Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: News

Goo Goo Dolls lead singer Johnny Rzeznik holds the microphone up to the crowd at the 2007 Spring Concert on March 3 in Lantz Arena. (File Photo | Daily Eastern News)

University Board has narrowed the list of entertainers down to four acts for the 2009 Spring Concert: Ben Folds, Lupe Fiasco, T-Pain and Jack's Mannequin.

This year, UB created a Facebook group and randomly surveyed about 500 students about artists they would like to see on campus.

Sheila Hurley, the concert chair for UB, said according to the input she has received from students, Ben Folds would be the first person the board will make an offer to.

"Feedback from students has suggested he is the top choice," she said.

Hurley said the decision to make an offer to Ben Folds is not set in stone because the committee is only in the preliminary planning stages.

"Nothing is finalized," she said.

Born in 1966, Ben Folds is a singer and pianist who played with the pop rock trio Ben Folds Five before launching a successful solo career. He has recorded albums since 1995 featuring a variety of songs including "Jesusland" and "Late."

Ceci Brinker, director of Student Life, said the candidates this year are less expensive than last year.

"They are pretty cheaper than last year," she said. "All under or around $50,000."

Brinker said the biggest chore for UB is to finalize receiving dates for the Spring Concert in Lantz Arena that are slated for March or April.

Once several dates are in place to have the concert in Lantz, UB has to make sure the artist is available for those dates.

Brinker said, when it comes to dates for the concert, UB has to work with the athletic department.

"They are very flexible when they let us use their venue," she said. "During that time they have to relocate academic classes, knocking out some practices and sometimes it can be an inconvenience, but the personnel for the athletic department has been collaborative with us."

Hurley said there are other tasks to be done when wanting an artist to come to campus.

"We have to go through their middle agent, and that can take a while for a middle agent to get back to us," she said.

Hurley said she hopes the concert committee will reach a decision by winter break.

Brinker said there are other costs to consider when doing a concert.

"For personnel, there are marketing costs, printing, copies for fliers, food costs and hospitality," she said.

Brinker said there are also student crews, security from the University Police Department, supplies, sound and lighting companies and other things that all go into making a concert readily available for students to enjoy.

"We can end up spending an average $10,000 to $20,000 more after the artist's fee give or take," she said.

Brinker said even though the cost of bringing an artist to concert is high, ticket prices for students will remain affordable.

"Tickets can be anywhere between $7 to $10," she said. "The board has done a great job in subsidizing the ticket prices."

Brinker said every semester students pay a $5 fee for concerts that is used for the budgeting for concerts.

"Some schools such as ISU (Illinois State University) don't have a separate concert fee," she said. "They have to charge an actual ticket price."

Brinker said the concert committee has also researched opening acts for the Spring Concert.

"We have looked at the (Black Violin)," she said. "They can play any type of style of music."

Hurley said this group is a great pick for the concert next semester.

"They are classically trained but can play anything," Hurley said.

Hurley said she still encourages students to provide feedback on who they would like to see for the spring concert next semester.

"Continue to write on the Facebook wall and give us your input," she said.


Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.

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