I was on the SUBG. In fact, I coined that acronym for the Student Union Board of Governors. I was also Treasurer of the student senate, so I was in charge of booking concerts. A group of us went to Memphis to the Peabody Hotel for a talent showcase. I went to bed early, but I could still hear some incredible music from the main auditorium. So, I got dressed and went down to listen to an amazing unknown band. I found our promoter and told him I wanted to book them, but they wanted a bunch of bucks for an unknown band: $7,500! (That was a lot in 1969-70.) The promoter said we could do two things to mitigate the risk: book them in conjunction with the college of Wooster and book the concert a year down the road.
By the time they played our gig they were the highest paid most popular band in the US, commanding fees of $40,000. But, they honored the contract and did the most amazing concert I’d ever heard. We made so much money. Concerts were virtually free for both colleges for the rest of the year. It still amazes me: I booked Chicago for $3,750!.
