular among fairgoers, mostly because they're included in the cost of admission. "We want to make sure we have enough musical talent for those that may not have the disposable income," explained O'Hara.

The highest paid Chevy Court acts this year are both bringing home $75,000 a piece. They are 30 Seconds to Mars and Wednesday night's big act, Lady Antebellum.  "You get lucky sometimes," O'Hara said. "We had Lady Antebellum signed up before the group won several country awards, some of it's timing and it all worked out very well. A lot of people have said, why don't you move Lady Antebellum to the Grandstand, and the idea is to have that quality entertainment for free to get people to come to the fair, enjoy the day, walk around."

Chevy Court Performers:	Guarantees:
En Vogue	$26,500
Kool and the Gang	$53,000
Blue Oyster Cult	$18,000
Kansas	$35,000
Adam Richman	$25,000
Styx	$65,000
Trailer Choir	$15,000
Blues Traveler	$15,000
Steve Lippia/CNY Jazz Orchestra	$11,097
30 Seconds to Mars	$75,000
Herman's Hermits	$15,000
1964	$12,000
Mario Batali	$71,500
Lady Antebellum	$75,000
Eli Young Band	$18,500
Justin Moore	$12,500
Coheed & Cambria	$40,000
Mitchel Musso	$25,000
Robert Randolph & the Family Band	$30,000
Katharine McPhee	$22,500
Keith Sweat	$35,000
Jackyl	$15,000
Marc Broussard	$22,500
Total:	$733,097

The Fair also hopes those who attend the shows at Chevy Court spend money elsewhere on the Fairgrounds. Money spent on food, drinks and other items ultimately benefits the Fair.

The Fair hires an agency to take care of the bookings. Before deciding which stage the act will play on, that agency considers the artist's upcoming album releases, radio play, album sales and Pollstar, a trade organization covering the concert industry.

In all, the Fair spent $4,145,597 on acts for the two stages.