In the past, the Bryce Jordan Center has been criticized for neglecting student interests in their programming. This semester, however, the BJC's director of public relations says it will be different.
"We put more attention on student programming than venues of the same size at other universities," BJC public relations director Bernie Punt said, "and October is going to be as diverse a month of programming as we've ever had."
This fall, the BJC will feature such musical acts as Guster, Korn, Rihanna and Akon. Tickets will go on sale at noon Thursday to students for the first two shows, Guster and Korn.
The Oct. 4 concert for college rock staple Guster will feature a more intimate seating arrangement and house an audience of just 3,000, small in comparison to the average BJC concert.
Alt-metal giants Korn will be making their third appearance at the BJC on Oct. 8.
Both the Korn and the Guster concerts will be available to students with an ID at a discounted price of $20. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday; Guster will cost $29.50 and Korn $37.50. Both shows will feature supporting acts.
On Sept. 6, there will be a student pre-sale for hip-hoppers Rihanna and Akon, also available at the student discount of $20. They will go on sale to the general public the following day at $29.50. The concert will be on Oct. 18.
Students agreed that at the price of $20, the artists are worth seeing.
"I would see Akon. He's got a really unique voice," said Jared Motter (freshman-division of undergraduate studies). "A twenty-dollar ticket is pretty awesome. At that price, I will definitely see it."
Ayla Baughman (sophomore-health policy and administration) said Rihanna's reputation would help attract audiences.
"I would go see Rihanna. I like her music a lot," she said. "You don't see an artist for just one song, and she has a lot of good songs."
Already on sale are tickets for seven performances of Cirque Du Soleil's Saltimbanco from Sept. 26 to 30, which also coincides with parents' weekend.
"Your parents won't be bored," Punt said of the show.
Tickets are also currently being sold for the Oct. 7 concert with contemporary Christian rockers MercyMe and a stop by FOX's So You Think You Can Dance? tour on Oct. 12.
The So You Think You Can Dance? event will feature the winner of the popular FOX dance contest, as well as several runners-up. It is available to students at a reduced ticket price of $20.
The BJC is still working to book more programming for the semester and will likely announce several additional shows in the coming days as details and contracts are finalized, Punt said.
In addition to musical acts, Punt said the BJC is in the process of bringing in other performance artists, including dance troupes and stand-up comedians.
Punt said they are trying to bring comedian Sarah Silverman to the BJC on Nov. 2 and are working on a student ticket deal of $10 for the act.
Robert Severin (senior-kinesiology) said each performance this semester should be good.
"It's a really great line-up," he said.
