TUESDAY'S Cavalier Daily lead editorial ("Poor concert plan- ning") misses the mark when it criticizes PK German's planning of the Outkast concert at the University. The concert, like all PK German major events, was carefully planned to reach a wide audience of interest at an opportune time.
The 3,000 ticket sales up to the weekend of the concert are a testimony to the target audience's resounding support of PK German's planning. The average final count of ticket sales is around 2,500 for shows at U-Hall. Five hundred tickets easily could be sold at the door for this very popular act, from students or visitors from out of town. The very numbers that The Cavalier Daily proposed to support poor planning actually are evidence of sound planning and keen insight from the PK German leaders.
PK German makes a concerted effort to diversify the acts that it brings into town. Jbeau Lewis, PK German Chairman said, "One of our primary objectives is to ensure a diverse concert experience within a students' four years." The committee ideally would like to see the band with the widest appeal play at the University, but they must take into account factors such as the price of the band and a date of availability.
The original Outkast concert date seemed fairly ideal - it coincided with an away football game and it avoided the Family Weekend activities planned for University visitors. The original date for the concert was planned according to Outkast's schedule. Outkast was to perform the night before at the University of West Virginia. PK German chose the Sunday date over the Friday date to avoid conflicting with popular Family Weekend concerts and tours.
The lead editorial's point that PK German is a non-profit organization is also twisted due to an ignorance about the club's purpose. PK German is interested in performing a service to the community. Breaking even is considered a success at University Programs Council-planned events. UPC gives PK German a pre-proportioned budget of Student Activity Fees, with the intention that they will lose a portion in the course of planning concerts.
|
The criticism that PK German is spending recklessly and "throwing students' [Student Activity Fee] money down the drain," assumes that losing money means failing to meet the organization's objectives. So long as a concert doesn't lose money, its only aim is to entertain a portion of the Charlottesville community. The success of the previous Outkast show, and the Wyclef Jean and Method Man/Redman shows demonstrate the audience for hip-hop shows of this magnitude.
The previous concert featuring Outkast should not be a reason to restrict their performing again this year. The concert was performed in the spring of 1999. The only students that would have been there are fourth years - three-quarters of the school never had the opportunity to see Outkast at the University. Furthermore, Outkast shared a PK German venue at a 1999 concert and their popularity has soared since their last appearance. They were featured in the Area One tour that attracted many in the Washington, D.C. area this summer.
The Cavalier Daily proposed that the symptoms of a poorly planned Outkast concert are endemic of a greater need to analyze concert scheduling at the University. The approach taken with Outkast was one that targeted minority groups that generally are not targeted by major entertainment venues. PK German assumed that there would be enough support in the minority community, combined with white hip-hop fans, to schedule this concert at this time. The importance of providing big time entertainment to minorities at U.Va. and in Charlottesville is heightened with the controversy over the Inter-Fraternity Council banning the renting of their fraternity houses. The Black Student Alliance and many other minority groups have been alienated, and some perceive the ban as a measure to marginalize the importance of their social activities. We should applaud PK German's approach to entertaining a community with which Charlottesville sometimes has trouble connecting.
The cancellation of the Outkast show is an unfortunate event for which PK German is not responsible. Had the show continued as scheduled, it would have been a success as measured by UPC's standards. Criticizing the planning of the Outkast show cannot be substantiated without evidence that the performance would have failed. PK German should continue to target audiences of diverse background, with entertainment its primary goal.
(Matt West's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at mwest@cavalierdaily.com.)
Read More
PATEL: Personal development courses support students beyond the gradebook
By Heer Patel | 22 hours agoThe University must rethink its approach to education beyond traditional major-specific requirements and mandate personal development courses.
EDITORIAL: Commercialization threatens U.Va.’s educational mission
By Editorial Board | YesterdayAfter all, measuring the University’s worth in terms of accrued capital, operational efficiency and numerical rankings molds this space into just another cookie-cutter institution.
YOUNIS: Why every U.Va. student should say yes to English
By Ayat Younis | 6 days agoEvery student at the University, regardless of their primary field of study, can professionally and academically benefit from engaging with the English department.
