2008 Woodie Awards
Impact cuts costs
Despite spendy student requests such as Dane Cook, Impact finds low-budget events draw crowds, even after budget cuts
by Brittney Hansen
Issue date: 3/20/08
Section: Senate News and Notes
Dane Cook, Atmosphere, Rascal Flatts, Barack Obama and Kanye West are just a few of the big names in entertainment students are requesting to see, according to Impact graduate assistant Mike Altomari and vice president of speaker and concert series Ashley Marks.
While Dane Cook was most popular, costs would range from $100,000 to $150,000. Motion City Soundtrack - which attracted the most student interest for concerts - would cost $25,000 to $50,000. Kanye West would cost $250,000 and Kenny Chesney would range anywhere from $100,000 to $3.5 million. Those costs do not include the venue if off campus, production, promotion or artist requests.
Many of these student requests appear to be out of the price range, however.
In previous years, MSSA allocated about $20,000 to Impact for base funding for its concert series and Impact then requested additional one-time funding to help with the cost of the annual major concert, but this year MSSA did not grant any additional funding.
According to Altomari, it's standard to spend 15 percent of what the event costs on promotion, where as Impact spends 10 to 12 percent.
Because of budget cuts, Impact has been hosting more frequent, smaller concerts and events, such as Battle of the Bands.
Quietdrive - the major concert event this year - cost $7,000 for booking the band and less than $10,000 overall.
Marks said students are also requesting more comedians, motivational speakers and sex educators. More than 450 students attended the J-Spot this year, which cost $2,000. Other speakers this year have included Jay Black, which cost $1,925; Louis Ramey, which cost $2,000; and a hypnotist, which cost $2,790
In order to show a film to a mass audience Impact or any other body is required to pay copyright fees. These fees can range anywhere from $400 for older or smaller releases to as much as $900 for a recent blockbuster film.
Marks and Altomari said students would also like to see more interactive events such as paintball and pommel.
In other senate news:
• MSSA passed an Academic Affairs motion to recommend to the approval of the proposed priority registration policy. This policy is essentially the same as it was last year and allows student-athletes to register 24 hours before registration opens for rest of the student population.
• MSSA also passed a motion to request the Student Allocations Committee to give a presentation before senate April 9 so senators are more familiar with the SAC budget and upcoming budget requests.
• SAC allocated $700 to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to attend the Student Professional Development Conference at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Students fund raised $1,747 and individual contribution would be $45 per person for 23 students to attend and one non-funded faculty member.
• The deadline for senator applications for next year is April 1. Elections will be held April 8.
• Budget hearings begin April 16 at 3 p.m. in CSU 284.
Brittney Hansen is a Reporter assistant news editor
While Dane Cook was most popular, costs would range from $100,000 to $150,000. Motion City Soundtrack - which attracted the most student interest for concerts - would cost $25,000 to $50,000. Kanye West would cost $250,000 and Kenny Chesney would range anywhere from $100,000 to $3.5 million. Those costs do not include the venue if off campus, production, promotion or artist requests.
Many of these student requests appear to be out of the price range, however.
In previous years, MSSA allocated about $20,000 to Impact for base funding for its concert series and Impact then requested additional one-time funding to help with the cost of the annual major concert, but this year MSSA did not grant any additional funding.
According to Altomari, it's standard to spend 15 percent of what the event costs on promotion, where as Impact spends 10 to 12 percent.
Because of budget cuts, Impact has been hosting more frequent, smaller concerts and events, such as Battle of the Bands.
Quietdrive - the major concert event this year - cost $7,000 for booking the band and less than $10,000 overall.
Marks said students are also requesting more comedians, motivational speakers and sex educators. More than 450 students attended the J-Spot this year, which cost $2,000. Other speakers this year have included Jay Black, which cost $1,925; Louis Ramey, which cost $2,000; and a hypnotist, which cost $2,790
In order to show a film to a mass audience Impact or any other body is required to pay copyright fees. These fees can range anywhere from $400 for older or smaller releases to as much as $900 for a recent blockbuster film.
Marks and Altomari said students would also like to see more interactive events such as paintball and pommel.
In other senate news:
• MSSA passed an Academic Affairs motion to recommend to the approval of the proposed priority registration policy. This policy is essentially the same as it was last year and allows student-athletes to register 24 hours before registration opens for rest of the student population.
• MSSA also passed a motion to request the Student Allocations Committee to give a presentation before senate April 9 so senators are more familiar with the SAC budget and upcoming budget requests.
• SAC allocated $700 to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to attend the Student Professional Development Conference at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Students fund raised $1,747 and individual contribution would be $45 per person for 23 students to attend and one non-funded faculty member.
• The deadline for senator applications for next year is April 1. Elections will be held April 8.
• Budget hearings begin April 16 at 3 p.m. in CSU 284.
Brittney Hansen is a Reporter assistant news editor
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