A brain-storming session of the PAB on how to make Devilpalooza. Photo by Peter Lazaravich.
Students in ASU’s Programming and Activities Board have been busy drawing up blueprints for an on-campus event expected to entertain thousands of students.
Rarely are three bands, 20 tons of snow, extreme sports athletes and multiple vendors all set up on a field meant for football and soccer.
PAB is hosting the free event on Feb. 19 for students that includes a concert featuring bands Thrice, Story of the Year and Dear and the Headlights and a Rail Jam that includes snowboarding, BMX and skateboarders.
“It’s going to be a free Friday filled with tons of vendors, a rail jam, free food, make your own T-shirts and extreme sports,” says Andrew Nees, PAB concert series director and business management senior.
A Warped Tour atmosphere was what Nees and Concert Series Assistant Director and business marketing sophomore Lyndsey Sotwick were trying to achieve.
“First, we decide what type of show we would like to see,” Sotwick says. “Then, we look at what type of budget we have and then, who we would like to see play and how the students will respond to them.”
The artist bookings took about two months. Nees says he had worked with the band managers before, so it made the planning run more smoothly. When booking bands, he says professionalism and a good relationship make planning easier.
“Just behave like a pro,” Nees says. “If you take yourself seriously, they’ll take you seriously. You learn pretty fast what works and what doesn’t.”
As for the Campus Rail Jam, it is an event provided by Galvanic Design, says PAB Vice President and finance and supply chain management sophomore Joe Schibi. The Rail Jam travels to campuses mostly in the Western states and organize competitions for students to take part in.
During the Rail Jam, a Mini-Ramp Demo, sponsored by USG’s Bike Co-op, with BMX riders and skateboarders will be taking place. Motocross freestyle riders, Pro Tour FMX, will be performing as well, Schibi says.
The competition consists of three ramps and 2o tons of snow brought down from Flagstaff. Students who want to compete can sign up at the Campus Rail Jam Web site with photos or a video to show they have adequate skills to compete, Shibi says.
Nees says the Rail Jam will be an extreme show for students to showcase their talents.
“Students can see people who can throw down, and people get thrown down,” Nees says.
In addition to the Rail Jam and concert, the first 1,000 students will receive of the a free copy of Story of the Year’s new CD and students will be able to attend a meet and greet with the band from 4 p.m. in front of the stage.
Nees says planning went smoothly due to learning the rights and wrongs of planning last year. “Last year’s was a pilot,” Nees says. “We were just feeling it out. We had about 3,000 students come out, and now this year, we’re raising the stakes a little.”
PAB is able to offer the event for free because money used for Devilpalooza utilizes the $25 fee students pay each semester. Schibi says additional fees funnel down from USG. Nees says that’s why correctly using the allocated money is the No. 1 goal.
“If I was making this the right event for 50-year-olds, I would book someone like James Taylor,” Nees says. “But, Dear and the Headlights are from here and have a big following here and Thrice is big, too. They played Wembley in the U.K. Going to a show like this would cost like $40 or more, so paying $25 a semester is not a bad deal. Number one, we want it to be somewhere where students want to be at. Number two, if I look at my costs divided by people who are there and it comes up less than if a local promoter does, then I feel good about it.”
Communications junior Ade Kassim attended and helped plan Devilpalooza last year and is excited to see the differences PAB are planning for this year.
“I’m really stoked about it,” says communications junior Ade Kassim. “It’s free, which is really cool. You don’t see very many free events. I know I would be paying a lot of money if I went to see this somewhere else.”
Kassim says he imagines it will be bigger and better than last year’s.
“I expect it to be crazy,” Kassim says. “It’s nothing you see or hear everyday. I mean, you don’t see snowboarders at the SRC everyday, so it will be cool to check out.”
If you go…
Devilpalooza at the Student Recreation Center Fields.
Friday, Feb. 19.
Rail Jam and Extreme Sports – 2 p.m.
Concert – 6 p.m.
Devilpalooza Web site
Contact the reporter at erica.m.rodriguez@asu.edu
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