Campus Activities Magazine April 2012

Adam Grabowski

15

KE$HA

26

The University of Akron

24

Bass/Schuler Entertainment

28

For an artist relatively new to the campus market, no award could be sweeter than Fastest Rising Star.

She has clearly made an impact among college students as she swept the Best Major Performer category with more votes than any other major artist in the history of the awards.

With an army of support among the ranks, The University of Akron pulls out the top spot among campuses.

NATALIE STOVALL... 30

She Wins Both Entertainer Of The Year And Female Entertainer Of The Year Natalie is no stranger to the Reader’s Choice Awards. Both beautiful and talented, she knocks two clean out of the park for this year.

For the Sixth Time in their 12-Year existence, Bass/Schuler takes the top spot among campus agencies.

D E P A R T M E N T S

From the Publisher Laff Guru Best Small Venue Artist Best Music Artist Best Diversity Artist Best Speaker

4 6 12 13 14 16

Best LIVE Novelty Artist Best Novelty/ Game Best Comedy Artist Best Male Artist Artist Report Cards Entertainment Warehouse

17 18 19 22 34 39

RANDOM THOUGHTS & OTHER MINDLESS DRIBBLE

Our Plea To Campuses, Artists & Agencies To Help Us Save Lives...

There are some of you who have known me over the years and remember that I have been involved for the most of my life with children’s issues. Over the last 20 years or so I have parented some ten children either through foster care or adoption and I served for two years as president of the Council on Adoptable Children, an organization that was at the forefront of getting otherwise unadoptable children permanent homes and families. Those years were filled with an occasional set-back but in most cases they have been ultimately rewarding.

I found some years ago, as my kids had all grown to be young adults with families of their own, a new mission. Once we moved our main office to the country (or like Ian calls it, the sticks), I would travel daily to our other office in Newberry SC. Along the way, I was forced to pass the Newberry County Animal Shelter. I can’t tell you how often I wanted to pull over the truck, open the pens and herd the dogs into the bed and take them home with me. A few days later all the pens were empty and a day later they were filled with an entirely new crop of dogs. Every time I rode by and saw a visitor, the dogs would perk up, wagging their tails and barking like “Take me. Please take me.”

The sad news is that very few are ever saved.

The reality for me is that I have had my share of breeder dogs and I have three still - A white German Shepherd, a black Labrador and an American Pit Bull Terrier. But the real loves of my life are three shelter dogs who would have probably been lost if I hadn’t saved them. It’s almost like they understand the circumstances and while they did the

same things all dogs do when they were pups, they have matured into faithful, loving and true companions.

In this country, thousands of dogs, cats, horses and other animals are put to death every day because of over population, poor care by undeserving owners, cruelty and the fact they were born into situations where their parents had not been spayed or neutered by uncaring and unconcerned owners.

Here and in other countries around the world, children born under these circumstances do qualify for care by a system that supports foster care and adoption to hopefully get them to the point where they can be functioning adults. For animals, once they arrive in most animal shelters, they have weeks and sometimes only days before their lives are simply terminated.

I want to do something about this and I hope your campus, your students, your directors and the artists and agencies that support the campus market will help us make a dent in needless animal deaths.

In the Summer Advisor’s Edition, I will unveil a plan where the campus market and the artists and agencies that support it, can make a difference. This will help supply funding for no-kill shelters and advocacy groups nationwide and in your own home town. Every group funded must be a 501-c-3 non-profit group with a record of facilitating animal adoption, rescue or spay & neuter programs.

The program will be called SAVE JAKE and I am willing to invest promotional dollars to make this one of our missions. All I ask is that you support it whenever you can. We will make it easy for you to do so through products you probably purchase regularly.

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Annual Advisor’s Edition Scheduled For July

After a tremendously successful Advisor’s Edition in 2011, the 2012 edition promises even more.

Not only will you have the opportunity to learn about various aspects of the campus market from those inside the business but you will have access to a complete year of Artist Report Cards, sorted by each artist or show alphabetically and chronologically by date. Included will be all reports from July 2011 through June 2012 including those we received after this last issue of the year published.

You will get to see the top rated artists in each category based on your scores. And we will feature the one act we see as possibly the hottest act for 2012/13. Even better, we will announce the winner of the 2012/13 Rock ‘n Road Show with an entire free weekend of entertainment courtesy of this year’s sponsor, TalentPlus Entertainment. Be sure we have your latest school information so your don’t miss your copy of this annual edition.

To update your information email me at kirby@cameopublishing.com. Get me your campus contact, his/her staff position, complete address and phone number and email address. All information is confidential and is never sold, bartered or traded to outside sources.

Our Apologies To GG Greg

Apparently our writer for the story on Herps & Snakes Alive on Page 17 in February mixed up the names of the presenters on one of GG’s shows. Snakes Alive is a show with Tom Kessenich and Herps Alive is a show with Keith Gisser. Both these shows have been extremely popular in the market and you can find them both at gggreg.com “We try to present programs which are educational, but most importantly fun.

It is very easy to stand in front of a room and give a dry lecture on the physiology of a snake’s lungs.

When folks attending my program are actually holding the snake, feeling him breathe, it is far more effective," Gisser explains.

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After a hugely successful national showcase BLOCKS FORMING NOW!

Your Choice: Hot Shows or Hell Gigs?

I have done well over a thousand shows at over 800 colleges in all 50 states (and even some in Europe). Each show is different; on one end of the spectrum there are Hot Shows and on the other there are Hell Gigs. What is a Hell Gig? The term is an abbreviated form of a “Gig from Hell?”

I believe comedians use the term “Hell Gig” more than other performers, because comedy, more than other varieties of the performing arts, is a partnership between the audience and the performer.

A stand-up comedian is totally dependant upon the active participation of the people sitting before him (or her) for the show to be a success. Actors, musicians, singers, poets, dancers, lecturers, even jugglers and magicians, can perform before a bad audience with limited repercussions, or with no audience at all and simply write it off as a rehearsal.

Stand-up comics do not share this luxury; we require our partners, the audience, to provide feedback at very frequent intervals in the form of involuntary muscle spasms that produce the grunts and cackles we know as laughter (an ancient vocal ritual that actually predates human speech).

There are several factors I will now share that need to be in place for this partnership to be successful and a Hell Gig can be avoided. The following tips will not only benefit you, they will also help all the performers you bring to your campus, including (hopefully) me.

TOP TEN TIP TO AVOID COMEDY HELL GIGS:

TIP #1: CHECK OUT A COMEDY CLUB If you have a chance, please go check out the optimal setting for live comedy; the club owners do this for a living and they have learned what works best. As a rule, a comedy club will have a good stage, good lighting, good sound, and probably good audience members or at least a bouncer to control the bad ones. I know some of you may live in towns that don’t have clubs, and some clubs require you be 21 to attend, so checking out a comedy club is not an option (but at the very least watch YouTube videos taped at comedy clubs, or see Tip #10).

TIP #2: MATCH THE ACT WITH THE AUDIENCE Humor is subjective, what one audience loves another may loathe. Know your audience, so you can pick an act you know they will enjoy. It is your responsibility to know if someone is right, because

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if you ask the performer, they (actually their ego) will be inclined to say they are the act for you. I have performed for all kinds of audiences with all kinds of tastes, from a Mormon school in Utah to a completely naked audience in New York City, and I always try to adapt my material from clean to spicy accordingly. Am I right for every audience?

My performer’s ego says I am, but my experience tells me otherwise. If you want a XXX-rated act or a show suitable for five-year-olds, then I’ll be the first to admit I am not the act for you. Do your homework; find out what your audience wants, then find a performer that does it (instead of just says he does it).

TIP #3: SCHEDULE THE SHOW AT THE PROPER TIME There are several big mistakes a programming board can make when scheduling a show. The first is to plan a performance when there is a competing event on campus. When you are choosing a date to do your show make sure nothing else is going on at the same time. At least once a year I show up to do a show but there is no audience there to see it. Once it was because it was at the same time as the graduation ceremony, another it was when the school’s team was playing in the NCAA Final Four championships. So check the calendar before you plan a show.

The second big mistake is to schedule a comedy show during the daytime. Comics are like vampires, we’re allergic to sunlight; say the word “nooner” to a comic and you will get the same reaction that a cross has on Dracula. I realize the schools without dorms have trouble getting students to attend shows at night, and are forced to do all their programming during the day. But if you absolutely have to do a daytime show, please do it in any room other than the lunchroom, preferably one without windows. If you have to use the lunchroom, make sure everyone knows there is a comedy show scheduled.

The third mistake a board can make is to do “Ambush Comedy,” where a student is planning on a nice lunch, maybe some quite study time for a test, and next thing they know some guy is next to them with a microphone making fun of their shirt. The student will get hostile and that makes for a Hell Gig. Even if you have to go table to table, make sure everyone knows that a show is about to start.

TIP #4: SCHEDULE THE SHOW IN THE PROPER VENUE As one of my favorite comics, Roy Wood Jr. told me, “There are two things that are death to comedy: daylight and being outdoors, and if you combine the two it is total death!”

I literally almost died doing an outdoor show, this one was at night, which was a bit better, but because it was dark they had a light bulb hanging above my head which was attracting swarms of bugs. During one of my jokes a bug flies down my throat and I almost choked to death. Happy to report I quickly recovered (but the bug was not so lucky).

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LAFF GURU CONTINUES If anyone reading this is thinking about doing an outdoor comedy show during the day…JUST STOP IT! There is a reason there are comedy nightclubs and there are no comedy day-clubs! Or comedy patio bars. Comedy works best indoors… at night... on a stage.

Never produce a show where the performer is on the same floor level as the audience. I don’t care if you just use a 6 inch riser, being on a stage psychologically commands respect from the audience. Have a stage with people sitting near it.

I arrived at a major university in South Carolina to discover the room I was performing in had no place to sit. I asked the board member if they were going to bring in folding chairs and he lit up and said, “That’s a great idea! Wish we had thought of it in time.” The students had to stand… for an hour.

A school in Connecticut failed to provide a stage or lighting (more about that later) and between me and my audience were pool tables, which people used throughout my show. Hell Gig!

