Big names perform in Phoenix small venues

Ah, Arizona winters. Sunshine. Saguaro cactus. Rich Little. Marie Osmond.

Once again, the Cal-Am resorts of Arizona are bringing in the acts that made Las Vegas famous. With nine resorts in the Phoenix valley, Cal-Am has to do more than just put out a bit of tarmac for parking the RV on. The also have to put on a show.

During the heavy tour season, Cal-Am rolls out the carpet for the shows that many of their resort guests clamor for. Well, most of the shows. "People want Tony Bennett," says Starr Davis with a sigh. Davis is Cal-Am's booking agent, responsible for bringing in entertainment. "Well, it's a quarter of a million to bring Tony Bennett and he won't do two shows in one day. It's just not going to work."

Never mind the lack of Tony, resort goers seem to be happy with the likes of Wayne Newton, Crystal Gayle, B.J. Thomas, Tanya Tucker, Ricky Skaggs, the Smothers Brothers and the Oak Ridge Boys, all of whom Cal-Am has rounded up for past concerts. Davis doesn't have a crystal ball to divine who Cal-Am should try and get--it's a bit more down to earth. Eyeballing what acts are popular in other snowbird venues, who sells out a house in Branson, Missouri, and who the Valley of the Sun folks ask for by name.

When they sign, the touring stars agree to a daily double. An early show for those who go to bed with the chickens, and a later show for the owls. The prices for shows are keeping in range with many who live on a budget. You can see Marie Osmond at a Cal-Am show for $30 to $50--try that in Vegas. The concert venue is a bit different than in the bigger show towns. Here concert goes hunker down in folding chairs in a smaller setting--probably less than 1,200 folks will take in a show--not for lack of sales--it's just the settings are smaller.

You might wonder if the talents are put off by performing at an "RV park." So far it hasn't been a problem. Of course, Cal-Am's resorts are a far cry from any taint of "trailer trash." Swimming pools, tennis courts, computer labs--Cal-Am looks to provide up-scale amenities in well manicured grounds. Not every show at Cal-Am is a big name--at least not in person. Many of the resort's favorite shows are "tribute" acts and impersonators.

Check out this year's concert schedule here. Beware, tickets to Cal-Am shows are offered first to Cal-Am guests; the general public gets a crack at them after everybody else.