Bob Crosby didn't want to shut out the public from the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremony, but didn't have a choice.

"There's no place to put everybody," the first-year executive director of the Sharon museum said. "I can't even accommodate the people that we need to."

The Sept. 17 ceremony will be held on the third floor of the museum -- as with previous induction ceremonies -- but the room can only hold about 300 people, he said.

When you include the inductees and their guests, former inductees, the media and local dignitaries, there's no room left for the general public, Crosby said.

Crosby can only look to the day when the ceremony is held at the Columbia Theatre, which the hall of fame recently bought, and many more people could comfortably attend.

The public has been able to sit in on past ceremonies and Crosby didn't want anyone to feel excluded, especially those who have continually supported the hall.

So, hall officials devised a handful of public activities that will let fans mingle with the stars.

The day before the induction, the stars will be honored at what is being called an informal reception dinner at the Avalon Inn, Howland, Ohio.

The event is a bit pricey -- $100 a pop -- but includes a ticket to the induction concert Sept. 18 at Cafaro Field, Niles, Ohio.

Entertainment at the dinner will come from the stars and special guests.

On the 18th, the stars will sign autographs at the Eastwood Mall (Niles) customer service center. The event is free and a ticket promotion for the concert likely will be held at that time.

The sound checks start at 2 p.m. at Cafaro Field, and the concert begins at 7.

Signed on to perform so far are the Chantels, the Modernaires with Paula Kelly Jr., the Clovers, the Ink Spots, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Jay and the Americans, Charlie Thomas' Drifters, the Lettermen, the Flamingos, the Marcels, the Teenagers, the Orioles, the Fifth Dimension, the Temptations, Tim Hauser of Manhattan Transfer, Herb Reed of the Platters, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas.

Each act will sing one to four tunes.

Crosby said the stars have been very gracious in agreeing to perform despite the hall's limited funding.

"Most everybody has contributed their services or lent credit to me," he said.

While the stars are in town, there will be discussions of the problems they run into getting royalties and protecting their group names, and opening up the induction voting process.

"This is taking the form of a clubhouse more and more all the time," Crosby said.

This year's inductees are ABBA, the Chantels, the Clovers, the Fifth Dimension, the Five Keys, the Four Knights, the Harptones, Jay and the Americans, the Marcels, the Shirelles, the Skyliners and the Swan Silvertones.

Information on any of the events is available at (724) 983-2025 and www.vghf.com