A school in New England had me perform at a Pep Rally: I was in the gym, once again without stage or lighting, and a basketball court was between me and the audience. I was under one basket and the audience was under the other. The distance was like a big comedy moat, drowning all the laughter.

Once again, if you go to a club you will see that comedy work best when the audience is near the comedian…in chairs.

TIP #5: AVOID MIXED EVENTS If you are thinking of combining a comedy show with any other kind of event, please think again.

Mixing anything with comedy is just a distraction.

As my friend, Adam Ace, noted, “One of the biggest mistakes an Activity Board can make is they try to do a comedy show in a room where anything else is going on. I did a show in a room with casino night going on all around me and I have done a show with karaoke on the other side of the room. It never really gives you the best outcome.”

Surprisingly music and comedy don’t always mix well together in the same show; it is often hard for an audience to mentally shift gears back and forth.

If you want to hire a comedian to perform between bands I suggest you get a musical comic, someone that has a guitar and does funny songs. There are lots of good ones available.

TIP #6: PROMOTE THE SHOW Every comedian I interviewed for this column mentioned instances where the school did no promotion at all and as a result had no students attend their show. Comedy has to have an audience, the

more the better, because laughter is contagious.

I was once bitching to a comic about having to do a show for only four people, and he topped me.

He showed up at a club in the middle of nowhere Australia and discovered the club did not promote the show, so no one had bought a ticket. He told the club owner he was sorry this happened but he needed to get paid and be on his way. She said, “But you didn’t do a show.” He said, “But there’s no one here.” She said, “If you want to get paid you have to do a show!” So he starts performing just for her, and about 10 minutes in, she goes to the office and makes phone calls. He had to do the rest of his show for no one! Hell Gig squared!

TIP #7: HAVE GOOD LIGHTING & SOUND Having stage lights adds so much to a comedy show, because it makes people better focus on the performer, plus it allows you to dim the house lights, and people laugh more freely in the dark.

Focus is why so many comedy clubs have every wall but the stage painted black.

As for sound, the rule is simple: if the audience can’t hear the jokes then they can’t laugh at them.

I worked a school in Michigan that didn’t have a sound system, so they just bought a toy karaoke machine from Wal-Mart. The sound was terrible, and the mic cord was so short if I wanted to walk around, I had to pick the machine up and carry it.

Hell Gig! More than one school has expected me to perform from a lecture podium, with the gooseneck microphone permanently mounted on top. I’m okay with that when I’m doing my lecture “TALKING ABOUT MY GENERATION.” But when I’m doing comedy, as with most comedians, I like to be able to move around, which is why you see podiums in churches but never in comedy clubs.

TIP #8: CONTROL THE AUDIENCE If you visit a comedy club, you will notice that it has either a big bouncer or an off duty cop to control the room. Most colleges don’t even bother to invite someone from Campus Security (which is free) and lack of control can lead to Hell Gigs.

Steve Hofstetter told me a story about one of his shows, “During an orientation, a freshman was so drunk that he threw up on himself. I had to deal with public safety coming to get him, and twenty people scrambling to find better smelling seats.”

What’s even worse than a drunk in the audience is a drunk that wants to be part of the show. Remember a lot of students have never seen live comedy before and they don’t know how it works.

Before you introduce any comedian you should always instruct the audience to: “Keep your laughter to a maximum and your conversation to a minimum, so you don’t disturb the people around you and the performer on stage.”

There seems to be two types of hecklers, the ones

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that think they are actually helping the comedian by providing a target for their jokes, and the ones that are just mean and trying to disrupt the show.

Both are usually starved for attention.

Not to say hecklers can’t be funny. One of my most embarrassing moments on stage happened after a heckler said something hilarious and to acknowledge it I said “Folks, give him a hand.” Then the guy held up his stump. He had no hand. Everyone was mortified (but none more than me).

TIP #9: WARN PERFORMERS ABOUT ANYTHING UNUSUAL If there is something about the audience at your school that is different, or if something unusual has recently happened on campus, be sure to let the performer know in advance so they can be prepared for it.

I was hired to do a show at a resort and I got on stage before 300 people and could not buy a laugh, I mean I heard nothing but crickets. Total Hell Gig! Turns out all 300 people were from Germany and none of them spoke English. Had I known beforehand I could have run out and bought some magic tricks, or a monkey, or a sledgehammer and a watermelon.

One of the legendary comedy Hell Gig stories involves one of my favorite comedians, the brilliant, Larry Miller, who against all odds and through no fault of his own had the following happen. In his words: “One of the first jokes I ever wrote was: if you go back to your high school reunion, whether it is 5, 10, or 50 years, you still feel an obligation to call all your former teachers “Mr.” or “Mrs.” Then I’d look in the audience as if I spotted someone and say, “Hey, Mr. Cooper, remember when we set you on fire?”

It was a joke. It wasn’t great, but it always worked.

So I’m doing a show at a school and I decide to open with the Mr. Cooper bit. Not only was there no laughs, but a wave—a palpable wave—of unmistakable hatred hit me. Turns out the school had a beloved teacher named Mr. Cooper burn to death in a fire just days before. What are the odds of that happening? Then I heard, ‘We gotta get him!’ I had to run to the car as they were rushing toward me bubbling with anger.”

TIP #10: CHECK OUT A COMEDY CLUB No. Really. Check out a comedy club. Or just email me at standupcomic@live.com and I’ll send you a dvd of me at one.

Steven Kent McFarlin has been described in the press as a “campus entertainment icon.” He offers two great programs at one great low price, and has been voted “Campus Comic of the Year” (LaffGuru.com) and the “Campus Performer of the Year” (TalkingAboutMyGeneration.com) His credits include over fifty TV appearances, including: Showtime, Good Morning America, and The Late Show.

He is represented by GP College Entertainment.

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The 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards recorded the largest number of votes for a single awards process in campus entertainment history. A ground-breaking 53,430 qualified individual votes were cast. The awards system disqualified additional votes that were cast from the same ip address in order to assure a verified awards process.

In order of popularity, the Campus Of The Year was the most popular category touting 4,764 votes, followed by Entertainer of The Year with 4,349 votes, Best Major Artist with 4,298 votes and Small Venue and Best Diversity Artist tied with 4,009 votes each. Here are the over-all stats in each of the categories.

BEST SMALL VENUE ARTIST BEST MUSIC ACT BEST FEMALE PERFORMER FASTEST RISING STAR BEST NOVELTY GAME BEST COMEDY ARTIST AGENCY OF THE YEAR

4009 3847 3992 3477 3348 3549 3290

BEST DIVERSITY ARTIST BEST SPEAKER BEST MALE PERFORMER BEST MAJOR PERFORMANCE BEST LIVE NOVELTY ARTIST CAMPUS OF THE YEAR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

4009 3299 3992 4298 3201 4764 4349

On the pages that follow, you will have the opportunity to meet the winners and the runners-up in every category. Many of these races were extremely close even until the last few hours of competition. All the winners, runners-up and nominees represent the top choices of campuses just like yours for excellence in programming. We hope you will carefully consider these artists when planning for next year.

Additional reviews are featured in the Artist Report Card section of every edition of Campus Activities Magazine® and a COMPLETE Alphabetical and chronological summary of every Artist Report Card submitted during the 2011-12 school year will be available in our 2012 ADVISOR’S EDITION delivered to your campus in July of this year.

From the staff at Campus Activities Magazine®, thanks for the commitment from all the students, staff, artists and agencies who support these awards every year.

“He had an amazing show, with nonstop laughs and incredible tricks. It was fantastic.” jdstone2@suffolk.edu

This is Joel’s first year fully engaged in the campus market, and its first widespread recognition of him. Joel says his signatures are lots of energy in the show to go along with lots of laughs. “It’s very highenergy and comedy-driven and the most common thing I hear from audiences after the show is that the magic blew everyone away but my personality left more of a lasting impression, and that is what I have always worked for. The entire performance is very interactive and involves the audience along every step of the way, and I’ve found putting as much focus as possible on being charismatic and working on my interaction and communication skills renders far better results than sitting in a dark room for hours trying to tweak each trick to perfection. The audiences are what give my show potential for perfection.”

As a fresh face to the college scene, Joel isn’t coming in with preconceived notions about what the market expects, and isn’t a cookie cutter commercial formula magician who simply learned the steps to cash in. “The single most common thing I hear after my shows is how different it is from anything else they’ve seen in the college market.

Magician Joel Meyers has exploded onto the Reader’s Choice Awards scene this year, nominated in two categories and winning Best Small Venue Performer, walking away with 1,010 votes or 26.47%, with 3,815 voters weighing in.

Some of the comments from voters included:

“His magic & personality blows me away every time I see him. He actually remembered me even

though he hasn't seen me in months. He is an awesome guy who deserves this.” jworthy@uco.edu

“He is awesome! His performance and personality are great, and he keeps you entertained throughout his show. fa_sannoh@knights.neumann.edu

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“The college age viewer seems to mesh extremely well with my sense of humor and trending topics. I’ve done so many corporate shows and private events as well as theater shows all over the world throughout my life and I have discovered that this age group, the college audience, has a unique play back and forth I haven’t seen anywhere else. It’s a vibrant, organic sort of energy and it takes the shows where no one knows.

I don’t feel like I am performing at an audience, I feel like I am performing with a group of friends.

I’m hooked and thrilled with this Reader’s Choice Award, and hope it’s a way for me to cement a longRUNNER-UP: career in the market.”

AMANDA DUNCAN a black white world of singer/songFor informationInon Joeland Meyers, contact writers, Amanda Duncan is a burst of GP Entertainment at (866) 812.8248 or color. As a spectator, you'll probably be imtim@gpcollegeentertainment.com pressed by her hummable melodies and powerful vocals but what she'd rather is that you find a little bit of yourself in her lyrics and leave a little happier than when you came in.

www.bass-schuler.com

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I love working within the college market is because students are at that point where they are making important decisions about what they want to do with their lives and I love to encourage them to follow their passions and take those certain risks needed to accomplish that goal.”

The successful college performer needs to have the ability to engage students in all sorts of environments. “Every stage and every event is different. I can go from playing in a big venue the night before to playing a 10am show in the cafeteria; so being able to engage the audience according to the event’s motif is both challenging and rewarding. It isn’t often that a touring singer/songwriter plays AM shows, but in the college market you have to be ready for anything.”

