Is there ethnic diversity in the audience at the Branson Shows? (St. Louis: theater, safer)

[Weekend Traveler]

A friend of mine who is Black but is open to all kinds of music is thinking of driving cross country and stopping at Branson and seeing some shows. I told him that he will likely be the only Black person in the audience. I looked at the local demographics of Branson and it seems like a 98% white town. I suspect the nature of the music makes the crowds at the music halls 99.99% white. Am I right?

[stlsmoore]

I'm a black male from St. Louis and visited Branson a few times with family and I def. didn't feel out of place. Branson is a really welcoming place and I can't wait to go back and visit!

[mcol]

I would think being a touristy town they would draw in
people from all races. I don't know when I was there
what the general makeup of the audiences were as I
really don't pay attention to stuff like that.

[Lake Junkie]

Originally Posted by stlsmoore

I'm a black male from St. Louis and visited Branson a few times with family and I def. didn't feel out of place. Branson is a really welcoming place and I can't wait to go back and visit!

I'm so glad to hear that! I'm pretty color-blind myself...
Although this is a fairly fair skinned part of the world, I think you get what you expect to get around here. Friendly gets friendly...

[Ciaerin]

well said lake junky. people tend not to see color. they instead tend to see attitudes down here

[Cali BassMan]

I can guarantee one thing for sure, Your friend will be a heck of alot safer walking around Branson, than I would be walking around East St. Louis...........

[Weekend Traveler]

Since I asked the question I talked to some people who have been to Branson quite a few times. They said while a Black Man would not be arrested for showing up at a show he would be stared at likely. With so many County Western Acts and old performers from Lawrence Welk, it is not so popular with the hip hop crowd.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

I suspect the nature of the music makes the crowds at the music halls 99.99% white. Am I right?

You're probably right. I've steered clear of Branson for 30 years, so I'm not sure what's there any more. I think, though, the nature of the music is mostly country or bluegrass, with a lot of pop and some swing and, oh, yes, "hillbilly comedy" thrown in. The white folks who travel to Branson to listen to those songs are not interested in picking fights.

Whenever they open a rap/hip-hop theater in Branson, though, everybody better look out.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

You're probably right. I've steered clear of Branson for 30 years, so I'm not sure what's there any more. I think, though, the nature of the music is mostly country or bluegrass, with a lot of pop and some swing and, oh, yes, "hillbilly comedy" thrown in. The white folks who travel to Branson to listen to those songs are not interested in picking fights.

Whenever they open a rap/hip-hop theater in Branson, though, everybody better look out.

LOL, I am still upset over what has become of Branson, it was such a pretty little town back in the '60's

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

A friend of mine who is Black but is open to all kinds of music is thinking of driving cross country and stopping at Branson and seeing some shows. I told him that he will likely be the only Black person in the audience. I looked at the local demographics of Branson and it seems like a 98% white town. I suspect the nature of the music makes the crowds at the music halls 99.99% white. Am I right?

Oh heck, we get black folk all the time around here. It's NOT an unusual sight, nor an unwelcome one.

Now Muslims. Nope. Not a one. Christian you know, everything - Jesus everywhere. Yikes.

20yrsinBranson