by Andrew King, editor-in-chief
In April of 2009, Gym Class Heroes performed at Capital in what marked the last major concert on campus.
Tuesday, student government president Bobbi Wilson got final confirmation that the seniors of 2013 would see their own nationally recognized performer in American Idol winner Phillip Phillips, performing on campus on March 21.
“Since [the seniors] have been here we haven’t had a concert,” Wilson said. “Nobody’s put too much of a serious pursuit for it. We decided we wanted to do that this year.”
Wilson said that SG had been looking into the idea as early as September, and SG leadership, senators and organization presidents had all discussed options of who to bring in. In the end, however, it came down to scheduling and funds.
“It was kind of hard to get it narrowed down not only to our price range, but someone who was available in a time that would work with us, and also be willing to come to such a small school,” Wilson said.
Student government was informed through Phillips’s agent that the artist would be on a smaller campus tour, and that schools could submit bids to be chosen from.
Capital’s bid was successful, but with SG receiving some outside help.
Activities Management and Planning (AMP), the president’s office and the provost’s office all chipped in with money, and the added funds helped the negotiation process. According to Wilson, Phillips’s contract does not allow disclosure of the fee.
“We went back and forth, and there was actually a pretty big gap of a number,” Wilson said.
When Wilson approached AMP, the organization got more involved than just funding. According to executive director Sarah Jackson, SG and AMP will be collaborating on facilitating the show from now on.
“Once we found out that they had accepted our bid, all of AMP and most of SG broke down into committees,” she said. “So now AMP’s involvement is going to be a little more.”
A hospitality committee, headed by both Wilson and Jackson, will be handling everything that Phillip will require backstage or at the hotel.
A security and community relations committee will handle what is needed from Bexley, police and other community involvement.
Financing will mostly be handled by the SG financial committee and treasurer, and is essentially to keep the project on budget.
Marketing will be the bulk of the work, Jackson said, and will consist mainly of advertising around campus and Bexley. The group will also have to work under a strict set of rules set by Phillips’s representatives concerning what can be posted and where advertisements can take place.
The final committee, stage crew, will work with Phillips’s own stage crew, as well as involve members of SG and AMP who are already knowledgeable about sound and set up. Despite the pool of music technology majors in the conservatory, Jackson said that there were plenty of capable people involved, and reaching out was unnecessary.
Logistically, the concert will take place in the Capital Center Field House. It has yet to be decided if the tickets will be open to the public, but for the moment, Wilson and Jackson can confirm that the show will be free for students and faculty.
Students will also be able to bring two guests, each guest ticket costing $10.
Wilson estimated that tickets may go on sale in early to mid-February, but nothing is set in stone.
In all, the groups involved in bringing Phillips to campus are excited about the prospects of the performance, and see it as a victory for both organizations.
“We’re really trying to rebuild SG’s image this year, and show people that we actually do stuff,” Wilson said.
“We wanted to not only do things like campus and academic improvements, things that SG is specifically known for, but things that students might not see as much of. We want to give a sample of what they can expect for a progressive board and SG in the future.”
aking@capital.edu
