Behind the Scenes

Spring Event is always one of St. John Fisher’s biggest attractions, but how exactly does this event take form?
“A lot of things go into it,” said Spring Event Committee chair and senior Michelle Pyzik. 
One of the factors is what genre St. John Fisher students want to see the most.
“We knew something rock/alternative was up there (on the list of what people wanted),” Pyzik said.  “We knew it wasn’t going to be comedy and it wasn’t going to be country or hip-hop.”
The next piece of the puzzle includes getting an act that not only fits the budget, but can also coordinate with the dates that the Student Life Center is available for use.  “We really only had three available dates to pick from,” said Pyzik. 
“Most bands have a clause in their contract where they can’t perform in the same area, within 90 miles of that site, for a 60 day time period,” she said.  This eliminated potential candidates like O.A.R.
A band also has to be touring during the March-April time frame of the Spring Event, and some bands were too slow to respond to the invitation.  Even if the act is available during that time and answers back in a timely fashion, their budget may swell way beyond Fisher’s reach.
However, Sugarcult fit the bill nicely, and because they only charge for performance (and not for stage and lighting), the Spring Event Committee was able to get two openers (Big City Rock and Matt Nathanson).
“We want to attract a variety of people,” said Pyzik.  “If we can add a half hour to the show and keep the price the same, why not add a third band?”

Pyzik said, “We try really hard to get what the students want, but it’s not always possible to get what the students want.”

By Scott Pukos
sap7242@sjfc.edu