Flagstaffsooner
8/11/2007, 05:21 AM
August 11, 2007
Orange Crush: OSU concert canceled
By Susan Simpson
Staff Writer
STILLWATER — Orange Peel has soured. The popular concert series at Oklahoma State University was canceled Friday, the first time since its 1996 inception.
http://promos.newsok.com/adview.php?what=zone:485&n=aec40758 (http://promos.newsok.com/adclick.php?n=aec40758)
Student organizers, who were working with Clear Channel to find artists for a Sept. 28 concert, said they were unable to secure a top level musical headliner.
"We have done everything in our power to find artists that fit within our budget and could guarantee the level of ticket sales necessary to make Orange Peel a success,” said event director Josh Neil.
Orange Peel has struggled in recent years to break even, and students were told they must turn a profit this year for future shows to continue.
Neil said canceling the concert this year will allow students to regroup and find new ways to seek top talent for a show in 2008.
"The entire Orange Peel team has worked really hard, and we are all extremely disappointed, but we refused to stage a show that would not excite OSU students and the community,” Neil said.
The event turned a profit last year when more than 16,000 tickets sold to a $443,300 concert headlined by Alan Jackson, but failed to make money in two previous years. The student-run event is subsidized by the Student Union.
Bill Spence, Clear Channel director of marketing, said artist fees have priced many shows out of the college market, and a stadium venue doesn't meet the production demands of some artists. Also many country music acts were scheduling shows at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
Neil said at least 100 acts were considered for the show, but none that could perform would draw a sellout crowd.
"You can always sign somebody, but the problem with Orange Peel is we were told the next time we lost money, it would be lost permanently.”
Over the years, OSU students have faced challenges in pulling off the event. A severe thunderstorm in 1999 drove Sinbad off the stage and prevented Faith Hill from appearing, but ticket holders didn't get a refund.
In 2000, Damon Wayans' profanity-laced performance upset some in attendance.
The inclusion of Incubus in the 2004 lineup drew the ire of at least one Stillwater church congregation.
I guess T Booger Pickin's didnt want to fund this like he does the Shreveport bowl. I wish the state legislature would quit throwing taxpayer money down that black hole.
print()
But, to be fair to the pokes, their grad school of Fast Food Communications is the best in the world.
http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20030403/ficdrive.gif
Orange Crush: OSU concert canceled
By Susan Simpson
Staff Writer
STILLWATER — Orange Peel has soured. The popular concert series at Oklahoma State University was canceled Friday, the first time since its 1996 inception.
http://promos.newsok.com/adview.php?what=zone:485&n=aec40758 (http://promos.newsok.com/adclick.php?n=aec40758)
Student organizers, who were working with Clear Channel to find artists for a Sept. 28 concert, said they were unable to secure a top level musical headliner.
"We have done everything in our power to find artists that fit within our budget and could guarantee the level of ticket sales necessary to make Orange Peel a success,” said event director Josh Neil.
Orange Peel has struggled in recent years to break even, and students were told they must turn a profit this year for future shows to continue.
Neil said canceling the concert this year will allow students to regroup and find new ways to seek top talent for a show in 2008.
"The entire Orange Peel team has worked really hard, and we are all extremely disappointed, but we refused to stage a show that would not excite OSU students and the community,” Neil said.
The event turned a profit last year when more than 16,000 tickets sold to a $443,300 concert headlined by Alan Jackson, but failed to make money in two previous years. The student-run event is subsidized by the Student Union.
Bill Spence, Clear Channel director of marketing, said artist fees have priced many shows out of the college market, and a stadium venue doesn't meet the production demands of some artists. Also many country music acts were scheduling shows at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.
Neil said at least 100 acts were considered for the show, but none that could perform would draw a sellout crowd.
"You can always sign somebody, but the problem with Orange Peel is we were told the next time we lost money, it would be lost permanently.”
Over the years, OSU students have faced challenges in pulling off the event. A severe thunderstorm in 1999 drove Sinbad off the stage and prevented Faith Hill from appearing, but ticket holders didn't get a refund.
In 2000, Damon Wayans' profanity-laced performance upset some in attendance.
The inclusion of Incubus in the 2004 lineup drew the ire of at least one Stillwater church congregation.
I guess T Booger Pickin's didnt want to fund this like he does the Shreveport bowl. I wish the state legislature would quit throwing taxpayer money down that black hole.
print()
But, to be fair to the pokes, their grad school of Fast Food Communications is the best in the world.
http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20030403/ficdrive.gif