May Fair Board: Keep it Clean, Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg is a man of many talents. Not only is he famous for helping develop ganster rap music, but equally famous for movies such as “Bones” and “The Wash.”

And it seems, according to the May Fair Board, that another one of Snoop Dogg’s most relevant talents is to deliver an entertaining, PG-rated show – free of curse words that lace many of his songs.

“We have restrictions in our contract with him,” May Fair board member Richard Hamilton said. “We asked for a PG show from him and he’s done that in the past and there’s an extensive contract with him with what we want to control. And his manager said he can do those shows.”

Almost as soon as out that Snoop Dogg was headlining the Wednesday, May 9, a debate stirred on both the Patch and its Facebook page. Many of the commenters raised concerns about the security at the fair and Snoop Dogg's lyrical content.

Some said that Snoop Dogg’s affiliation with the notorious Crips gang would bring a criminal element to a fair that’s famous for being a family atmosphere – a down-home country event.

Others on the site were excited to see the performer come to the fair, saying that it would add much-needed variety.

Hamilton said the May Fair Board based its selection of Snoop Dogg on key factors. 

“You got to understand, Dixon has been very fortunate that we’ve been able to (book Snoop Dogg),” Hamilton said. “We tried to look at diverse entertainment and this year we try to go out and look at entertainment that we can afford and that will be an attraction for the May Fair.”

Hamilton said the board is aware of the security concerns and they will have both the Solano County Sheriff’s Department and a private security company patrolling the fair to make sure everyone’s safe.

The question was brought up to both Dixon Police Chief Jon Cox and Sheriff’s Sgt. Walt Gilliam, both said that they have no concerns about the gangster rapper coming to Dixon.

Hamilton pointed out that about a year ago, Snoop Dogg performed in Davis with no incidents transpiring at that concert.

“He played UC Davis and we studied how that went over, he played a year ago (in) February,” Hamilton said. “We have a reputation we got to maintain. We want a quality program, but we want a comfortable program.”

Another concern that has been voiced in cyberspace is the performer’s advocacy of marijuana use.

“People are worried about pot smoking, (but at) Willy Nelson, at that concert there was a tremendous amount (of pot smoking), but we knew how to handle that and our staff is very professional out there,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said that Snoop Dogg’s show will be more of a Jay Leno type of show. The May Fair Board knows that some people are put off by Snoop Dogg’s music. And that’s why, Hamilton said, the board is in the process of booking additional acts that will satisfy the tastes of a variety of people.

In addition to Snoop Dogg, comedian Larry the Cable Guy will also perform on May 12. Although numerous comments made on the Patch were about Snoop Dogg, only a few of them had to do with Larry the Cable Guy.

Hamilton declined to talk about the acts that the May Fair was attempting to solidify, but said that the board is aiming to have a good variety of performer’s at this year’s fair.

“In a perfect world we try to offer something for everbody,” he said. “Last year we did country, we did rock, we did a children’s act. “This year we want country, we want rock, we want a children’s act.” We are driven for family entertainment.”

The May Fair board began booking the entertainment for this year’s May Fair in August of last year, Hamilton said. It’s been difficult to find acts that the fair could afford to hire, and that would also be a draw.

In hiring Snoop Dogg, as well as Larry the Cable Guy, the May Fair Board hopes that the concerts will be successful. Tickets for both Snoop Dogg and Larry the Cable Guy, with special guest Reno Collier go on sale Saturday, 10 a.m., at the

Ticket prices are $35, $45 and $75.