LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — A gospel concert held in late April failed to raise the money necessary to pay the headlining act, muchless to donate money to the March 2 tornado victims.

Aaron Kirk, promoter of the event, was hopeful that The Perry’s, one of today’s leading gospel groups, would be a big ‘draw’ for gospel music lovers and would generate funds for the local United Way fund for tornado relief.

Instead, Kirk walked away virtually owing money to the performers and some vendors after the concert at North Laurel High School auditorium on April 28.

“The crowd was down and we were short on money,” Kirk said. “I was very disappointed. I thought The Perry’s would be a big draw but very little money came in.”

Kirk said some sponsors of the event withdrew “at the last minute,” although he declined naming those businesses. He also said a gospel concert the Monday evening prior to The Perry’s concert may have had an impact on the weekend turnout.

Another factor, he said, was the availability of online ticket sales through iTicket.

“They shut the ticket sales down a day early and that may have affected the sales,” he said. “There were only 41 tickets sold online.”

At the door sales was also not what Kirk expected. Tickets were $12 per person if purchased online and were $15 at the door. The crowd showing up for the concert was less than 100 people.

Judy Nicholson, executive director of the United Way of Laurel County, said she was aware of the situation on the night of the concert.

“He just didn’t sell the number of tickets he needed to pay expenses,” she said.

Instead of the fundraising Kirk had hoped for, he found himself in dire financial distress.

“We were $1,200 short of even paying The Perry’s,” Kirk said. “We got the sponsorship from Tincher-Williams and they are the only ones who carried through with their donation. We got $41 in the collection held at the concert that night, plus the ticket sales.”

Bill Bailey, manager for The Perry’s, said his group received only half of what they were promised as part of the concert. The Perry’s agreed to appear for $3,000 and were also booked to perform at Kirk’s church in Ohio on the Sunday morning following the London concert. When the funds were not delivered as promised, the Perry’s canceled their appearance at Kirk’s church.

“We were not paid according to the agreement, so they came back to Nashville rather than going on to Ohio,” Bailey said.

He also said The Perry’s still had not received the remainder of their fee for the London performance.

Kirk said the fundraising event simply did not raise the money he had hoped for, once the expenses and fees for The Perry’s performance was added up.

However, costs for advertising the event continue to remain unpaid. The concert was advertised over radio and in newspapers across southeastern Kentucky. Kirk said a company in Cincinnati printed posters and tickets, to the tune of $231, while Minuteman Press in London printed some color banners advertising the event.

Garry Conley, the owner of Minuteman Press, said on Monday that he had not yet received payment for his services.

“The costs were around $450 but we discounted it to $250,” Conley said. “I was told I would be paid but now he (Kirk) won’t answer my calls.”

Kirk said there had been some negative posts on Facebook and his website as owner of Steele Glory, a gospel group which also performed at the April 28 concert.

“We really wanted to do something to help the tornado victims. I lived in London and it was something I wanted to do to help people there,” he said. “But we just didn’t get the crowd we hoped for and I’m very disappointed. I’ve responded to all the posts that I can about it, but it is what it is. We just didn’t get the money we’d hoped for.”

Nicholson said she was convinced that Kirk’s intentions in promoting the concert were genuine.

“He just didn’t make the money that he’d hoped for,” she said. “I don’t think he did this to make money for himself or try to deceive anyone. I think he had the right intentions. He just didn’t get the money he needed to even pay the performers so there was nothing left over to give to the United Way’s Tornado Relief.”