Published August 15, 2008 11:25 pm - The entertainers at this year’s Crawford County Fair aren’t particularly fussy about what food they’d like to eat — but, when it comes to quenching their thirst, some of them want the energy drink Red Bull and all of them want plenty of non-carbonated water.
Organizers do their best to cater to stars’ whims
By Jean Shanley
08/17/08
—
The entertainers at this year’s Crawford County Fair aren’t particularly fussy about what food they’d like to eat — but, when it comes to quenching their thirst, some of them want the energy drink Red Bull and all of them want plenty of non-carbonated water.
George Deshner, who handles arrangements for the entertainment, said the requests were “pretty simple” this year. Pampered Palate, which is catering the meals, has been in contact with the entertainers’ staff with samples of menus, and the staff selects the precise menus for the meals. However, one of Deshner’s assistants will go shopping each day for the other requests from the stars.
Corbin Bleu, the “High School Musical” performer who will play the fair Monday at 7 p.m., wants assorted drinks and sodas, veggie tray, hot breakfast (“would be appreciated”) and meals for two vegetarians on staff.
Vanessa Hudgens, his “HSM” co-star, requested Gatorade, herbal tea, assorted juice, two fruit plates, 12-pack of Coke, veggie platter, and deli meat and cheese tray.
However, although her food requests were simple, she is the first entertainer to request specific furnishings for her dressing area, according to Deshner, who said she wants a couch, two 8-foot
folding tables, one large recliner, four folding chairs, one makeup stand with light, a large mirror and wardrobe racks.
For rockers Daughtry, who play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., “no hamburgers or hot dogs” was the main request, with a note they have been “hot dogged and hamburgered to death” this summer and asked for “anything but hot dogs.”
Their other requests: tea, coffee, orange and blue Gatorade, 12-pack of Diet Rite Zero Cola (if that’s not available, then no soda), cranberry juice, Life cereal, Honey Nut Cheerios, 12 cans of Red Bull, salted nuts, fresh inpeel bananas, oranges, apples and strawberries, bag of potato chips and Tostitos, jar of salsa, case of vitamins, water, two bags of South Bend cereal bars, and package of nut and berries trail mix.
Country singer Gretchen Wilson, who’ll sing Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., has asked for a meat, cheese and crackers tray, veggie tray, fruit tray, chips, salsa, 12-pack of Red Bull, box of “high quality” Ritz crackers, jar of creamy peanut butter, grape or strawberry jelly, Planter’s Deluxe mixed nuts, assorted cans of Mountain Dew, Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite, six medium-size scented candles in glass containers (no vanilla), six-pack of Starbucks Double Shots, and case of Fiji water.
Blake Shelton, her opening act, wants assorted Coke products, peanut butter and jelly, pack of peppered beef jerky, bag of Cheetos, large bag of barbecue Baked Lay’s potato chips, box of Hershey chocolate minis, three-pack of Orbitz chewing gum, a veggie tray, two cans of tuna packed in water, and two packs of low-fat string cheese.
Although he now has his own catering bus, Deshner said Toby Keith — who performs Thursday at 7:30 p.m. — isn’t bringing his own caterer to Crawford County; instead, he’ll eat food provided by the county. He had no special requests except ice and soda.
The entertainers have large staff which accompanies them.
Keith has a staff of 72 which travels on six buses and four trucks.
Shelton has one bus and a trailer; Wilson, four buses and two trailers; Daughtry, three buses and two trucks; Hudgens, two buses, one pulling a trailer; and Bleu, four buses, one with a trailer behind it.
Deshner said the fair also will make arrangements for some of the staffers to play golf or go to local workout facilities, if they request it.