One tactic for engaging a college crowed is incorporating audience participation into the event. Jenn includes students in all of her college shows as a way to further engage the audience. “I like to spend time with the students before and after the show to answer questions and get to know them a little. And if I am playing a show during the day I try to get the class schedules so that I can finish the show in time for everyone to get to class without being late.”

If you have never heard the incredibly powerful voice of Jenn Grinels, you are missing out. The outstanding winner of this year’s Best Female Artist will blow you away with her soulful renditions of the classics and her timely and always moving original music.

Whether it be in a coffee shop or on a stage in front of 5,000, Jenn delivers a performance that can not be soon forgotten.

Hailing from southern California, she began her career as a stage actress. But after the release of her first album, “Little Words,” Jenn began touring from coast to coast, building an incredible audience of fans and a reputation for mesmerizing her audiences www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

with her incomparable set of pipes.

Since her debut in the college market three years ago, she has won countless awards for her performances and part of the reason she has been so incredibly successful on tour is because she is so passionate about what she does. Watching her performance makes this clear. The music seems to pour out of her effortlessly as her on-stage demeanor encapsulates the joy she receives from performing. “I love what I do so much and a big part of my college performances focuses on encouraging students to pursue what they are passionate about . There is no greater gift than to do what you love. One of the reasons

Along with touring campuses, Jenn is launching a national radio campaign this summer. Be sure to listen for her coming across the airwaves very soon. To keep an up to date check on when this will be happening and where she is touring you can like her facebook fan page and follow her on twitter.

Singer/songwriter Jenn Grinels continues to grow as one of the college entertainment community’s biggest stars.

For booking contact: Degy Entertainment.

732-818-9600 RUNNER-UP: DIEGO VAL

At 16, singing in both English and Spanish, Diego Val won second place on Latin American Idol. He is a real artist blending great lyrics, rich vocals and acoustic guitar. His music has been featured on The Hills and in the films Buena Vida and Waiting. He is in a development deal for Interscope Records, has been touring recently with Maroon 5 and Pitbull but spending most of his time playing colleges around the country.

AUBURN MOON AGENCY • 800.566.6653

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 13

Mohammed Amer was born in Kuwait. He was just nine years-old when his mother packed him up after the first Gulf War and headed for America.

“My brother was getting his PhD in Houston and my mother felt this would be a great opportunity for us to start our new lives. It was a huge culture shock. My brother wanted to ease the pain so he took us to the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo and Bill Cosby was performing. I had never heard of stand-up comedy and this was my introduction. When I saw him in front of 60,000 people, I decided right then that was what I wanted to do for a living.”

Fast forward a few years! At fourteen Mo’s father passed away unexpectedly and his life changed. He went from making A’s in school to D’s and F’s. He was traumatized, confused and unmotivated.

“It was my teacher who understood that I was going through rough times. She knew I had a goal of becoming a stand-up comedian and she asked me to go up before t h e class a n d do a bit

from Macbeth. Of course my first question was ‘Does it have to be serious?’ and she replied, ‘You can do whatever you want.’”

The class howled with laughter and the teacher was so impressed that she gave him 5-7 minutes every Friday to do his own stand-up comedy before the class.

“She liked what I did so well that she took me over to the theater department and told them ‘This kid has performed before my class and he has used different material and dialects. He is talented and he needs to be here.’ The next thing I knew I was doing lead in plays. I never knew I had a singing voice, but soon I was doing musical theater. It was amazing. I was still focused on stand-up comedy but my mother wasn’t about to drive me to locations that served alcohol.”

But patience had its rewards and at 17, Mo entered Houston’s Funniest Person Contest and made the finals. There another comedian directed him to The Comedy Showcase telling him that was the place to start his comedy career.

“Danny Martinez is the owner of The Comedy Showcase and he has become known as the Godfather of Texas Comedy.” He and Mo hit it off from the very start.

“Danny has mentored the careers of many of the country’s best comedians. Ralphie May is one that stands out. Danny took me under his wing and taught me everything there is to know about stand-up.”

Stand-up Comedy is an artform where you have to earn your wings and sometimes that entails working some of the crappiest venues imaginable. “There were hole-in-thewall bars where you drive 14 hours to make a buck fifty, former strip clubs...you just go on the grind and work your butt off. I started touring overseas right out of the gate. I was only 19 when I worked Germany, Italy and Sicily for the military through their MWR program and with exposure from YouTube I got international dates with mainstream audiences.” Adoring fans have watched him at sold-out shows worldwide, including: Royal Albert Hall and HammersmithApollo (London), Acer Arena (Sydney) and the Nelson Mandela Theatre (Johannesburg). He was the only Arab-American refugee comic to perform for U.S. and coalition troops overseas, as well as with “Allah Made Me Funny: The Official Muslim Comedy Tour.”

MO AMER is represented by Neon Entertainment (800) 993-NEON or info @ neon-entertainment.com

RUNNER-UP: MATT GLOWACKI

Matt Glowacki is the most booked diversity speaker in the college market. He is incredibly excited to have the chance to teach new ideas about Diversity and Happiness on national stages once again this year. He would like to thank his wife and partner Shannon Mason for being the creative force behind the scenes, and all the students and advisors that believe in what we do to keep the wheels rolling along!

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brooke@colemanproductions.com • 866.328.3762

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about that campus and its students before the show.”

At 24 years of age, Adam has no difficulty relating to his audience because he is still in the same age bracket. Being able to relate to any audience is essential and Adam does so flawlessly, sharing his unique vision of the world around him in his show.

Social networking has played another huge role in Adam’s success. He spends a great deal of time updating his social networks and keeping in touch with those he meets on the road.

“Keeping up with people is very important to me. But I do my best to keep in touch without being annoying. That’s the reason I give out slap bracelets and Dunkaroo’s at conferences.

It’s a fun way for to be remembered.”

Until recently, Adam was a self represented act in the market and it gave him the opportunity to learn the Campus Programming business on his own.

A few months ago he joined with Nancy Oeswein at the Auburn Moon Agency. “I actually didn’t think I would go with an agency this time last year, but I always found myself talking with Nancy and asking questions because I respected her opinion. I even found myself referring to her as my favorite agent. So I thought, why not make this official? And we did. I still feel that face time with students is very important when building relationships so I make a point to be at the conferences and spend time networking to build those lasting relationships.”

But for students and advisors, Adam is simply a joy to be around. “When I am on stage I want to be entertaining in the same way I want to be entertaining when I am just hanging out. I put forth an effort in all situations, whether on the stage or off to be approachable and enjoyable.”

Making a name for yourself in the college market is no simple task. It takes a great deal of talent, hard work, and discipline. Adam Grabowski has been working diligently to become a big name in the college market. His diligence and work ethic have led him to be this year’s Fastest Rising Star.

Adam’s rise in the college market has been due to several factors. One is Adam’s pas-

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sion for creating the best show possible at each campus where he performs. “I am not separate from my comedy. When I am performing, I am just me. I joke on stage the same way I would if I were having a conversation with another person. I feel this approach allows the audience to connect with me easier. Each show I do is different. I like to joke about stuff on that particular campus and choose my set based on what I learn

2012’s Fastest Rising Star, Adam Grabowski’s star is certain to shine for years to come. For Booking contact Auburn Moon Agency: 800-566-6653.

RUNNER-UP: ChrisJones

He talks fast, moves fast and thinks fast because chrisjones, (one word) wants to be the fastest hypnotist in the world. After his first year chrisjones already has over 80 college shows under his belt. He credits his rapport with college audiences because, “I’m young, and while in higher Education, I spent seven years living on college campuses.”

Bass-Schuler.com • 773-481-2600

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what we do and then we move on. We break it down into very simple steps like trusting intuition, how to be a bad victim and if everything else fails, here is how you protect yourself. We go through the details and get the students involved. We show them the things that are important and why. This has really resonated with students because it takes them on a path from prevention to response. We don’t give students a list and tell them to look out for this, this and this. I actually think that might put us in more danger because all of a sudden you tend to get a knee-jerk response to say a man walking down the street wearing a hooded sweat shirt. That kind of type-casting is not useful information. I have always told students to trust their intuition first. “ The situation of being in an airplane at 35,000’ is different from being at a party in an isolated location.

“Your options are different depending on the set of parameters. At a party, you can more readily remove yourself from that situation. In any case, you should know how to protect yourself if the situation accelerates. We avoid giving out cookie-cutter advice because every situation is a little different. I want them to look at themselves as being the expert.

They can do this by quickly analyzing the situation and coming up with their own resolution.

The idea for Girls Fight Back originated with Erin Weed after the tragic murder of a friend at Eastern Illinois University. At the time, Erin had already graduated and was working in New York, but this death had a tremendous impact on her, so much that she decided to do what she could to prevent the violence.

“When she was killed and I went back for the wake and the funeral, I could see how terrified my girl friends were and realized that we needed a program on college campuses for personal safety and self defense that was not threatening or intimidating. Sometimes law enforcement officers deliver the message with a fear-based tone and I realized it needed to be more of a peer-to-peer delivery and should be fun and upbeat in order to engage students. So what I went after was the edutainment angle.”

The program has grown by leaps and bounds and caused excitement on colleges all over the country.

“There are four of us giving the program in the United States but we are also in India and Pakistan

and we were just invited to do the program in Africa.

The content of our program in available and applicable to women all over the world. One of the things women all have in common is that we feel afraid and we lack the tools to defend ourselves. No matter what part of the world you are in, populations are struggling with how to deal with these problems.

“We not only developed Girls Fight Back but also Students Fight Back which is a gender neutral program. We realized that men have similar issues. A man is more likely to be murdered, assaulted or robbed when he is on campus than a woman. I found statistics that confirmed that we all have threats we have to deal with. While women are much more likely to be sexually assaulted, men are more prone to have to deal with these other threats.

Of course our program starts off with a sad beginning and a lot of speakers seem to get hung up on dealing with the one sad episode that got them to where they are today. But I don’t think that helps student very much. We deal early on with why we do

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“You say, this is unique. I don’t feel safe right now.

