Hip-hop artist Wale was supposed to headline Spring Fest at the PMAC on Thursday night but was unable to attend because of weather delays at a New York airport.
Spring Fest, a concert put on by High Definition Productions Inc., charged about $35 for seat, but some students became enraged when doormen began letting guests in for free after the performer no-showed.
Aston Symonette, a freshman at the University of New Orleans, said he bought a ticket to see Wale three weeks in advance and is looking into a refund because others got in for free.
Other performers included Level, Dee-1, DJ Supa Mike, Down Bad Entertainment, Locco, Phil Mic, The Brotherhood, Jimi Jump and Da Future.
Justin Burnett, High Definition Productions Inc. co-founder, said there was nothing the company could do about Wale not being able to attend.
Burnett said the company paid Wale in advance but will be refunded as stated in the contract. He refused to comment on the cost of securing the rap star.
Burnett said the company will consider having Wale at a future event.
Wale tweeted about the weather in New York and the multiple times his flight was delayed. He received some angry tweets from fans planning to attend the concert.
“It bothers me that people are so small minded,” Burnett said. “Do you think Wale wanted to be waiting at the airport since 10 a.m.?”
Matthew Destouet, sports administration freshman, said he was disappointed because Wale promised to come to the University, and Destouet said he should have tried to find an alternative way to get to Baton Rouge.
Tony Lum, biology sophomore, said he wasn’t attending the event because Wale wasn’t performing, but he didn’t blame the rappers for the problems.
“It wasn’t his fault. You can’t control stuff happening,” Lum said.
“We have to hunt down the promoters,” Symonette said.
Burnett said it was “not cheap” to rent the PMAC, but the company will still make a profit on the event.
The concert was scheduled to start around 7 p.m., but was delayed until after 8 p.m.
Burnett said he still considered the event successful with artists like Dee-1 as well as Houston-based Slim-Thug’s late arrival.
Destouet and Jerwanna
Coleman, biology freshman, said they were now looking forward to seeing hip-hop artist Level perform.
“He is awesome. I’d rather him than Wale,” Coleman said.
Level said he felt good to have his fans in the audience.
“This is my hometown. I’ve got my people here,” Level said. “I’ve got home-court advantage.”
Level said although Wale was unable to attend, it wouldn’t affect his performance and performing at the University would further expand his audience.
Dee-1, a former University student, said performing at the PMAC made him feel like the work he put in “walking in the Quad and the Union passing out CDs” paid off.
Dee-1 said he was on his first nationwide tour and he ended his tour early and canceled a show in West Virginia to attend the event.
Burnett said this was the first major event for the High Definition Productions Inc.
“This experience will help us work kinks out in the future,”
Burnett said.
Burnett said the company would like to have University student organizations and Greeks involved in future events.
Mario Murphy, High Definition Productions Inc. co-founder said if Spring Fest is successful enough, the company plans to host a concert in the summer and a Fall Fest.
“We aren’t going to stop at Spring Fest. We are going to do a Fall Fest, as well,” Murphy said.
Murphy said High Definitions Inc. originally booked Wiz Kalifa for the event, but the artist was offered double the amount to play at another venue.
“His agency said they also had Wale, and we decided to go with him,” Murphy said.
Murphy said Wale was the first person booked, and Slim Thug contacted the company wanting to perform at Spring Fest.
Murphy said High Definition Productions Inc., founded in June, hosts a range of events from poetry nights to fashion shows, Murphy said.  
“Anything we think is uplifting the culture of the Baton Rouge area,” Murphy said.
 
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Contact Celeste Ansley at
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