Spring Break
The Daily OrangeEarly release
By securing money early in the semester, University Union hopes to make bids for a big-name star for Block Party
By Bill West
Posted: 12/6/07, 1:39 AM EST Section: Feature
Proffer said his organization's initial goal was to extend an offer by the end of the semester, or at least before the new year.
Aside from artist research, Proffer and Bertog also organized many of the less-glamorous aspects of Block Party earlier than in the past. Proffer said they are "very close" to finalizing plans for permits, security, lighting, stage crews, venue and other event essentials. Without addressing these necessities, UU would have found difficulty in extending any offers.
"We can't move on the artist side until a lot of the other aspects have been covered," Proffer said.
Proffer and Bertog admit that, if not for SA's decision to fund Block Party early, very little would be accomplished before winter break. They would have had to wait until the presentation of next semester's budget, which occurred Nov. 26, to know how much money they could offer artists. Actual negotiations for dates in late April couldn't take place until February, nearly four months after most big-name artists schedule their spring tours.
Despite the co-directors' pleas for Block Party money early in the semester, Rizzolo - the man in charge of SU's student fee - only allowed discussion of advance funding after conducting a random survey to see if other student organizations would approve. When 19 of the 20 student leaders selected said they were comfortable with a large portion of the spring budget going to UU in October, Rizzolo understood the value students placed on Block Party, regardless of their groups' own interests.
Deliberation among the SA Finance Board lasted three to four weeks and ended in the granting of Bertog's and Proffer's wish.
The glaring question Rizzolo and the Board faced was clear: Will early funding guarantee a better artist?
"The answer is no," Rizzolo said. "What it does do is provide a chance to book a better artist. That opportunity hasn't been there in the past."
In fact, the limited time frame for negotiations caused problems for UU in recent years. Due to contract complications with both Ludacris and No Doubt, SU was forced to cancel Block Party in 2002, according to an April 2003 story in The Daily Orange. Even in 2006, the year Kanye West performed, concert plans were unsettled until the beginning of March.
Aside from artist research, Proffer and Bertog also organized many of the less-glamorous aspects of Block Party earlier than in the past. Proffer said they are "very close" to finalizing plans for permits, security, lighting, stage crews, venue and other event essentials. Without addressing these necessities, UU would have found difficulty in extending any offers.
"We can't move on the artist side until a lot of the other aspects have been covered," Proffer said.
Proffer and Bertog admit that, if not for SA's decision to fund Block Party early, very little would be accomplished before winter break. They would have had to wait until the presentation of next semester's budget, which occurred Nov. 26, to know how much money they could offer artists. Actual negotiations for dates in late April couldn't take place until February, nearly four months after most big-name artists schedule their spring tours.
Despite the co-directors' pleas for Block Party money early in the semester, Rizzolo - the man in charge of SU's student fee - only allowed discussion of advance funding after conducting a random survey to see if other student organizations would approve. When 19 of the 20 student leaders selected said they were comfortable with a large portion of the spring budget going to UU in October, Rizzolo understood the value students placed on Block Party, regardless of their groups' own interests.
Deliberation among the SA Finance Board lasted three to four weeks and ended in the granting of Bertog's and Proffer's wish.
The glaring question Rizzolo and the Board faced was clear: Will early funding guarantee a better artist?
"The answer is no," Rizzolo said. "What it does do is provide a chance to book a better artist. That opportunity hasn't been there in the past."
In fact, the limited time frame for negotiations caused problems for UU in recent years. Due to contract complications with both Ludacris and No Doubt, SU was forced to cancel Block Party in 2002, according to an April 2003 story in The Daily Orange. Even in 2006, the year Kanye West performed, concert plans were unsettled until the beginning of March.
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