Spring Break
The Daily OrangeJuice Jam attracts big crowd, new clubs
UU Concerts forgoes attractions to focus on music
By Rebekah Jones
Posted: 9/8/08, 1:29 AM EST Section: Feature
Walking through the booths at Juice Jam, Ian Solomon is bombarded by all the groups recruiting new members. He is drowning in flyers and magazines handed out from every direction.
Pride Union and Planned Parenthood provide information on sexually transmitted infections and birth control. Verbal Seduction and Jerk distribute copies of last semester's issues. Rabbi Yaakov Rapoport blows his Shofar across the grass. VPA Printmakers draw in a crowd, and sororities hand out T-shirts.
The festivities are almost overwhelming for him.
"It looks like there's a lot of stuff to do other than listen to music," said Solomon, a senior television, radio and film major. "But, weather permitting; it should be an awesome day."
Unlike last year's Juice Jam festival, there was no skydiving simulator or rock wall for students. Instead, band paraphernalia, caricature drawings and spray-painted hats took up the space once occupied by those attractions.
Last year's show achieved a then-record high turnout, but this year's crowd for Bloc Party, Talib Kweli and Ra Ra Riot managed to outshine that performance, bringing in more than 4,000 people.
Although attendance increased, the cutbacks on activities stood out at this year's event.
"We're trying to accommodate as many people as possible," said Brian Greene, the director of production at University Union.
"Last year, the bands complained that the engine for the sky-tank was making too much noise," Greene said. "It was interfering with the sound, and the music is supposed to be the main attraction."
Last year's fourth annual Juice Jam brought in Third Eye Blind, White Rabbits and Max Bemis of Say Anything.
Greene said UU wanted to make the concert more grass-roots style, incorporating more summer-time activities like volleyball and Frisbee.
"People were waiting in line for an hour, hour and a half last year," Greene said. "It ate up the budget. People were missing the music; it just wasn't worth it."
Pride Union and Planned Parenthood provide information on sexually transmitted infections and birth control. Verbal Seduction and Jerk distribute copies of last semester's issues. Rabbi Yaakov Rapoport blows his Shofar across the grass. VPA Printmakers draw in a crowd, and sororities hand out T-shirts.
The festivities are almost overwhelming for him.
"It looks like there's a lot of stuff to do other than listen to music," said Solomon, a senior television, radio and film major. "But, weather permitting; it should be an awesome day."
Unlike last year's Juice Jam festival, there was no skydiving simulator or rock wall for students. Instead, band paraphernalia, caricature drawings and spray-painted hats took up the space once occupied by those attractions.
Last year's show achieved a then-record high turnout, but this year's crowd for Bloc Party, Talib Kweli and Ra Ra Riot managed to outshine that performance, bringing in more than 4,000 people.
Although attendance increased, the cutbacks on activities stood out at this year's event.
"We're trying to accommodate as many people as possible," said Brian Greene, the director of production at University Union.
"Last year, the bands complained that the engine for the sky-tank was making too much noise," Greene said. "It was interfering with the sound, and the music is supposed to be the main attraction."
Last year's fourth annual Juice Jam brought in Third Eye Blind, White Rabbits and Max Bemis of Say Anything.
Greene said UU wanted to make the concert more grass-roots style, incorporating more summer-time activities like volleyball and Frisbee.
"People were waiting in line for an hour, hour and a half last year," Greene said. "It ate up the budget. People were missing the music; it just wasn't worth it."
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