The promoter called the staff member he usually worked with, and offered a concert with words something like “I can’t tell you who it is, but I guarantee it will sell out.” When the staff member approached the administration, he was advised that the College had already hosted a major (by their standards) concert that semester, and they were unwilling to provide overtime security and maintenance services for a second one.

Only after the tour was either fully booked or had occurred was it revealed that the unknown artists were Bob Dylan and his Revue. The College did not turn down Bob Dylan by name, but turned down “a pig in a poke” that happened to be Bob Dylan.

I was a student at the time, and worked very closely on logistics for concerts with the staff member involved. Only a handful of people knew there was an offer on the table. The staff member was “bummed out” that the College would turn down a promising concert, and “double bummed” when it was revealed who the artists were.