PHILADELPHIA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Regional promoter Jon Rinaldo says that he's closing down his company Joker Productions after a 22-year run.
"What it comes down to is the market is over-saturated with promoters and shows and not enough patrons in the market to support all these events. I was bleeding to death, so I thought it would be better to stop the company." Rinaldo told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Rinaldo has been in the market since 1989 and has booked more than 6,000 shows during that time. Over the years, the promoted shows at The World, Club Cafe, Diesel, the Riverplex Amphitheatre and the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville where they are the exclusive buyers of national talent. Artists Rinaldo has promoted shows for include Wu Tang Clan, Blink 182, Maroon 5, The Roots, DJ Shadow, Dashboard Confessional, Smashmouth, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, George Clinton, Less Than Jake, Death Cab For Cutie, Chevelle and others.
The Pittsburgh market has becoming increasingly competitive in recent years with players such as Live Nation, Drusky Entertinament and Elgo Concerts vying for shows.
However, according to Rinaldo, the arrival of the North Shore's new Stage AE, run by Columbus, Ohio-based Promowest Live was the straw that broke the camel's back.
"The market," Rinaldo told the Post-Gazette "was bad before they arrived." – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
