Assistant General Manager, BOK Center/SMG Management
When it comes to Tulsa’s live music scene, it’s hard to imagine anyone caring more than Jeff Nickler. As head of booking for the BOK Center, he’s dedicated his career to putting the arena on the worldwide map. The BOK can now attract huge marquee shows like Maroon 5, Muse and Taylor Swift.
“Tulsa is now in an elite handful of cities that are considered major touring destinations,” Jeff says. “We regularly beat out Dallas, Kansas City and St. Louis for the biggest live music acts.”
Jeff attributes much of the success to the relationship between the people of Tulsa and their local paper. “I moved from Miami to Tulsa five years ago, and discovered it’s different here. People actually read the paper. They respond to it because it’s relevant. You don’t have to go to all the different venue sites, because the World has the most current live music info, all in one place. The editorial team has supported us from the start, and in turn, the public supports us with strong ticket sales.”
“When we announce a new show, we go to tulsaworld.com to see the story so we can read the comments and get instant feedback,”Jeff says. What’s the most commonly requested concert? Oklahoma’s own Garth Brooks. “He’s the hometown hero. He’s #1, hands down,” Jeff says.
