Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News

Lupe Fiasco, the headline rapper for this year's University Board Spring Concert, is currently nominated for four Grammy Awards, three for singles and the fourth for his latest album, "The Cool." His newest album, "The Greatest American Rap Album," is slated to come out in June of this year. (Submitted photo)

It will cost about $62,000 to bring Lupe Fiasco and opening act Shwayze to this year's spring concert.

The costs were $50,000 for Fiasco and $12,000 for Shwayze.

Ian Winston, the winner of "So You Think You Can Rap," will be another opening act, and negotiations for a third opening act are still in the works for the April 4 concert in Lantz Arena.

"We're still not sure if this will happen, though," said Ceci Brinker, director of student life.

"It is $62,000 just to pay the artist to perform," Brinker said.

Along with the fees for the entertainers, there are also costs for technical production, marketing, personnel, spotlight operators, equipment, printing and miscellaneous.

Marketing needs to reach Eastern along with surrounding communities.

The technical operations, such as sound and lighting needs, will be provided by a professional company in Indiana called Stage Tech, Inc.

Also, Lantz Arena needs to be converted into a venue by having staging and flooring set up and turning classrooms into dressing rooms.

"Electricians, carpenters, movers and (building service workers) are needed for setup," Brinker said.

Personnel costs include the University Police Department, student security and student ushers.

These are, for the most part, simply a precaution.

"We haven't had any major incidents with behavior," Brinker said. "It is a cautionary thing that artists have to monitor crowd control and restrict access to them."

Equipment rental is another cost, such as backline equipment.

"If artists fly over on an airplane, they may need additional instruments since they cannot travel with those," Brinker said.

In addition, miscellaneous costs, anything from T-shirts to batteries for flashlights for the ushers, to catering for the artist per their request need to be put in the budget.

Sheila Hurley, University Board concerts coordinator said the UB hires a stage crew, a security crew and an usher crew for the concert.

"These are all made up of students in fraternities, sororities or sports teams and some do this for service hours, but as a whole, we do not pay individuals," Hurley said. "We work with certain groups, and if they work out well, we contact them again and sometimes they contact us."

Hurley said she, along with Tom Usher, UB concerts elect, is starting to look into organizing crews for the concert and putting together ads and marketing for local newspapers and news stations.

"We are trying to get the word out," Hurley said. "We are looking to organizing the shows, finalizing everything and getting everything organized."

Printing of signage for seating/sections signs is needed as well.

"Most people are not too familiar with Lantz," Brinker said.

Emergency Medical Technicians also need to be on duty at every concert in the case of somebody getting sick or injured during an event.

Brinker said there are usually one or two depending on the size of the concert.

Student tickets will go on sale on March 2 for $10. A student ID is required.

Students can only purchase four tickets at the discount price.

Tickets for the general public will go on sale starting March 9 for $20.

Tickets are available for the floor and balcony.


Past University Board spring concerts

2001: No Concert

2002: Lucky Boys Confusion & Penny and the Loafers

2003: Counting Crows

2004: Something Corporate & Yellowcard, Howie Day

2005: Ciara/James Lorenzo $17,500/$500

2006: Emerson Drive/Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband $12,500/$1,500

2007: Goo Goo Dolls/Augustana $55,000/$1,000

2008: Jason Mraz/Bushwalla/The Makepeace Brothers/Justin Kredible $50,000

2009: Lupe Fiasco/Shwayze $50,000/$12,000


Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or at haholm@eiu.edu.

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