O.A.R., the Black Eyed Peas and Ben Folds are all widely known artists that have come to Creighton for Fallapalooza in the past.
Creighton students await another widely known artist, 3OH!3, on Friday.
Program Board, which is a part of Creighton’s Student Union, is the group that makes Fallapalooza a reality. They do everything from securing artists to making sure everything runs smoothly the day of. But how do they pick one artist from a million to come and play for Creighton?
This past year, it all started with a survey. Over the past several months, a survey containing a list of artists was posted and shared with students over social media sites. Each student could pick three artists in which they would like to come perform at Creighton.
“We thought whether or not the artists [that were on the survey] were available or not, it at least gave us an idea of what type of concert people were into,” CSU president John McCoy said. “It at least gave us some direction. If band X wasn’t available even though they won, we’d look for a band or a group or a performer that was similar to that.”
According to McCoy, about 1,100 people responded to the survey. It was open for five days. The survey was presented to the student body as a way to accomplish McCoy’s organizational goal of being more “transparent.”
“Some of the feedback in the past is that often times the fall and spring concert hasn’t been what students wanted,” McCoy said. “It’s not about what person A , B or C on the Program Board wants, it’s what the student population wants. That’s why we’re here.”
After Program Board has an idea of what genre students are interested in seeing, three aspects affect which artist(s) are chosen: price, availability and if the characteristics of the artist match the university’s Jesuit values, according to McCoy.
There are two different reasons why price is critical. First, there are often other costs besides the artist itself that are factors when planning a concert.
“Bands are expensive for one, but there are things like getting the venue and transportation, some of the other costs that people don’t necessarily think about,” McCoy said.
The other reason price is crucial is because tickets sales are low. The concert is free for undergraduate students, $5 for graduate students and $10 for guests.
“Keeping the cost down for attendance is big part of what CSU and Program Board does,” McCoy said.
After price is considered, whether or not the band is available is researched.
“If a band is recording or on tour, then that puts them out for the whole semester or at least a good chunk of it, so availability drives it after that,” McCoy said.
According to McCoy, after price, availability and the assurance that the artists are in line with the Jesuit mission are considered, Program Board then votes on which artists to extend an offer to.
Program Board then reaches out to its agent who works with these artists’ agents.
“The agent helps us with that first, preliminary step of sifting through the contract,” McCoy said. “Then after we get that signed and everything, then we start working with the artist directly in terms of their needs.”
After Program Board receives a signed contract, then the logistics of the event are put into place according to McCoy. Members make sure the venue is set, shuttles are scheduled, plans to met artists’ needs are made, and marketing and promoting for the event begins.
How well an event is promoted is proved through tickets sales. This event must have been well promoted because according to McCoy, the Students’ Activities Office handed out almost 1,400 tickets the first day they were available to students with their I.D. handy.
“As a team, Program Board and CSU, personally we’re all very excited to have a bigger name coming,” McCoy said. “I think we’re excited because it should be a good show. We’re excited that people responded so well it to it.”