What are my options? Then start thinking strategically. Only they can save themselves in that situation. A lot of “self-defense” instructors think they can instruct students in a method that will resolve any situation and that is not going to happen. You have to empower people to be their own self-protectors.

The resolution to your uncomfortable situation does not necessarily have to be physical. Quickly analyzing your situation and out smarting your attacker can be more rewarding and satisfying as a result.

Experience this incredible program from Erin Weed along with your students. Contact Erin at EvoSo (a new speakers agency) at 303-845-9265, or visit evoso.com for more information.

RUNNER-UP: DR. JOHN CORVINO

Dr. John Corvino--also known as The Gay Moralist--has spoken at over 200 campuses on issues of sexuality, ethics, and marriage. His book, Debating Same-Sex Marriage, co-authored with Maggie Gallagher, will be published

by Oxford University Press this June. Dr. Corvino is also a 17-time NACA Showcasing Artist and this year celebrates the 20th anniversary of his public-speaking career.

Kirkland Productions • 866.769.9037

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

audience. When people see my show today, it is a little bit crazy and a little bit intense but in a good way and it reflects back on comedians that made me laugh when I was growing up...Martin Short, Steve Martin, Robin Williams.”

Daniel’s artist report cards over the last couple of years have been very impressive. What makes him so popular? “There are a lot of big egos and personalities in the entertainment industry. We are in the worst economy in decades and I get to fly around the country doing tricks and telling jokes. For me, it doesn’t get any better than this and I am truly appreciative of my audiences. They could have anyone up on that stage and they have chosen me.”

If one word describes Dan, it is “relatable” in the campus market. “I learned in the early days of performing in Chicago that the audiences I went after weren’t there to see me at all. They were out on the town to have a good time. I had to make what I did worth their attention. I understand and appreciate college students and I am blessed that I have the knack to get their attention. The shows I do have to be about the audience. Otherwise I am just another guy doing tricks and telling jokes.”

Daniel changes up his show every year so it remains fresh, but some of the tricks he develops take several years to tweak so they can be audience ready.

“I have a rather long 13-minute trick that I will introduce in the fall where I make an audience member completely disappear before the eyes of the audience with no boxes or props whatsoever. We have been doing a little bit of testing this spring to be sure the trick will be ready. I think it is important to deliver events that with wow the audience and keep them guessing.

Daniel Martin is an anomaly. He attacks magic with an exuberance that is rarely seen by magicians a such a young age and his audiences not only appreciate this personal twist but the revel in it. It is not unusual that a magician would start his adventure into the trade at a very young age but for Daniel, not only was he talented but it cause somewhat of a problem for his fans...or should we say victims.

“When I was eight years old, I got a lot of attention and some trouble, because I would pickpocket people.” So his grandparents decided to put his new found skills to better use and bought young Dan a magic kit.

From the time he was twelve, Daniel became a wiz at

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performing, always looking for new ways to intrigue his audience. “By the time I was in high school, I was performing at bars, clubs, parks and special events in Chicago. I learned that it was not about the skill I had as a magician but how they reacted to the experience.”

Every young performer dreams of modeling their success after one legend or another. For Daniel it was David Copperfield. “There is just no better example of awesome showmanship and talent that will blow an audience out of the water than Copperfield.” But Dan quickly realized that his performance was better when he was himself not someone he tried to emulate. What you get to see now in Daniel’s show is pretty much all Daniel. “My show is all about the connection with the

“I tape the audio of every show, so that when I am on the plane to the next show, I am reviewing the audio.

I can judge the reactions to a joke here and the trick there. The audio is even more relevant than the video because I can hear the excitement or laughter and the gasps at a trick and understand what worked for that audience. When I return to that campus, I have a feel for what kind of material to put in a show for them.”

If you want to experience Daniel Martin for your campus, contact Chris Schuler at 773-481-2600 or email him at chris@bass-schuler.com

RUNNER-UP: PETER BOIE

Peter Boie captivates audiences across the country with his award winning magic that will defy reality. He has performed for packed audiences at colleges and theaters. His show leaves the audience gasping, laughing and thoroughly entertained. The rave reviews are piling up and he is becoming one of the most in-demand college performers in the country.

800.643.2924 • www.peterboie.com

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 17

which remains stationary, but because of the virtual reality platform it appears they are driving through cities and the countryside while attempting to send and receive texts from their own personal cell phones. Because we set this up with monitors so the other students can watch the drivers fail at texting and driving again and again, it begins to speak volumes to observers about this very real problem.”

Over the past three years, many states have passed laws outlawing texting and driving.

While this may help in those areas, there are still so many people out there who text behind the wheel on a daily basis. “To give a statistic on just how dangerous it is, a person who is texting and driving is literally eight times more dangerous than a person who is driving impaired, and we all know of that destructive power ”

Texting has been undoubetdly the fastestgrowing form of communication in the world and the number of texting related car accidents has risen in correlation. While the dangers of texting and driving may seem obvious, it has become so commonplace that most of us do it without a second thought. Considering each time a text needs to be read or written our eyes must be taken off the road, the dangers, not only to ourselves but others, needs to be understood. Mike Seymour of Cutting Edge Productions has developed the Aware Text Simulator to address this need and hopefully, as an interactive tool to save lives. The goal of such a simulator is to educate college students about the dangers of texting and driving. Of

course we have all heard the television ads and horror stories on the news about the victims; but the Aware Text Simulator puts students in simulated driving conditions and tests their abilities to drive in busy, real life situations while attempting to text simultaneously. The results prove to the drivers that texting while driving can be deadly.

“With so many texting related accidents over the last few years, we felt it necessary to generate some awareness. For us that meant educating young people about the dangers, in a way that would be both accurate and retained.

We try to give people the most realistic experience out there. We put them in a real vehicle,

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There are all kinds of ways to promote awareness on campuses for the prevention of texting while driving, but in order to truly reach students and have an effect on their behavior, an experience oriented event makes the strongest impact. The Aware Text Simulator allows students, while in a safe environment, to learn that they can not operate a vehicle while texting.

Cutting Edge Productions has continually branded themselves as innovators. Winners of 2011’s Agency of the year, CEP brings the newest and most advanced technologies to campuses all over the country. The Aware Text Simulator has visited over 400 schools this year alone. Not only is the equipment top notch, but the staff responsible for the set up and operation are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly.

The Aware Text Simulator is sure to save more lives as it continues its tour to college campuses everywhere.

For booking Contact P.E.E.R.S. at 866-288-8126, or mike@cuttingedgepi.com

RUNNER-UP:LIVE BAND KARAOKE

If you've ever wanted to be the lead singer of your own band; LIVE BAND KARAOKE gives you the chance to fulfill that wish! LBK performs across the nation at colleges and universities, continuing to wow crowds with an overwhelming response to the energy and excitement that only a live band can deliver. LBK allows anyone to fulfill their rock and roll fantasies.

Bass/Schuler Entertainment • 773-481-2600

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

The dating world can be an intimidating and confusing place for people of all ages and backgrounds. But for college students, dating and relationships seem to be over complicated by the shear amount of activities and schoolwork that clutters up our schedules. Dave and Ethan, both comedians and dating coaches, explore the world of dating and relationships in a comedic way to bring both laughter and truths to college campuses across the country.

Dave and Ethan broke onto the college scene through their quirky, and insanely funny youtube videos. It began on craigslist, of all places, with an ad inviting girls to go on double dates with Dave and Ethan. As the dates began to add up, they began to chart their experiences in video blogs which quickly became a youtube comedy series.

Through their experiences, which include over 200 different double dates, Dave and Ethan employ both the horror and excitement of those “first dates.” Reenacting many of their experiences, they use song, audience interaction, and instructive demonstrations to help the audience achieve that perfect evening. But make no mistake, this is a comedy show.

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Beginning in New York, Dave and Ethan developed a live show based on the knowledge gained during their double dating adventures, and transformed them into both a comedic and informative program aimed at college students. But with every region of the United States being so distinct, not to mention the variables at play within each campus community themselves, Dave and Ethan worked extra hard to aim their shows specifically at each audience they encounter.

“Because every group has their own unique difficulties and opinions with dating, we find it beneficial to spend time, before the show on campus talking with the students and learning about them as much as possible.

This allows us to cater the show to a specific audience, thus making the show more effective and personal. Also it provides time for the students to get to know us a little before the show, and usually helps to increase attendance as well.”

The guys have been friends since the sixth grade and their seamless chemistry on stage provides a smooth rhythm to their live performance. They even write and play songs together as a part of their show. With this close familiarity, they have made an incredible surge in the college market performing 46 states across the country.

Winners of this years “Campus Activities Magazine Award” for Best Comedy Performance, and the poring out of the support of voters, their demand on campus only increase. They have been featured on “The Colbert Report” and “Millionaire Matchmaker.”

“We love traveling all over the country and seeing all the different regions and cultures.

The college crowd is a fun audience to perform for because they are so engaged, and the topic is so prevalent among students.

Dating has always been a topic of great discussion and we love to have fun with it and reveal the humor it provides.”

2012’s Comedy Performers of the Year, Dave and Ethan are hilariously brilliant and provide a fresh and hysterical outlook on dating.

For booking info contact : Sophie K Entertainment at 212-268-9583 or sophieK.com

RUNNER-UP: ADAM GRABOWSKI

Adam Grabowski was Campus Activities Magazine's HIGHEST RATED COMEDIAN for the 2010/2011 season according to Artist Report Card Reviews! His energy, creativity, and charisma make this 24-year-old from Chicago the most exciting new act to hit the college circuit! He has recently signed with the Auburn Moon Agency.

Auburn Moon Agency • 800-566-6653

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not eligible for this category were women. So out of all the dudes, I was the dudest.”

Winning 2011’s Best Performer in Music, and now 2012’s Best Male performer, Singer /songwriter Jason Levasseur continues to be a n amazing campus star. Jason’s mix of music and playful banter has made him more than a musician on stage. He is able to captivate his audience between songs as though they were the other half of a conversation he was sharing with an old friend.

Jason enthralls his audience to the last note.

For a musician, it is essential to engage the audience both with your music and your personality. “Having played so many shows as a musician, I’ve begun to understand the importance of playing shows as a performer. Sometimes that means the delivery of the songs, and sometimes it’s about the relationship I develop with the audience. As a performer you can’t just get up there and play your songs, you have to engage the audience to make that event something memorable.”

