The lineup of upcoming performances at John R. Emens Auditorium will include some big names for the venue’s 50th anniversary season.
Robert Myers, Emens director, has shows including Jim Gaffigan, Florida Georgia Line and Jason Mraz for students.
“Those events came together from different sources and different paths,” Myers said. “I’ve been working on getting Jim Gaffigan for six years. I have to thank a promoter for Florida Georgia Line, since that show has been booked since April.”
Both of those shows went on sale Friday, while Florida Georgia Line sold out in its opening weekend, Gaffigan still has tickets available after selling more than 700 tickets.
Kristi Chambers, Emens marketing assistant, said she hopes Gaffigan can sell out as well.
“We almost didn’t get [Gaffigan] booked,” Chambers said. “We got him booked last week on Tuesday and then had tickets on sale on Friday. It was the quickest turn around I’ve ever experienced so far.”
The increase in notable performers could have more to do with national trends rather than Ball State itself, Myers said.
“The reason so many things are coming together, this year in particular, is mostly economical,” he said. “This year the entertainment industry is optimistic.”
While the more popular an act is, the more difficult it is to get a student discount, Myers said he makes serious effort to keep student prices low.
“It’s always important to me to have a student discount,” Myers said. “If I buy a show, I make it my prerogative to make sure that students get a discount. I can strongly encourage a student discount from promoters, but normally it’s up to the band and the booking agent whether or not a student discount is available.”
Even if price isn’t the issue, sometimes the lack of a huge space can deter performances.
“A lot of the larger names don’t want to come to a 3,300 seat auditorium,” Chambers said. “They want larger venues.”
The Florida Georgia Line concert is during Homecoming Weekend, and Family Weekend will have the Here Come the Mummies concert.
“Each year, we have certain types of shows — a comedian, a ballet, a contemporary dance,” Chambers said. “Gaffigan is this year’s comedian. ... Last year, our country concert fell through, so the ability to have two [Florida Georgia Line and Hunter Hayes] was really great.”
