NORMAN, Okla. -- Dwight Yoakam's cowboy boots never touched concrete when he played a concert at Oklahoma's Riverwind Casino.It was in his contract.Pat Benatar demanded that her own washer and dryer be installed in her dressing room before she performed at the Riverwind theater.It was in her contract, too.Welcome to the world of Riverwind Casino marketing manager Angel Hunt, who oversees entertainment, promotions and advertising for the massive casino just south of Norman.Hunt's job isn't done until she reads the fine print of the acts booked to perform at the casino's 1,500 seat theater.For instance, Dwight Yoakam's contract included a "rider" that required the casino to ensure his slick cowboy boots didn't come in contact with concrete."His guy comes out and surveys where he's walking to the stage and all that," Hunt said. "What we heard from other people is that his boots are very slick and at one venue he was walking and slipped and didn't want to take that chance. So, we had to put cardboard for him to walk on."Hard-rocking Benatar wanted her own washer and dryer in the dressing room and she got it."She brings her own, it travels with her on the bus," Hunt said. "Pat is incredible. She's very nice to work with. Her husband is incredible. They called us as soon as they left and told us that it was among the best places they ever played and wanted us to have them back."Hunt's multifaceted job at Riverwind brings her in contact with celebrities and their peculiarities, but it's only one part of her busy day. She oversees seven departments at the casino, including promotions, entertainment, sales, sponsorships, hospitality and more."Angel interacts with thousands of people, from artists and patrons to managers and media buyers," said Wayne McCormick, general manager of Riverwind Casino. "She has a never-met-a-stranger approach with people, and has a true knack for handling the needs of artists as well as the deadlines and details of our casino promotions."A 42-year-old single mother of three children, Hunt has worked at Riverwind since it opened, moving there from WinStar Casino in southern Oklahoma, which is also owned by the Chickasaw Tribe. She brought a marketing background to the casino business from the medical industry."I love my job," Hunt said. "The entertainment aspect is great, I love that. But just as much is the promotional aspect, changing somebody's life, winning a car and winning money. Even $500 can be life changing for some people. My goal is for everybody who comes in not having to win but looking at it as being entertained. That is the cool aspect."Yeah, but how tricky is it meeting the needs of the fickle entertainers who stop in for one-night stands at Riverwind? For instance, Huey Lewis would only stay in what he considered a three-star hotel in Oklahoma City instead of nearby Norman before his concert. Kid Rock, too."We try to do as much as possible for the artists to make them happy," Hunt said.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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