Sister Hazel, Edwin McCain and the Pat McGee Band will bring The Rock Boat Tour to the PMAC tonight in a SG-sponsored concert.
Concert organizers are hoping for an enthusiastic response from students.
Meaghan Miller, program coordinator with the Dean of Students’ office, said the concert’s sponsors hope several thousand people will attend, but the PMAC box office said as of Tuesday afternoon it had sold less than 400 tickets.
Miller said Sister Hazel and Edwin McCain are well-known nationally, and the Pat McGee Band is popular on the college circuit.
“We had a really good opportunity with the three bands touring together to provide a good value for students,” Miller said.
Several students, including theater sophomore Monica Jenkins, had not heard the bands were coming in concert.
“I haven’t heard anyone say they’re going,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said she thought the concert was a good idea “if people are really going to go.”
Miller said SG spent about $40,000 from the Programming Support and Initiatives Fund, including money that had rolled over from previous years. She said profits from ticket sales would be put back into the fund.
According to the University’s Web site, PSIF receives $3.25 per student each semester to fund, among other things, the SG concert series.
Miller said 40 cents per student per semester is used for the concert series.
“There was no paid PMAC concert last year,” Miller said. “Students pay this money, so they should get something for it.”
Political science junior Elizabeth Callegari said she thought it was a good idea to put on a concert, but she was not sure about tonight’s event.
“I think Groovin’ on the Grounds is enough,” Callegari said. “I don’t think I would spend that much money getting [bands] here.”
Tommy Hughes, an ISDS senior, said he liked the idea of the concert.
“I’ve never seen [the bands] live, but I’d say if they put on a good show, it’s well worth the money,” Hughes said.
Hughes said he typically goes to concerts sponsored by various campus organizations, and he appreciated SG’s effort to provide entertainment.
“Having it so cheap for students who don’t have much money to spend on concerts, it’s money well spent,” Hughes said.
Another student said she, like Jenkins, thought the concert was a good idea if people were interested.
“I think a bigger headliner would make people go,” said Nicole Prejean, a general studies senior. “I don’t think $40,000 on these bands is worth it.”
Prejean said she agreed with SG’s efforts.
“I think they should try to get bands to come to Baton Rouge,” she said.