Spring Fair reels in Big Fish, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
The announcement last week that late-'90s ska band Reel Big Fish would be this year's mainstage Spring Fair act came after at least one failed attempt at signing a different band, a deal that fell apart due to financial uncertainty.
Thanks to an increase in donations, Hopkins will also see a second group, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, perform with Reel Big Fish outdoors at Spring Fair on April 26. But some say that an even further increase in funding would help to attract higher-profile groups.
"In the past, we struggled with the decision of booking a hip-hop act or a rock act. This year we have both coming in one concert," executive co-chair senior Steven Farber said.
According to him, Spring Fair received several thousand more dollars in funding this year, but others argued that they should have received even more.
"If Spring Fair had another $20,000, they wouldn't be struggling right now," Student Council President Scott Bierbryer said.
In response, Farber admitted that more money would make the booking process easier.
"We can always use more money for the concert, but it is what it is," he said.
Even with this increase in funds, a higher price tag was one of the reasons why rock band O.A.R., Spring Fair's original choice, could not be booked for the concert.
"O.A.R. was extremely expensive," said a Spring Fair staff member who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.
"Their requirements were too much for what we have. It was a combination of how much money they were asking and mechanical limitations of the field."
Farber could not reveal the cost of bringing the groups to Hopkins.
"We can't say how much we pay the artists, because of contract reasons, and it would be disrespectful to the artists," he said.
According to the staff member, contracting a popular music group costs somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000. Music groups or artists who are not at the peak of their fame usually cost between $40,000 and $50,000. Any music group after that can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000.
Thanks to an increase in donations, Hopkins will also see a second group, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, perform with Reel Big Fish outdoors at Spring Fair on April 26. But some say that an even further increase in funding would help to attract higher-profile groups.
"In the past, we struggled with the decision of booking a hip-hop act or a rock act. This year we have both coming in one concert," executive co-chair senior Steven Farber said.
According to him, Spring Fair received several thousand more dollars in funding this year, but others argued that they should have received even more.
"If Spring Fair had another $20,000, they wouldn't be struggling right now," Student Council President Scott Bierbryer said.
In response, Farber admitted that more money would make the booking process easier.
"We can always use more money for the concert, but it is what it is," he said.
Even with this increase in funds, a higher price tag was one of the reasons why rock band O.A.R., Spring Fair's original choice, could not be booked for the concert.
"O.A.R. was extremely expensive," said a Spring Fair staff member who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.
"Their requirements were too much for what we have. It was a combination of how much money they were asking and mechanical limitations of the field."
Farber could not reveal the cost of bringing the groups to Hopkins.
"We can't say how much we pay the artists, because of contract reasons, and it would be disrespectful to the artists," he said.
According to the staff member, contracting a popular music group costs somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000. Music groups or artists who are not at the peak of their fame usually cost between $40,000 and $50,000. Any music group after that can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000.
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