Most commonly seen with a trucker hat and a big grin, Jason’s off stage disposition matches the quirky approachability he exhibits onstage.

Getting to know the students on campus and spending time with them is another reason Jason connects so strongly to his audience.

He is no stranger to awards, having won several in his career. “Winning Best Musical Performer last year was flattering because the other musicians on the ballot were phenomenal. But this year with Best Male performer, it is not only musicians who are considered, but speakers and any other form of entertainment.

It’s very flattering to win this award because it is such a broad category. The only performers

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As a musician, Jason is extremely well rounded. He began his musical career as a drummer, even developing his own upright drum kit so he could stand and play while singing. As his musical ambitions evolved he began writing and playing with the acoustic guitar. Most recently Jason has been working on the instrumental releases of his three studio albums. But because of the dramatic decrease in CD sales, musicians must seek out alternate ways to generate income. One such avenue is to submit music for television and film licensing. “I have an entire catalog of songs just sitting there. This is a new avenue for me and I am really excited about it. There are always other opportunities that may present themselves but I am never going to walk away from the college market.” Most recently Jason performed in the listening room festival in Tampa where numerous individuals hosted private concerts in their home. “Concerts in the home have been really neat because it’s just about sharing the music and sharing that time together. It has a nice intimate feel.”

Jason’s newest endeavor in the college market is a lecture called “Get your Show on the Road.” This program is a motivation talk about finding your passion in life. “I encourage students with Rock n’ Roll stories to pursue their passions in life.”

Jason’s unique talent and his on and off stage charisma have all contributed to his 2012 award for Best Male Performer - A new plateau for an artist that is celebrated every year for his achievements in campus entertainment.

For info Contact: Bass/Schuler Entertainment at 773.481.2600 or chris@bass-schuler.com

RUNNER-UP: MARC ELLIOT

Marc Elliot knows the importance of understanding people's differences. Marc's speech is loaded with timely humor, powerful anecdotes, and fundamental lessons of tolerance to encourage audiences leaving them motivated, better-informed, and reflecting on their own lives. He shares his life story to convey the value of tolerance and the basic attitudes and behaviors that allow it to flourish.

866-328-3763 • colemanproductions.com

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

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Creating a thriving community of entertainment on campus is a daunting task. The University of Akron, Ohio has been able to provide such a community on their campus over the years and continues to be a great example for all those who work in the field. With so many various activities available to the college student, programmed events need to have an edge in order to gain the interest of the student community. Tiffany Schmidt adds, “Creating a consistency among events has been an incredible way to keep students engaged in our various activities. We have anywhere from three to five events every week, not including films. By keeping times and venues consistent, students know where and when our events are held on a weekly basis, thus increasing attendance.” Jeffry Renert contributes, “Keeping the same time table for our events helps with our promotions. We don’t have to worry about students not knowing what time or where an event is held because we keep everything we do consistent.”

Planning this many events takes a collaborative effort from both the Akron staff and the student board members. With so many different events taking place each semester, organization and the delegation of tasks is ever important.

Like many campuses, Akron uses social media as a way to promote events and outreach programs to the student body. Facebook and Twitter are great ways to promote events, but also creating youtube videos and photo galleries to build excitement about events can be effective.

This is not the first time The University of Akron has taken home this award. The most recent was in 2010

The University of Akron’s programming comes from two separate boards. First is a student organization called the Residence Hall Program Board, which plans and coordinates such activities as Welcome Weekend, Sibs Weekend, the 7:17 Coffeehouse Series, the 9:09 Entertainment Series, Residence Life Cinema, road trips and HallFest.

The students also bring to campus comedians and entertainers and they plan special lectures, social programs, movie nights and events at the Recreation Center, E.J. Thomas Hall and the Student Union.

The zIPS Programming Network covers all the action that goes on in the bustling student union. They also book everything from music and comedy to novelties and games. zPN is the more active organization when it comes to campus-wide activities and entertainment. “zPN is also a recognized student organization on campus and they are structured with a president and chairs for the specific www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

areas they program.”

Programming at Akron can be a little tricky due to its diverse age range on campus. Nearly 30% of Akron’s students are over the age of 24, thus classified as non-traditional students. When designing programs targeted at these students, both their busy schedules and their families must be kept in mind. These events usually take place later in the evening or on weekends to accommodate the schedules and their families.

The University of Akron is undoubtedly one of the most active college campuses in the nation when it comes to programming activities. Director Tom Faessel and his trusted staff and student board members are well-known faces around the national conference scenes. They have also been featured numerous times in Campus Activities Magazine®. Perhaps most importantly, they have led the nation in the amount of submitted Artist Report Cards over the last few years. The Artist Report Cards are the best way to get an accurate assessment on how an artist performed at a given show on a specific campus. The Artist Report Card form is available to everyone on our website at CampusActMag.com. We strongly encourage every school to submit these forms as way to provide reputable information as to how well artists perform on your campus.

Once again we would like to commend The University Of Akron for their outstanding participation with the Artist Report Cards and encourage all schools to follow their example. A special thanks to Tom Faessel for playing such an active role in making campus programing a fun and educational experience for all those involved. And a special congratulations to everyone involved with programming at Akron for their Campus Program of the Year award this year in Campus Activities Magazine®.

RUNNER-UP: METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Student Activities is responsible for planning & implementation of all student entertainment and activities

held at Methodist University.

This includes comedians, novelty acts, homecoming, Spring Fling and movies. All full-time students are encouraged to participate in this open organization. Involvement in campus programs and activities is vital to a well-rounded education experience.

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 25

STORY BY IAN KIRBY

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aged to chug beers on stage and things get incredibly rowdy (laughs).”

In the 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards, Campus Activities Magazine® had an interesting and very diverse field for our Best Major Performer category. Not surprisingly, the artist most firmly in the mainstream pulled out the Award, but not without a battle ensuing for the lead, and not without earning a great reputation in the market.

4,033 .edus voted in this category, with Ke$ha pulling ahead of Aziz Ansari in just the last couple of weeks, winning with 1,210 votes or 30% of the total to Aziz’s 24%. She is currently in the studio, but took time out to speak with us to thank the readers of CAM in this exclusive interview.

We’re limited by space here, so look for a possible follow up story this fall.

Ke$ha isn’t some out of touch star either, she’s an artist of the people. Humble, respectful (“I believe everyone should be treated with respect, from ticket taker to rock star,”) down to earth and in the trenches. “I had never been to a frat party, so one night after a campus show the band decided to crash one. We decided I needed to have a real college experience, and that was the closest we could get at the time. It took about 10 seconds to figure out who we were, I had the entire entourage of dancers and band with me. It was tons of fun, everybody was playing ping pong beer games, which is definitely a college phenomenon and fascinating (laughs). I noticed everyone was very competitive and took it really seriously.”

Apparently she was very well-received by our readers, and no matter what perceptions of a star this big may be, she apparently puts on an incredible show and is great to work with.

“The best campus show I have ever seen!”

-Steve Pagios, Quinnipiac University “She's amazing for the college market.

She gives the students what they want...to be entertained.”

-wilsonb6@winthrop.edu

Words directly from the voters. The campus market has been apart of Ke$ha’s formula for success and is by all counts an amazing artist to work with both on and off stage. “I have played many campus shows, because being around campuses is really fun. I never went to college, so it’s always really fun to play campus shows.”

She is certainly one of the most popular artists among the college demographic, and Ke$ha says the fit goes two ways.

“That age group definitely relates to my music and seems to gravitate toward it, but I am drawn to them as well. Many of my public shows end up being for somewhat younger audiences, so I have to tone things down to a certain exten. But when I play campus shows I am always encourwww.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

The widespread feedback about a Ke$ha concert is that it is not just a show, but truly an event. “I just grew up on southern rock n’ roll and going to shitty punk shows in little houses. I try to blend that with some of the arena shows that I have seen, and obviously pop music. I think I come out with an interesting blend of many different genres musically, and then performance-wise it’s just a mega party for everyone there. I grew up watching Van Halen and The Beastie Boys and knew that was the kind of energy I wanted to capture on stage and combine it with dance music. There is a lot of wild, irreverent energy happening all at once. I have a kick ass band, amazing dancers and then of course I myself just go completely ape shit every night. The thing I find to be different about my show than many of the

other shows I have seen is that my performance is not entirely choreographed.

It is different every night and occasionally you will find me crowd surfing or jumping off of some rigging or pulling people on stage. You just never know, it’s different every night and just depends on what kind of mood you catch me in, and of course the venue and crowd.”

We’ve got more from Ke$ha, if you’re interested in seeing an extended version of this story on our website, or possibly in the print edition this fall, let us know in this article’s Facebook comment box on our website (and like our story) at www.campusactmag.com.

For now, Ke$ha has a special message to our readers, the campus market. “I just want to say thank you first of all to anyone who took the time out to go vote for me. It is really amazing to win an award from people that are not only close to me in age, but also in spirit. I feel like I make music for the average college goer that works hard, but also wants to play hard on the weekends. That is our culture’s whole philosophy. I just want to say thank you to everyone who is listening to my music working through the week and partying to it on the weekends, playing beer pong (laughs).

“I will continue to be playing college shows, I am not going to forget about my fans, ever, or the people who got me to where I am now. I know that many them are in college, so tell them all I love them very much, thank you, keep working hard and party harder!”

“Sells out every time.”

-coope195@msu.edu

“Ton of albums. I swear almost every night someone is listening to Kesha in my Residence Hall.” -lmissik@bw.edu To book Ke$ha, give Adam Tobey at Concert Ideas a call at 800.836.2000 or adam@concertideas.com RUNNER-UP: AzIz ANSARI

Aziz Ansari first came to audiences attention on MTV’s hit sketch comedy series, “Human Giant.” He was recently seen starring in the action comedy 30 Minutes or Less and wrapping up a standup tour called the “Dangerously Delicious Tour.”

Ansari is currently starring in the NBC series, “Parks and Recreation.”

jknobbe@apa-agency.com

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 27

Bass/Schuler Entertainment is truly a phenomenon in the campus marketplace. Established twelve short years ago, they have accumulated an amazing SIX Agency of the Year Awards, but the agency itself is not the precedent. Each year the artists who comprise their roster are not only nominees, but runner-ups and winners in various categories. This didn’t happen by chance.

