BY KATLAN THOMERSON
Glasgow News 1
Helping the Hard Working, a non-profit based in Glasgow, will bring Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist Lil Jon to the Plaza Theatre for what might be the organization’s last attempt at providing the residents of Barren County with an easily accessible, fun event that’s different from what usually happens in town.
“People are focused on the expense of the tickets,” Jamie Bewley Byrd said. She founded the organization in 2020 prior to being elected Barren County judge-executive in November 2022.
In years past, the non-profit organization has taken a hit in bringing major concerts to town. Though last year’s Nelly concert sold-out, the organization lost money. The non-profit used a personal loan to pay $135,000 to book Nelly for Glasgow and brought in $132,000 from ticket sales, leaving the organization to pay the difference of $3,000, according to Byrd.
“There is no benefit to our organization. We’re doing this for our community. And we don’t make money from concessions.” Byrd said.
Though some argue that the tickets are too expensive, Byrd urges people to understand the kind of experience that they’re receiving. In bringing Lil Jon to Glasgow, Helping the Hard Working gives people the opportunity to save money on parking, while providing an intimate experience with a well-known music artist that’s hard to get in other performance venues such as the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville without paying the hefty price that comes with traveling out of town.
“Instead of driving to Bowling Green, Louisville, or Nashville, our community members can have this experience in their hometown,” she said.
In addition to cutting traveling expenses, booking Lil Jon to perform at the Plaza provides all guests with the opportunity to easily see the performance from every seat in the theater.
“Every seat in the Plaza is a like a floor seat. No one’s sitting two stories up watching the performance on a screen,” Bewley said.
Despite the negative impact that the concert may have on the non-profit, Byrd is looking forward to reviewing how the concert impact’s Glasgow’s economy.
“The concerts bring people from out of town who visit our shops. And members in our community go shopping at local stores to buy new outfits, then maybe out to dinner at one of our local restaurants,” she said.
To buy a ticket for the concert, visit Plaza Theatre (historicplaza.com) to make your purchase before the concert is sold out.
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