Going behind the scenes with SAC Concerts

With a stunning performance from OK Go this fall, students are already getting excited for what is in store for the spring concert at Luther. As hopes and expectations rise for the coming event, one has to wonder exactly what goes into making a show like this happen.

In the past, SAC hosted now-big names like Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews Band and Jurassic 5. Co-chairs of SAC Concerts Brandon Flaata (‘09) and Vanessa Oelrich (‘10) are beginning the search for the next band to grace Luther’s stage.

With one cycle of their duties for the year done, in the next couple weeks they will start the process all over again.

The concerts committee is made up of around 35 students who Flaata and Oelrich believe equally represent what the campus wants to see.

“In general, the majority of campus gets tickets so the committee definitely helps represent the campus,” said Flaata.

In the past, SAC Concerts has considered holding only one major concert a year. However, the committee decided on holding two, one in the fall and one in the spring, to accommodate schedules and students studying abroad for whole semesters.

While students’ suggestions usually consist of alternative bands like Guster and Jack’s Mannequin. SAC Concerts is open to the idea of having different kinds of bands.

“I would love to have a country band, but I don’t know if that would go over very well with the Luther demographic,” said Oelrich.

Both co-chairs also suggested the idea of hip-hop as a potential addition to the concert list, but it depends on what the committee decides.

The spring concerts ideas meeting was held Oct. 15 in Olin 102, where committee members and other Luther students began suggesting ideas for potential bands and artists.

In these first meetings, their brainstorming will develop a long list of possibilities. This list is then voted on and narrowed down by members of the committee.

After agreeing on about ten options, Flaata and Oelrich use an agent to figure out numbers and availability, and will further narrow the list until the artist is selected.

Once the band is chosen, committee members are needed on the day of the concert to set up, take down and complete various other jobs to prepare for the event. With paid compensation for their work, anyone interested in the music or bands would have a great time in the event planning and execution.

What seems like a lot of planning and overseeing is worth it for the two co-chairs.

“Usually after the concert, we get to meet the band. Little things like that make it worth it,” said Oelrich.