With the carnival rides shut down and the outdoor stage abandoned, Jason Derulo’s falsetto was the focus of 1,500 people Saturday night for the last performance of this year’s SpringFest.
“By a long shot, this was the best (SpringFest) ever,” said SpringFest advisor Tim Buecher. “Everything went smooth, definitely the best this campus has seen.”
SpringFest consisted of an outdoors stage that showcased 15 local bands chosen by the SpringFest student executive committee, free carnival rides for students and two nights of music in the PAC.
Following last years’ success of having two artists from different genres, the executive committee brought in pop sensation Jason Derulo and country music star Chris Cagle.
Joe Giannini, SpringFest executive committee director, attributed this ‘dynamic’ of artists to the success of SpringFest.
“The numbers weren’t the best but the dynamic of everything made it great,” Giannini said.
The final cost for SpringFest hasn’t been calculated yet, but early projections made by Buecher estimated the total spending to exceed $100,000. According to the artist contracts, $95,000 was spent on securing the main acts alone. Derulo alone was paid $50,000 for his performance.
While official attendance numbers haven’t been compiled, Buecher said there was an estimated 1,000 tickets sold for Chris Cagle and openers Emerson Drive and Mike Golden and Friends. Jason Derulo and opener Black Violin had an estimated crowd of 1,500.
Ticket sales for last year’s acts, Luke Bryan and Motion City Soundtrack, were slightly better with nearly 900 for Motion City Soundtrack and 2,200 for Luke Bryan.
The projected ticket sales, however, aren’t representative of the actual attendance for all SpringFest, Buecher said.
“It’s difficult to measure the total amount of people with the rides and the outdoor show,” Buecher said.
Despite the numbers, next years SpringFest should be bigger and better, Giannini said.
“It’s been guaranteed, the concerts will be bigger including the names,” Giannini said. “Dr. Rochon said we’re only going up not going back.”
The planning for next year’s SpringFest began as soon as this years’ finished, Buecher said.
“We had a terrific committee of students to work with,” Buecher said. “They came through like champs.”
Applications for next year’s SpringFest executive committee are available in the Career Counseling Center located in the bottom of the Orr Center.
“We have 25 members that will be with us next year, but we’re always looking for more,” Giannini said.