Currently, the Student Organization for University Programming is working on the later stages of planning their annual Big Event.
The Big Event, scheduled each year for spring term, brings musical acts to campus with a goal of reasonably priced tickets for students and the community.
Last year SOUP brought in Ben Kweller, and Guster the year before.
At this point, SOUP is still considering a wide range of bands and artists for the Big Event. The list of possible acts includes Lucky Boys Confusion, Matt Nathanson, The Hush Sound, Carbon Leaf, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Ben Lee, Dropping Daylight, Plain White T’s, Ingram Hill, Badly Drawn Boy, Anberlin, Acceptance, TV on the Radio, Gym Class Heroes, The Academy Is . , Hellogoodbye and Great Big Sea.
LUCC has granted SOUP an $18,000 budget to plan and run the Big Event. However, this money covers not only the cost of bringing in musicians, but advertising, sound, and production costs.
In order to account for these extra costs, the organization tries to book groups in the $12,000 to $15,000 range.
At the time of their last planning meeting Jan. 22, SOUP had a secondary list of musicians. These groups may or may not still be under consideration, as SOUP has not yet obtained price quotes for them.
These artists include Andrew Bird, Duke Special, Jude, Of Montreal, Paramore, and, as long shots, Sufjan Stevens and Steven Lynch.
Money is not the only concern SOUP accounts for when booking an act for the Big Event. Time and availability also factor into the ultimate decision to bring a group or musician to campus.
The annual concert usually occurs in the middle of spring term. SOUP is considering the Memorial Chapel and Stansbury Theatre as possible venues.
The most important factor in deciding which musical act comes to campus rests in student input.
SOUP must approve the final decision, but anyone interested may attend the group’s meetings every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Sage basement.
SOUP hopes to make a final decision regarding the Big Event in the next few weeks, before spring break. Anyone who wishes to voice an opinion is welcome to come to the meetings and add their input.
SOUP plans Big Event
