Coordinator: Music Showcase a success

A strong reception by local residents and attendance by visitors from across the nation has prompted the Tucumcari Columbus Club to plan a second New Mexico Music Showcase.

“This is an event that can draw the following of the bands to Tucumcari,” said Jerry Lopez, event coordinator, adding that despite the inclement weather forcing them to cancel the car show and vendors not attending, the show was a success. He said even with the snow fall, one area resident, Joe Dominguez, brought out his 1955 Impala and was awarded the trophy for best original classic.

“We had to admire his spirit,” Lopez said. “Even with such bad weather, Joe Dominguez still took part in the event. That showed us just how much our local residents supported the event.

Lopez said originally, it was not organizers' intent to hold the event on April 29 so early in the year. He said the date was the only one available for the Tucumcari Columbus Club to hold the event.

“After much consideration, organizers decided to schedule the event on the available date,” Lopez said. “This was a way for us to get our foot in the door. A way for us to start the event, see how well it would be received and create a following.”

Lopez said the support of local business sponsors and the funding from the Tucumcari Lodger’s Tax Board was what made the event possible. He said the commissioners and city manager were also very supportive in the creation of this event.

Lopez said the final count of ticket sales was more than 500 with 150 to 175 of those tickets being sold to out-of-town visitors. He said the main concert, which featured performers such as Darren Cordova and Carlos Medina, sold out three weeks before the event.

“I had people calling me, stopping by my house and leaving notes everywhere asking me for tickets,” Lopez said. “Many of the people asking me for tickets were people I knew, and I felt bad telling them we had no tickets left.”

Lopez said on the night of the concert, the attendance exceeded their initial projections, and more chairs had to be set up to accommodate the capacity crowd. He said this has prompted them to look at the set up for next year's event in order to ensure there is enough seating and still room to dance.

Lopez said the local bands, including the Skyliners, had local followings at the event. He said the other bands, including two from Pecos, had fans who traveled to the event. Organizers have listened to the people and have already begun choosing next year’s entertainment.

“We want to have a new selection of bands for people to enjoy each year,” Lopez said. “However, Carlos Media and Darren Cordovas’ support in putting on this event were crucial to its success.”

Lopez said Medina is also working on a project that will feature episodes taped in Tucumcari.

“We will be asking Carlos and Darren back to the event,” Lopez said, adding that next year’s event will be held later in the year, offering a lower chance of snow interfering with planned events. He said thanks to the Quay County government, the corn hole tournament was able to be moved into the Quay County Fair Barn.

“This tournament was a huge success with talks of starting a local league,” said Chris Ortiz, local corn hole enthusiast.

Ortiz said the tournament had 12 teams participating in the team tournament and more than 20 people participating in the singles tournament, and the overwhelming response to the tournament has local players considering starting a league.

Lopez said next year’s event will be a two-day event with live music, vendors and the first round of the corn hole tournament. He said it was surprising to him to see the interest expressed in the corn hole tournament.

“We had interest from people living on the east coast who wanted to enter the tournament but ultimately, didn’t come due to the weather,” Lopez said.

He added that there are plans to hold another corn hole tournament later this year.