Kelli Lemon, assistant director for programs and events at VCU, works hard to bring concerts to students.
VCU has seen John Legend, the Roots, Twista, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, TI, Yung Joc, Gavin DeGraw, Carbon Leaf and will soon see the All-American Rejects.
But Lemon said students seem to be uninterested.
“We are here to bring quality entertainment to our students,” she said. “But the complaints about the who, the price and the location just don’t make it worth it.”
Keith Rafter, director for marketing and promotions, said VCU brings bands at the peak of their popularity, but for whatever reason they have not garnered enough student interest.
Students pay an activity fee to make sure there is a balance between activities and class work in their student life. The Activities Programming Board works to create the even balance.
Lemon and Rafter said students just don’t show up.
Lemon said many students complain that VCU only brings hip-hop shows. But those shows sell, she said.
“Hip hop is very popular right now amongst all the students, no matter what race,” she said.
The numbers showed at last year’s homecoming when about 5,500 people saw John Legend and the Roots. This year’s homecoming drew 5,000 people to see Trey Songz, Twista, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana. During Welcome Week 2006, 4,500 people saw TI and Yung Joc.
In comparison, the APB’s Uncommon Live has brought non-hip-hop acts such as Gavin DeGraw, Carbon Leaf and the All-American Rejects to VCU. Approximately 700 people attended the DeGraw concert and 100 people attended the Carbon Leaf one. The All-American Rejects concert scheduled for Oct. 10 has sold barely more than 150 tickets.
“The All-American Rejects are a pretty well-known band, but the tickets are just not moving,” Lemon said.
Uncommon Live also tried holding non hip-hop shows every month last year in the University Student Commons. These independent rock and alternative bands averaged about 50 to 100 people.
VCU chooses the bands by surveys inquiring about students’ interests which the APB distributes. Students choose the top 10 bands they would be interested to see.
If the bands brought to VCU are a result of student input and interest, why is there such low attendance? Lemon said she thinks it may be VCU’s location.
“We are not a typical college town,” Lemon said. “There are plenty of other things for students to do within the Richmond community.”
This makes Lemon’s job difficult. She must find sponsors to help bring the bands so students don’t have to pay as much for tickets. VCU must then pay for a venue to have a concert.
Attendance still dwindles.
“We cannot continue to waste money on concerts,” Lemon said. “I think students need to know and understand that without their support, we will not bring mid-major to major bands to VCU.”