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REO Speedwagon played for a gracious crowd Sept. 15 at the Convocation Center. | Northern Star file photo
Convo experiencing lack of acts
Though Cedric the Entertainer performs at the Convocation Center tonight, not many other acts are on the Convo schedule this semester.
Kevin Selover, assistant director of marketing at the Convo, explained the lack of acts.
“There is really not a whole lot touring right now, not a lot out there,” Selover said. “We have put some offers in on acts that haven’t come to fruition. The industry is just like that.”
Selover said the Convocation Center does have non-confirmed dates for next semester, but nothing official.
Acts are either chosen by the staff or the Campus Activities Board, Selover said. He said the Convo staff and CAB often work together on securing acts, but they have not had an opportunity to do so this semester. Acts often come to them asking to rent out the facility, he said.
To find acts, Selover said they often check out other college markets and look at where bands are on the Billboard charts. He said they look to the CAB to help out, adding that they have a better idea of what the student body wants.
“We’ve done campus-wide surveys and rely on CAB to give me feedback to see if the students would come out for that show,” Selover said.
Acts appearing this semester at the Convocation Center include REO Speedwagon, which performed Sept. 15, Cedric the Entertainer today, and Casting Crowns Dec. 2.
» Next Campus Article: Residence hall lockdown in effect for Homecoming weekend
Isn't there an act with chimpanzees that dress like Russians and dance out there? I bet they would be available for the Convo Center. Ans there is a guy who left the Muppets years ago and tours with his own puppets called "the Murfets". I am sure he is available. Then there are the puppets from "Team America: World Police". I heard that they are touring the nation doing Shakespeare. I could definitely see them doing Hamlet at the Convo Center for $35 a ticket. My point is, do they even have real contacts with decent acts, or only with off-beat and has-been entertainers?
If the Student Association hadn't rewritten the CAB constitution and decreased their budget in 2005 there would be more diverse and more affordable entertainment on campus.
That's a good point. I, myself, am critical of the necessity of the Convo. Where did they get a lot of the funding for that, anyway? Not from the students, God forbid! If they like home, then whoever thought that it would keep them here were morons!!