‘Office’ writer to perform in Kent Concert Hall
Good entertainment doesn’t come cheap, and good entertainment for students is the goal of USU’s student program planners.
BJ Novak, an actor, screenwriter and producer for the hit TV show “The Office” is coming to USU Nov. 6 to perform a comedy routine at the Kent Concert Hall, located in the Chase Fine Arts Center at USU.
Tom Atwood, programming vice president, said: “We heard good things from other universities who’ve had him. One of our goals this year has been to increase the quality of talent coming to campus, with names that will bring recognition to the university, and get students excited.”
The cost to bring Novak to campus is $51,500, Atwood said. Atwood said this amount was reached after some negotiations.
“We wanted to make the event free for students, but because of where the budget sits we need to recoup some of the money, so that is why we are selling tickets,” Atwood said.
After ticket sales, Atwood is projecting about $10,000 will be taken out of the total budget for arts and lecture events. This budget comes from the student activity fee that is paid with tuition.
Atwood said sales trends are showing an even spread between the general public and students, and around $15,000 has been generated in revenue so far. Currently, about 1,300 tickets have been sold, leaving 700 more seats open.
“It is a last-minute-buyer market, or so it seems to be the case with all of the events, like the HOWL,” he said.
Last-minute buyers actually help create more revenue because there are other fees attached to buying the tickets the day of the event, Atwood said. Day-of prices for the general public is $25 and $20 for students. Atwood said the hope is to generate as close to $40,000 as possible, so the arts and lectures budget will be left with over half the original budget to plan the rest of the year, Atwood said.
The arts and lectures program director, appointed by Atwood, is Skyler Parkhurst. Parkhurst said his budget for the year 2010-11 is $75,000. If the total budget is not spent, he said it does not roll over to the next year, but goes into a general USU fund used for campus maintenance, etc.
“We have to spend it or lose it. Last year we lost a total of $60,000. It is just not fair to students to not use it all,” Parkhurst said.
Linda Zimmerman, the interim director for student involvement, said the programming budget is split into arts and lecture, traditions and activities. She also said the Kent Concert Hall, the location of the event, is giving a deal on using the facility.
James Morales, vice president of student services, said while these decisions are made by the student leaders like Atwood, Morales’ office does the final approval. Morales said he felt even if the event did not generate the $40,000 that it is worth it.
“We want people to see that USU is on the radar, not just off in northern Utah, but that we attract some top-name people. It is not inexpensive to bring somebody like this, but the impact of what he brings in terms of visibility and exposure for students of someone at the level makes it worth the money,” Morales said.
Morales said one reason for bringing Novak is that when students are considering where to go to college, and they know that BJ Novak came to USU, “that creates an association, a positive image of USU in the minds of the prospective students.”
“That is something you just can’t put a price tag on,” Morales said.
Atwood said the idea to bring Novak came about collectively because “The Office” is a hit on college campuses, and season seven is launching this fall. The decision was made in April.
“We are trying to hit more than one bird with one stone. He’s not just a comedian, but he is an actor, writer, and producer. We felt that since he is heavily involved in the entertainment industry, there is also an educational factor,” Atwood said.
Morales said, “We don’t know how this will go, if will he engage the students with a discussion that is audience led, or if he will bring a canned presentation. We’ve left that to him because it is creative license. I hope he shares with the students all of his experience.”
Atwood said Novak will be answering some questions after the presentation.
Tickets are available at the Caine College of the Arts Box Office, located in Room 139-B in the Chase Fine Arts Center through Friday to students, who must show a valid USU ID. The general public can buy tickets online at www.arts.usu.edu.
– storee.powell@aggiemail.usu.edu