After 7,000 attendees flocked to the Baton Rouge River Center to see Weezer perform at Groovin’ on the Grounds, this year’s event at the River Center hosts Young the Giant.
With its successful movement in spring 2014, planners decided to keep the location and abandon “the Grounds” for the April 17 show.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. show on Friday. Battle of the Bands winner The Dulac Smack will open for COIN and Parachute before Young the Giant takes the stage.
The move from the Parade Ground doesn’t vary the cost for the event by much, said, Students on Target director Taylor Stewart and the slight increase in cost might be worth it for students who want to get closer to the stage.
“The total budget for Groovin’ is about $200,000,” Stewart said. “The production and venue costs are the first consideration. Then, we use the majority of the remaining budget for the artists.”
Stewart said the week’s weather would have forced the event back to the River Center again because the stage couldn’t be set on a muddy Parade Ground.
She said another perk of the move is attendance tracking — students will swipe into the event with their Tiger Cards, which also gains them an admit one for non-student guests.
Only 2,500 guests are allowed on the floor, which includes students, VIPs and the guests of each.
Last year’s turnout was their largest, with an estimated 7,000 attendees. This year, the Groovin’ planners are hoping for 5,000 to 6,000.
Stewart said she used the successful Groovin’ last year as a model for planning this year’s event while also using it to address concerns up such as not being able to re-enter the River Center after leaving and lack of dining options.
This year, cloth wristbands will allow Groovin’-goers who are on the floor to leave and re-enter the venue.
Concessions will also be available, including nachos, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Groovin’ planners changed the name so future directors of Students on Target have freedom to move the event.
Stewart said the Executive Staff of Student Government and members of Students on Target pushed for the move this year.
“At the River Center, we have better safety measures for all in attendance,” Stewart said. “The River Center is already well-equipped for musical artists and concerts in terms of dressing rooms and sound and lighting equipment.”
After venue and production costs, Students on Target had about $125,000 to hire the alternative rock and pop bands.
“Selecting an artist that was within our budget and available to come in our time frame was an incredibly challenging task,” Stewart said. “I knew I had a substantially smaller budget than last year, so I had to be realistic in my search for artists.”
Stewart said she tried to eliminate artists who performed or will perform at festivals or concerts in the state this year.
Groovin’ saw country, rap and rock artists dominate the lineup the past few years, so she kept alternative rock and pop performers in mind.
“This concert has the ability to unite students in a very unique way each and every spring, and I know the lineup this year will put on a great performance,” Stewart said.
Besides production, venue, and artists, other costs include advertising, transportation, Tiger Card readers and “throws” during the event.
There will be a shuttle running from Lockett Hall to the River Center until midnight.
“I think that Groovin’ is a demonstration of student innovation and community involvement,” Stewart said. “The entire crowd is there to be entertained and enjoy the experience together, and there are not many events outside of football or other athletic events that I truly feel connected to the entire LSU community.”