August 21 was just another Saturday night in Branson with people attending shows, going to attractions and sharing in the fun and excitement that Branson has to offer. “Whoa, now Seagull, wasn’t Saturday night, August 21,2010, special because ‘Nelly’ did a concert in Branson?”Not really. To an Ole Seagull, Nelly was just one of the many diverse choices of live Branson entertainment available in Branson that night. He would bet that most who went to the Nelly concert had a great time just like those going to one of Branson’s other great live shows did.
“Oh come on Seagull, it was a history making event.” You’ve got the Ole Seagull there, if reports from the concert are right it is the first time in Branson’s history, that a performer intentionally said, as part of their act, “To the people that tried to stop me from coming, Fu** You. This is 2010 Mother Fu**ers not 1910”.
“But Seagull, didn’t the city try to stop him from coming? Didn’t you read the press release put out on July 11 by Xavier DeJesus who was hired ‘by Paul Dunn, of the Branson Grand Palace…to assist in all marketing, PR….’ that said “the city [Branson] was offended by the Grand Palace marquee that announced ‘Nelly Concert August 21 plus Surprise Guest?'” Sure, but that doesn’t make it true.
To answer your questions, “No, the city of Branson didn’t try to stop Nelly from coming.” In the opinion of an Ole Seagull, the only thing between Nelly coming to Branson and performing just any other limited engagement act was actions, inactions and failures of “Dunn and company.”
“Now wait a minute, Seagull, are you saying that no one would have objected to ‘Nelly’s’ concert?” “Absolutely not, there are individuals who might have objected, but in an Ole Seagull’s interaction with various elected and appointed officials within the city of Branson the issue wasn’t Nelly.
Among other things, it was the location of the concert and the precedent that granting a “Special Event Permit” for the concert would have established. The Ole Seagull believes that had the concert been announced for inside “The Mansion Theatre” originally, from a city of Branson perspective, it would have been no different than “Peter Pan” performing at the theatre.
“Yeah Seagull, but the press release also said that the concert was ‘fraught with much controversy including over $2 million of vandalism possibly motivated by the intent of vigilantes to deter the Grand Palace from pursuing its mission to bring new entertain and music venue to Branson.'” Again, that doesn’t make it true. In the opinion of an Ole Seagull the statement is calculated to stir up controversy and get publicity by alluding to the race card. Give an Ole Seagull a break, “vigilantes?”
The initial announcements about Paul Dunn reopening of the Grand Palace were made on or about May 21, 2010. Dunn led people to believe that the Grand Palace would be opened by Labor Day, but he specifically did not mention the names of any acts or the types of acts that would be appearing.
It should be noted however, that in the May 21 announcements Dunn did acknowledge that extensive damage had been done to the theatre and that “vandals,” no mention of “vigilantes” at this point, had stolen the theatres sound and lighting equipment and that the power to the Grand Palace was off because some copper wire had been cut and stolen. “But Seagull, if that was the case then Dunn’s announcement of Nelly as his artist on July 4 had nothing to do with the vandalism.”
That would appear to be the case. In fact, an Ole Seagull would bet that if anyone checked the official police reports of the Branson Police Department they would find only three reports relating to property damage, burglary or stealing at the Grand Place and they would be dated May 13 and May 25 of 2009 and April 23 of 2010.
Related links:
Nelly or Carrie Underwood in a Branson parking lot “just ain’t right”
Nelly – an example of the diversity and quality of Branson entertainment