Serving the High Plains

Rockabilly on the Route producers making plans for next year

QCS Managing Editor

link QCS photo: Steve Hansen

The pinup contest was just one of many events and attractions of Rockabilly on the Route June 5-8 in Tucumcari.

With a reported profit of $258, Ungelbah Davila and Simon Cantlon, producers of Rockabilly on the Route, are ready to do it again in 2015 with a five-day rockabilly ‘50s and ‘60s lifestyle event in Tucumcari.

Their plans have even gone worldwide.

“We want to give it an international flavor next year with bands from Japan, and Australia,” Davila said.

She and Cantlon are also planning a bigger burlesque show, more events and headlining bands, and another car show and bowling night, they said.

They talked about their plans for next year’s rockabilly event Thursday after reporting revenues and expenses to the Tucumcari Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board to account for the $10,000 the producers received in lodger’s tax funds last year.

They reported that they overspent the budget by $2,418.43, which they said they spent on billboard advertising for the event. They covered the overspending with other funds and from their own pockets, they said.

Overall, they reported, the producers spent more than $29,130 to bring Rockabilly on the Route to Tucumcari. The largest single expense area was aobut $7,000 paid to the 17 rockabilly bands that performed at the event, they said. None of those funds were from the lodger’s tax allocation.

They recorded attendance at Rockabilly on the Route events in 2014 compared with 2013 as follows:

Thursday, June 5

• Mountain View Bowling Thursday: 80 people

There were no events on Thursday of the 2013 Rockabilly on the Route weekend.

Friday, June 6

• Convention Center (Friday in daylight hours): 400 people

• Convention Center (Friday night show): 300 people

• Lizard Lounge (Friday show): 150 people

Friday, 2013

• Convention Center (day time): 150 people

• Lizard Lounge (after party show): 150 people

Saturday, 2014

• Convention Center Car Show (day time): 1,400 people

• Convention Center (night show): 600 people

• Tri-Star Inn Express (after party show): 150 people

Saturday, 2013

• Convention Center Car Show (day time): 600 people

• Convention Center (night show): 350 people

• Tri-Star Inn Express (after party show): 150 people

Sunday, 2014

• Joe's Back 'N' The Day Diner: 60 people

• Tri Star Pool Party: 40 people

There were no events on Sunday of the 2013 Rockabilly on the Route weekend.

According to the producers’ final report:

“The total cost of production for ROR in 2014 totaled $22,080.

“Expenses were paid for as follows: $10,000 - lodger's tax funding; $7,600 - sponsorship funding; $4,480 - out of pocket funding invested by ROR creators.

“After all expenses were paid, the profit made by ROR in 2014 in merchandise and ticket sales totaled $4,738—$4,480 of which was paid back to initial ROR creators' investments.

“After all expenses and debts were paid, the profit for ROR in 2014 was $258.”

The fact that they cleared a profit at all is very encouraging Cantlon said, enough to spur Davila and Cantlon to start planning for next year’s event.

In addition, they said, they are starting a marketing and promotion company called Pink Flamingo and plan to have an office in Tucumcari.

Cantlon is an event promoter, owner of the Viva Le Rock production company in Charleston, S.C.

Davila is the editor and publisher of La Loca magazine, a rockabilly lifestyle publication based in Albuquerque.