During her show earlier this month, Griffin told the crowd that she prepared for the show in the University of Iowa men’s basketball team’s locker room.

She decided to take advantage of the unique setting and leave a token of her appreciation in senior forward Cyrus Tate’s locker: an autographed copy of a recent issue of People Magazine, which features a cover of photo of Clay Aiken accompanied by the headline, “Yes, I’m Gay.” Griffin is one of the 17 acts that are part of Hancher’s traveling show this season.

Hancher is using eight local venues — including schools, churches and hotels — to accommodate artists who originally were supposed to perform at the 2,500-seat auditorium or at the 700-seat Clapp Recital Hall. Hancher Executive Director Charles Swanson said alternate venues have worked well in cases like Griffin’s. That performance attracted about 4,100, the most ever for a Hancher single show. Swanson said that the staff is conscientious about finding the right venue for each performer.

A recent Judy Collins concert was moved to the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. Swanson said Collins often plays at hotels, and all of the venue’s 1,000 seats sold out. Hancher’s technical crews said moving to different venues has been challenging, but rewarding. Danielle Wilbanks, Hancher stage manager, said one of the most difficult aspects of working at different venues is not having supplies nearby. “Our pre-planning just gets longer and longer,” she said.