Concert committee works
hard to schedule groups
By Ayall Sagi
Staff Writer
Even though there are few bands touring this fall,
the Student Concert Committee is hard at work securing bands for the
school year and trying to please students.
However, according to Laura Clavio, the assistant
director of Convocations and adviser to the committee, bringing the
bands to the students is harder than it might seem.
"Everyone wants to see Dave Matthews, but it's
unrealistic to bring him, because he won't look at any place that seats
under 20,000, so a 6,000-seat facility isn't going to be to inviting
for him," she said.
Bringing some of students' favorite bands to Purdue
consists of hard work and careful planning said Amar Kumar, a junior
in the School of Science and vice president of the Student Concert Committee.
"All students see is tickets and concerts, and
what they really need to see is the hours and hours of work behind the
scenes," he said.
Kumar explains, "First we look into what bands
are touring. From there, we discuss in our meetings if we should bring
them here or not."
The committee's main concern is whether or not
concerts will sell out, enabling the committee to make a profit.
"At meetings, we discuss and analyze how concerts
have done in other universities and this part of the country. IU and
Northwestern are great indicators for this," said Kumar.
When the committee is unsure about whether or not
a concert will sell out, like last year with hip-hop artist Nelly, they
construct surveys and pass them out to students and study the results.
The next step is to place a bid on a band.
"Our mission is to try to bring the best entertainment
we can to campus, and there are a lot of factors that go into it. Some
of the challenges are competing with other schools," said Clavio.
Kumar said budget restrictions play a role in how
attractive Purdue can be to bands.
While placing a bid, considerations for how much
tickets should be sold for, whether or not students will purchase them
and whether or not the committee will turn a profit is taken into account.
According to Clavio, the committee has bid over $100,000 for certain
artists.
Assuming the bid is accepted, meetings with Purdue
officials are held.
"We have to confirm with Elliott (Hall of Music)
that the night is empty, and that there are no exams or other Purdue
events taking place," says Kumar.
Interfacing with Purdue officials consists of approval
from the fire marshal and police officials. "This is no small task,
many people have to be pleased or the concert is off," said Kumar.
Once everything has been arranged, agents and the
Student Concert Committee sign contracts covering what the artists want.
In the past, requests range from clothing and underwear
for Stone Temple Pilots, to foods such as Boca Burgers for John Mellencamp.
"We are dealing with people who have different
lifestyles, and we try to accommodate their needs," says Clavio.
Once the artists arrive, they perform, and if everything
goes as planned, a successful concert has been constructed.
The Student Concert Committee has already started
working this semester to get as many concerts as possible.
"We do have a major act booked, and we are doing
a small show in Fowler. We are still looking for one more rock show
for fall, but it's getting a little late, and the pickins' this year
have not been good," said Clavio.
According to Kumar, there are no more big expectations
for this semester, but hopefully something will come around in the spring.
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