For An Unprecede

Scott Bass and Chris Schuler worked originally with another corporation in the campus market which began to have concerns that had an effect on its stability in the industry. Thus, the unstoppable duo of Scott and Chris finally decided they needed to make a move. There was no hesitation when that roster joined their family.

“From the schools’ point of view, they had access to the same acts, the name had just changed.” Chris related one very important point.

“We put our names on the door because we wanted our buyers to know that Scott and I were running the show and that we would be held accountable. Ultimately the buck stops here and any experience they had, we wanted to be sure would be a good one. The mentality of this company over the last 12 years and the relationship we have with schools and the acts on our roster has not changed. Scott and I have focused on the campus market and being the best college agency that we can be.”

For many agents, making a change to start a new company can be trial by fire, but for Bass/Schuler, success came relatively easily. “Scott was very established as an agent with many schools, so when we started up, those buyers came over without hesitation. They were very familiar with Christopher Carter, Frederick Winters and others and they made sure they allocated some of their budgets to our roster to make sure the agency was solvent.

“Here is the thing we carefully considered. There are new students coming on board every few years. They are going to look very closely at promotional materials, press packets and advertising... so everyone is on equal footing to a new student. It doesn’t matter if you are an agency that has been around for six months or ten years, the students don’t know, so we came out of the box creating the perception that we are an agency that had its act together. We fine tuned our concept into a much more stable environment for our acts and our agency,” Schuler stated.

If you look at Bass/Schuler’s promotional materials and advertising campaigns, they all have a common thread that immediately lets buyers know they are looking at a Bass/Schuler ad or act. Even the promo and advertising of acts aside from their roster ads are easily relatable to the agency.

Bass/Schuler Entertainment’s strongest allies are their customer service skills and their roster. Both Scott and Chris want to make every school’s performance an unforgettable and powerful one. For instance, CAM award winner Jason LeVasseur’s newest lecture empowers his audiences and inspires them to do something they love. This quality in an artist is hard to come by, but Jason, along with many other acts on the roster, does it with ease.

“There are a lot of choices for buyers to pick from and we wanted to make ourselves and our acts easy to identify. That’s the reality of advertising. Our ads relate that we are an all-encompassing, full-service agency and that is exactly what we want them to feel. Booking the show is just the beginning of

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the relationship and not the end of the relationship. The customer service leading up to the event and the follow-up after the show are just as important if not more important in building and maintaining relationships. Our office staff is extremely important to us. You are always going to get a person on the phone. We are here every day.”

The evolution of the internet and social media has changed the way business is done over the last decade and Chris says their agency has learned to adapt.

“While we like that one-on-one personal contact with our buyers, we realize this is not the only job they have and for students, their studies and related things take priority. We are cognizant of that fact and respect it. We adapt to the situation that sometimes students are not in a position where they can be available for contact by telephone. We always consider their choices in dealing with us be it email, phone or social media. Our website is more important than ever before and while a visit to our website makes a sales lead more difficult if not impossible to track, it does provide exposure to our roster and result in sales that may have been lost had we had to rely only on a telephone call to make the sale a reality. Our ads make our website a contact option.”

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ented SIXTH Time!

you talk to them eye-to eye and that is the benefit for conferences.”

The challenge for any successful agency is the acquisition of talent. For Chris, selections or offers to join the agency are based on how that artist will connect with those already on the roster.

“We are a family so the connection is obviously a crucial aspect. I have no contracts with any of my artists; they can leave at any time.

Fortunately that doesn’t happen but like our clients, our relationship is built on respect. We get a lot of submissions and we seek out artists as well. But the real criteria, beyond their talent and appeal, is how they will fit in our family. Every artist that plays a school will probably have had another Bass/Schuler artist perform ahead of them. Hopefully the previous act has done an outstanding job and opened the door to making the next artist feel more at home in the campus’ environment. The job of this act is to not only do the best show possible but to extend the respect that campus has for the agency and make it easier for the next Bass/Schuler act to do a great job. We encourage every act on our roster to be familiar with all the other acts we have. That way if the campus should indicate they need something else in the future, this artist can recommend another act on our roster for consideration.”

Chris tells us that while the agency does pursue other markets, the most growth has come from the military. “Most of the soldiers are around the same age as college students so it is an easy transition for us particularly with our health and wellness programs. Especially well received are Sex Signals and A Shot of Reality. These programs are needed on military bases just as they are on college campuses.”

Things have changed in the campus market and as technology continues to explode, Chris believes that the market will continue to evolve.

“Students have access to much more information through websites, publications, email blasts and other sources which raise the bar on competition for their attention. They do still attend conferences, but I feel they don’t spend all their money while they are there and probably don’t maximize their potential while being on site. Some schools come to conferences with a game plan in place and it is very obvious. But for the most part I really don’t think a lot of schools have had a game plan in recent years. Every agency would like to come away from a conference with tangible results but that is not always the case. There used to be a time when schools would make on-site purchases but now it is more of a fact finding event where they make decisions later based on what they have seen or been exposed to through other resources.

Conferences over the last few years have been less likely to deliver tangible results. But conferences for me are an opportunity to reconnect with students or advisors that I may have only talked to via email and that is not the way to solidify a relationship. You can get a real feel for a person’s integrity when

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

No matter where you are in the campus market, you must admit Bass/Schuler Entertainment has been exceptional. Driven by the determination of well-respected and well-received talent and a work ethic that is remarkable, they are destined to be an agency schools will continue to request again and again. This year they have set the mark even higher by becoming our Reader’s Choice for 2012 Agency of the Year.

For more information check out their website at bass-schuler.com or you can email Chris at chris@bass-schuler.com

RUNNER-UP: KIRKLAND PRODUCTIONS

Congrats to Bass/Schuler on being chosen as Agency of the Year! Kirkland Productions is proud to be the runner up, and we are always here for your college booking needs.

We represent speakers, novelties, comedians (through our sister company, KP Comedy), performing arts, and concert management and production. We thank you for your continued trust and business.

866.769.9037

booking@kirkklandproductions.com

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 29

STORY BY IAN KIRBY

30, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE速, APRIL 2012

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

Well, she’s finally done it folks. After just a few short years in the campus market, Natalie Stovall has been named the Entertainer Of The Year by the voters of Campus Activities Magazine® in the Reader’s Choice Awards. One of the most common comments about this performer is “I don’t even like country, but I like this country. It almost didn’t even seem like a country show.” Put it this way, when she rips “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” it’s in a medley with some Metallica. Her’s is a show bred for wide audiences, and this year that mainstream popularity paid off with her winning the big one.

4,349 .edus voted in this category, with Natalie raking in 1648 votes, or just under 38% of the vote. It was a hard fought battle against magician Michael Kent’s 1109 votes that was neck and neck until the last two days when a final surge allowed Natalie to pull out the win.

“She is amazing. Even after we had her at our school, I have seen her 5 times and she is very personal. She definitely does this for her fans and makes sure that every fan in the audience has a good time. If you leave a show sad, you didn't go to a Natalie Stovall show.” -wilsonb6@winthrop.edu “Have you ever seen Natalie perform? Once you see her, nobody else matters. Yes, she is THAT GOOD!!! Peace, Love and Fiddle, BABY!!!” -ehanley@students.gntc.edu “Great choice for Entertainer of the Year 2012!”

-khagar@wtamu.edu

There is little doubt that few have had the whirlwind success in the campus market of late as Natalie, if ever. She has the distinction of being one of only two females to win this award and one of two music acts as well. In a category which has been largely dominated by male variety entertainers, she is the very first female music act in 20 years of RCA’s to win our most coveted prize, which besides being a great accolade, carries the cover of each April issue.

If you’ve ever heard of Justin ‘Kredible’ Willman, host of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” you might know that his Entertainer of

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

The Year win helped him get his foot in the door with “Rachael Ray” and eventually onto his own shows. We can only hope this win could be a similar indicator for Natalie’s career. “It’s amazing, I don’t really know how to respond to it. It is an incredible feeling and such a fun place to be in because we love what we do so much, to then win such an accolade on top of it is immensely gratifying. To be recognized as being one of the best at something you love to do is living the dream.”

It has been an incredible year for Natalie, touring the world. The last time we spoke, she had won an Award in 2010 for Best Music Performer. In the two years since, Natalie has literally crisscrossed the globe. “This past year has been one of the most incredible years I could ever have imagined. We went almost completely around the world touring. We did a lot with the military, our first big trip was Memorial Day, when we went to Guantanamo Bay to play with Young Joc and a few country acts. Then for the 4th of July we did an Asian tour with four shows in Japan, Diego Garcia and Guam. For Thanksgiving we were in the Middle East, playing in Djibouti, Africa and Bahrain, as well as on board some actively deployed ships. We did a show in Spain on our way home through Europe.”

“The whole show was very upbeat and high tempo. You never knew what was coming next. And, she was willing to travel overseas to entertain.” -jason.beeney@usafricom.mil

It might seem like conditions for a prime case of culture shock, but Natalie says for the most part her handlers for the US Military provided a familiar buffer no matter where they were. “We get to submerge ourselves into local culture some, and while they are all extremely different and there are some of the little things you notice all the time, for the most part since we were playing for the military, we are on U.S. Military bases. We have this strange feeling where we know we are in the middle of Japan and when we go out to dinner it is at a real Japanese restaurant where we can barely communicate what we want (if we even know what’s on the menu), but the same day we were eating lunch at Subway on a U.S. Military base. Everyone is speaking English around us, there is this sort of weird parallel universe where you almost feel like you’re in two places at once.”

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 31

“Natalie is simply the best.”

-rf114340@wolverine.cameron.edu

Don’t feel too bad for Nat, though...she definitely got to see and do some really cool stuff. “We do get to experience many of the cultures as well. Some of that is going to and from venues, but they try to take us on little trips or activities here and there when we get a chance. I mean, it’s incredible...it’s everything I ever wanted. I get to travel the world with my best friends and play music while we are doing it. Who could ask for more? I’ve been lifted onto an aircraft carrier in an open helicopter, shot a .50 caliber rifle, and bounced from place to place being thanked over and over by a bunch of folks who should be asking me to thank them.”

Once she explains it, one can see how there is an interesting sort of paradox that must be a little bit awkward to get adjusted to. “So, we are there, brought in and paid for as a means of saying thanks by playing for the troops. We are there because of what they do for us...it’s the only way I know how to say thank you. You don’t feel like normal words can say thank you enough for the sacrifices they are making for all of us, but when they say thank you to ME for being there, well that’s when my head just starts to explode, because I don’t know how to handle that. At the same time, it is what is so beautiful about those shows. We are there to say thank you for their service (in addition to the gigs), and they say thank you over and over because

“Natalie Stovall's concert was THE most amazing concert I've ever been to in my 20 years of going to concerts (including many big name bands/singers). She is musically gifted with the violin, her voice is absolutely amazing, and she travels around the world to many military bases and forward-deployed remote places to entertain the troops which is fabulous!!

Love her.” -natalie.tussey@usafricom.mil “Bringing her back a second time, in the works of possibly bringing her again next year, listen to her CDs everyday.”

-jamiej@eureka.edu “That's ME!” -natalie@nataliestovall.com

“Natalie and her band rocked our campus two years ago and we can't wait to have her back for our Spring Fling this April!”

-mabaker@mgc.edu

The military has been the hot ticket recently, with many characters flocking to the government teet, and not always offering services or shows that are appropriate for the military, or with the best intentions.

Natalie seems to be a little different however, not only coming from Tennessee which has a strong military tradition in itself, but being from a military family as well. Her passion and conviction for those in the Armed Services has made her success with military shows doubly rewarding. “First, it’s really hard to complain about these tours in any way. We had one lineup that had six shows in 14 days. I was like ‘What? Really? We do 16 shows in 14 days sometimes!’ It seemed like nothing.

Of course flying from continent to continent instead of driving state to state takes an entirely different toll on your body.

“Despite that, for me doing the military shows is more than worth it, on many levels. First, my father is a retired Army Colonel so I grew up in that culture with that family experience. Playing for the military is 100% absolutely the best audiences that we have ever seen. There is this…(sighs, searching for words)...unbelievable cycle of gratitude that has honestly been the most baffling thing to deal with.”

“Natalie gave us a performance to remember FOREVER!” -nagan@corning-cc.edu

Photo by Ryan Faucett

we bring a piece of home to them there and I’m sure it’s ridiculously sappy to anyone who might see it from the outside, but I have grown to love it.”

While obviously the trips around the world for the military have been a unique highlight for Natalie this year, she doesn’t want anyone to mistake the fact that her wheelhouse is still the campus market. “About 80% of our shows are still for college audiences,” she says. “They’re our bread and butter, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. The campus market is what we have to thank for where we are today. Without the hundreds upon hundreds of shows we’ve played for campus activities and student programming boards across the country, I don’t know where we’d be. Certainly we would have never had the opportunity to play the military shows we discussed and if anyone deserves our thanks and recognition for this win it’s all of our friends across the country in the campus market.”

32, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012

For information on bringing Natalie to your next mainstream concert event, contact Degy 732.818.9600 or ari@degy.com ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: MICHAEL KENT

Michael Kent is a comedian, magician and self-proclaimed smart@$$. His sarcastic, irreverent humor and baffling original magic have made him one of the most popular comedy magicians in the college market.

Michael’s audiences learn what it’s like when a stand-up comedian performs (and occasionally pokes fun at) the art of magic.

FRESH VARIETY • 603-518-5783

BEST FEMALE ENTERTAINER RUNNER-UP: JENN GRINELS Award-winning singer-songwriter Jenn Grinels has awed audiences with her heartfelt tunes, powerful pipes and witty stage banter. Grinels’ distinctive mix of delicate prettiness and soulful grittiness has been heard on television networks like MTV and live at over 50 universities in the last year alone. The pitch-perfect performer has also collected countless accolades, including the honor of 2010 College Female Solo Artist of the Year.

DEGY ENTERTAINMENT • 732-818-9600

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

Campus Activities Magazine’s®

ARTIST REPORT CARD

This form may only be completed by someone associated with the event on your campus. ALL reports are subject to verification. Any school submitting poor ratings must supply reasons for the response. We will NOT accept report cards made more than ninety (90) days following an event. We will NOT accept report cards from artists or agents. This report is not considered authentic unless it is signed, dated and a telephone number listed. Other schools may want to contact you to get an update on your experiences. SUBMIT SEPARATE FORMS on EACH artist or program unless it was an event booked as a package through the SAME AGENCY. You do NOT have to rate an artist in every category unless it applies to you.

SUBMIT THIS REPORT CARD BY MAIL TO: CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE, PO BOX 509, PROSPERITY SC 29127.

YOU MAY SUBMIT BY FAX TO (803) 712-6703 OR BY EMAIL TO SUBMIT@ARTISTREPORTCARDS.COM

THIS IS THE ONLY VERSION THAT WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM SCHOOLS AFTER MAY 31, 2012

PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY IN DARK INK

Artist/Attraction:______________________________________ Agency: ___________________________ Genre: q Music q Comedy q Novelty/Live q Novelty/Game q Speaker q Perf Arts q Other_______

Performance Date: _________________ Attendance: ________ Venue: __________________________ School:__________________________________________ City/State: ____________________________

Submitted by: (Print) ______________________________________ Title: _________________________

Contact Telephone: __________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Did The Artist Arrive On Time? _________ Was The Show What you Anticipated? _________________

RATING SYSTEM: 5= EXCELLENT 4= VERY GOOD 3= GOOD 2= FAIR 1= POOR N/A= DOESN’T APPLY

ORIGINALITY OF PERFORMANCE

ARTIST’S ABILITY

RELATIONSHIP TO AUDIENCE

ARTIST COOPERATION/ATTITUDE

ROAD CREW/ MANAGEMENT

AGENCY HELP/ COOPERATION

QUALITY OF PROMO

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3

3

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1

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Additional Comments:______________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

THE RATING SYSTEM: 5= EXCELLENT 4= VERY GOOD 3= AVERAGE 2= FAIR 1= POOR

If you want to know how good an act might be that you plan on booking, just ask another campus where they have played. Here are reports from our readers.

All ratings here had complete verifiable information and were signed by the reviewer. All reports must have been submitted by the school where the date was played. Artists report submission forms are available to every campus in the United States programming campus activities. The form is in this issue or you can receive the form by requesting one from your visiting artist or their agency, by visiting campusactivitiesmagazine.com or calling us toll-free at (800) 728-2959 for a pdf copy to be emailed to your campus. We only accept reports on the authentic form and only from the campus or institution. Reports may not be submitted by the artist or their agency. Schools do not have to rate in every category, only categories that apply to their show.

HERE ARE THE CATEGORIES FOR THE RATINGS FOUND AFTER THE BUYER’S NAME AND PLAY DATE: (1) ORIGINALITY OF THE PERFORMANCE; (2) ARTIST’S ABILITY; (3) RELATIONSHIP TO THE AUDIENCE; (4) COOPERATION / ATTITUDE; (5) ROAD CREW / MANAGEMENT; (6) AGENCY COOPERATION; (7) QUALITY OF PROMO Campus Reports listed in RED indicate the buyer reported a perfect score in all categories that applied to their campus performance for that artist or event.

Attendance, if available follows the date. ONLY THE FORM IN THIS ISSUE AND ON OUR WEBSITE WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER MAY 31, 2012.

NOVELTY/ GAMES

AIRBRUSH TRUCKER HATS Kirkland Productions

College of Lake County, Grayslake IL 1/18/12 Atrium 5 5 5 5 5 5 4

Michelle was a joy to have on campus. She was so great to work with and accommodating.

The students loved the finished hats and enjoyed talking with her. Great experience.

Samantha Bosacki, Program Clerk

AMERICAN POP STAR Cutting Edge Productions

Colorado State University, Pueblo, Pueblo CO 1/17/12 3 4 4 5 5 5 1 April Yost, Student Activities Coordinator Ottawa University, Ottawa KS 2/14/12 5 5 3 4 3 5 5

The crew was running about 30 minutes late. Extremely disappointed about that.

Kristen Wilkes, Student Activities Coordinator

BEAR CREATIONS Kirkland Productions

Texas A&M/ Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi TX 2/14/12 200+ University Center 4 - - - - 5 -

The students really enjoyed this program. We had people lined up 30 minutes before we even got started. It was a HUGE hit!

Amber Ramoz, Advisor

BONGO BALL MANIA Cutting Edge Productions

East Mississippi Community College, Scooba MS 1/10/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 1

Enjoyed the show & company but for the price, some better form of advertising should be provided. That was unacceptable for the money we spent.

Taylor Ray, Student Activities Coordinator

Piedmont College, Demorest GA 1/12/12 70 Gym 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 CAB

Berea College, Berea KY 1/17/12 150 Gym 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

This was a wonderful activity to have on our campus. Once people tried it, they were caught

34, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012

up in the “mania.” A must-have on any campus.

Joe Saleem II, Residence Life Program Coordinator

Roanoke College, Salem VA 1/20/12 35-40 Gym 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

We would love to have these guys back again!

Courtney Cooper, Event Supervisor

Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond LA 1/24/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 Todd McElroy, CAB Coordinator

Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport PA 1/26/12 5 4 4 5 5 4 1 Good event. Thanks

Michael Hersh, Assistant Director

College of the Maineland, Texas City TX 1/31/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Some Student/Staff Comments: Freaking AWESOME! Great activity. It really brought people together.

Great war. We should do it again. Great stress reliever for faculty vs. students. I loved it and 2 days after I am still sore!

THIS GAME IS B-O-N-G. Do it again!

I ripped my jeans but I got to shoot people.

Fantastico! Amazing.

Great active game for students, staff and faculty!

Melissa Judson, Administrative Assistant

St Catharine College, St Catharine KY 2/7/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Great show! Tons of Fun! Adam & Justin are great guys and did a wonderful job!

Bryan Allen, Assist Director- Campus Activities

Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX 2/7/12 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 Forha Habeeb, Graduate Assistant

Columbus State Community College, Columbus OH 2/8/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 Julie Collins, OA College of Mount Saint Joseph, Cincinnati OH 2/9/12 5 5 4 5 5 5 4

The guys were awesome! We are planning to host this event again!

Hannah Smith, CAB President

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

THE RATING SYSTEM: 5= EXCELLENT 4= VERY GOOD 3= AVERAGE 2= FAIR 1= POOR

HERE ARE THE CATEGORIES FOR THE RATINGS FOUND AFTER THE BUYER’S NAME AND PLAY DATE: (1) ORIGINALITY; (2) ARTIST’S ABILITY; (3) RELATIONSHIP TO THE AUDIENCE; (4) COOPERATION / ATTITUDE; (5) ROAD CREW / MANAGEMENT; (6) AGENCY COOPERATION; (7) PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED. ATTENDANCE, IF AVAILABLE, FOLLOWS THE DATE Campus Reports listed in RED indicate the buyer reported a perfect score in all categories that applied to their campus performance for that artist or event.

Colorado Mountain College, Glenwood Springs CO 2/14/12 5 4 5 5 5 5 4

Students LOVED it! It’s hard to rate the artists’ ability but as far as sheer novelty and student enjoyment it was one of the best programs of the year.

Joe Vuletich, Coordinator of Student Activities

BOULDER DASH / CARNIVAL GAMES Endeavor Entertainment West Chester University, West Chester PA 1/26/12 100 Sykes Student Union - - 5 5 5 5 5

Awesome company to work with! So helpful and cooperative.

Worry-free event from my end.

Jenna Loughlin, Music & Evening Event Chair CASINO NIGHT Endeavor Entertainment

Cazenovia College, Cazenovia NY 2/3/12 150 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 Victoria Sokolowski, Campus Programs Coordinator

DARE TO FACE YOUR FUTURE/ ANTI OBESITY P.E.E.R.S. Ogeechee Technical College, Statesboro GA 3/6/12 77 Conference Center 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 Becky Snyder, Admin Assist to VP of Student Affairs DASH FOR DOLLARS The Smith Agency

Wittenberg University, Springfield OH 12/7/11 5 5 5 5 5 3 5

Event was during finals week, so not well attended but the people that did come had a great time! Teaser helped a lot.

Katie McLenghlin, CAB President

INTENSITY GAME SHOW Cutting Edge Productions

Capital University, Columbus OH 1/24/12 Dining Room 5 3 5 5 5 5 1

The emcee could be “funnier” or more entertaining. Need better categories - less “Family Guy” and “Simpsons.”

Bring change if teams are allowed.

Sarah Jackson Secretary/ PR

Three Rivers College, Poplar Bluff MO 2/14/12 24 Theater 4 5 5 5 5 5 4

We had a small crowd but they enjoyed themselves.

Michelle Lane, Admin Assist/ Director of Student Activities LESTER + BODY ART BY SUSAN Everything But The Mime

University of New Orleans, New Orleans LA 2/2/12 150 UC Ballroom 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Helped us blow up balloons pre-event. Huge help! Will bring them back for sure!

Dan Puccio, Program Coordinator LIVE BAND KARAOKE Bass/Schuler Entertainment

Wright State University, Dayton OH 2/3/12 80 Apollo Room 5 5 5 4 5 5 5

Live Band Karaoke is the only group in the market doing what they do! They do it so well. They were a pleasure to work with and put on a great show. Our students were engaged all night long.

Daniel Schraeder, Assist. Director for Residence Life MARDI GRAS POST CARDS Kirkland Productions

Missouri Southern State University, Joplin MO 2/21/12 200 Billingsly Student Center 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Husson University, Bangor ME 02/01/12 140 Student Center 5 5 5 5 5 4 5

Craig Gullett, Coordinator of Student Activities

D.U.I. SIMULATOR P.E.E.R.S.

Ashford University, Clinton IA 1/13/12 150 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Show was a HUGE hit! Ralph is a true pro and a pleasure to work with.

Sterling Pingree, Coordinator of Student Activities Olivet College, Olivet MI 2/16/12 100 Gym 4 3 4 5 5 5 3

It would be great to add other activities w/ this event.

Larry Smith, Director of Alcohol Education

Kentucky Christian University, Grayson KY 2/28/12 400 Auditorium/ Outside 3 4 4 4 4 4 3

Simulator was a hit. Two guys were good with students. It was a good first step for us.

Ron Arnett, Dean of Students

EVOLUTION: THE AGING PROCESS Cutting Edge Productions

Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville NC 1/19/12 135 SC Lobby 4 3 4 4 4 4 3

Two improvements needed 1) Add 20-25’ of space between the camera and the printer. Students were too bunched and didn’t view videos or observe displays.

2) Add a second computer. Photographer can not shoot 10 photos and process some of the photos. The bottleneck is at the printer. The photographer can make a plate in 30 seconds or less but the students have to wait 15-20 minutes before receiving their photo.

Using two computers and one printer, one person can digitize the image while the other person is printing a separate photo.

Gerald Daniel, Director of Student Activities

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

John is great to work with. Our students look forward to him coming to campus.

MOVIE POSTER SHOW Cutting Edge Productions

Great show! Made students laugh! Great for dorm room living!

Heather McCue, Campus Activities

Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove IL 1/24-25/12 3 5 5 5 5 5 4

The staff were cordial and professional with college staff and students. We appreciated their interactions with everyone.

Rosalinda Martinez, Student Activities Ottawa University, Ottawa KS 2/7/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Great event. Students loved it!

Kristen Wilkes, Student Activities Coordinator Bloomfield College, Bloomfield NJ 2/28/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 The program was great as was John.

Jennifer Troxell, DSA

NAME ANALYSIS Endeavor Entertainment

University of Akron/ Wayne College, Orrville OH 1/26/12 200+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

A Huge success. We were impressed with the whole set-up including the quality of the picture frames. I would highly recommend for any event.

Jackie Ashbaugh, Coordinator of Student Activities

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 35

P.E.E.R.S. AWARENESS/ DISTRACTED DRIVING P.E.E.R.S. Pellissippi State University, Knoxville TN 2/29/12 5 5 5 5 3 5 3

The artist was great to work with. She was really friendly and she worked quickly while still doing quality work.

Chelsea Sroboda, Student Committee Chair XBOX 360 EVENT Cutting Edge Productions

Did not feel like the road crew did very much to draw students to the show. Could not print off promo materials from website. PROVIDE POSTERS in the future.

Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland OH 1/26/12 40 Meeting Room 5 5 5 5 5 1 4

Jason and Ryan were great. Very professional! Schools wanted to know more suggestions & best practices for setting up.

LeAnn Galea, Advisor- Student Life

Gwendolyn Miller, Office Manager

Tatum High School, Tatum TX 3/8/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Corrie Phipps P.A.E.T. Member

Great event and really great crew. The agent called our campus 4 times leading up to the event to make sure we would pay on time. We ALWAYS pay on time and the inquiries became a HUGE problem. May not use again. Too many agent changes

MUSIC

Chapel Hill High School, Tyler TX 3/9/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Jason and Ryan were great. It would be helpful if P.E.E.R.S. provided us with some best practices for logistics and set-up for the event.

Corrie Phipps P.A.E.T. (Pay Attention East Texas) Member PHOTO COFFEE MUGS Kirkland Productions

Missouri Southern State University, Joplin MO 1/25/12 200 MSSU Student Center 4 5 5 5 - 5 4

Loved working with John. He was great. The event was wonderful and the students LOVED everything. We want to work with him again.

Marjorie A Cashel, DSA

PHOTO STUFFED ANIMALS Kirkland Productions

Lee College, Baytown TX 2/14/12 200 Student Center 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 -

GARY JOHNSON GP College Entertainment

Towson University, Towson MD 3/3/12 40 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 Bedig Galladian, Grad Assistant JOSH VIETTI Diversity Talent Agency

Marist College, Poughkeepsie NY 2/1/12 5 5 5 5 - - CAB Chair

John, The road manager, was excellent to work with.

Seton Hill University, Greensburg PA 2/25/12 110 5 5 5 3 - 1 -

PUT IT WHERE YOU WANT IT Cutting Edge Productions

KYSHONA ARMSTRONG Diversity Talent Agency

Mike Spletter, Student Activities Coordinator Wayne State University, Detroit MI 1/17/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Johnathan was wonderful! He went above and beyond, helping many students after the show ended.

Adela Peret, Campus Life Event Planner

Pulaski Technical College/ South Campus, Little Rock AR 2/22-23/2012 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Cutting Edge Productions is always professional, on time and very helpful & friendly.

Michelle Anderson, DSL

East Georgia College, Swainsboro GA 3/6/12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Vicki Sherrod, Director of Student Life THE FEUD “FAMOUS” Endeavor Entertainment

West Virginia State University, Institute WV 1/19/12 40 Student Union 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Thank you!

Shantel Dudgins, Student Activities Coordinator THE REAL DEAL CRAZY GAME SHOW The Smith Agency

Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn MI 1/15/12 200 Union Student Center 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Cassandra Fluker, DSA WAX HANDS Pretty Crafty LLC

University of Nebraska, Kearney NE 1/10/12 350 Union Atrium 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

36, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012

Josh is very talented but the agency representing him is frustrating to work with.

Zach Beaver, Advisor

University of New Orleans, New Orleans LA 2/29/12 75 The Cove 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Great show. Super nice. Easy and great to work with!

Dan Puccio, Program Coordinator LEVI STEPHENS DEGY Entertainment

Clemson University, Clemson SC 2/13/12 70 Hendrix Student Center 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Great show!

Michael Chahih, Director- Live @ Night

University of SC Upstate, Spartanburg SC 2/7/12 60 Jazzman’s Cafe 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Meagan Stoltz, Exec Director Longwood University, Farmville VA 3/1/12 50 Cafe 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Thomas Bulifant, Concerts Director NATALIE GELMAN DEGY Entertainment

Springfield College, Springfield MA 1/31/12 Richard B Flynn Campus Union 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Jen Watkins, Student Activities

ATTENTION SCHOOLS & ARTISTS

We will ONLY Accept The Artist Report Card Form Found In THIS issue After May 31, 2012.

Download at campusactivitiesmagazine.com

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

THE RATING SYSTEM: 5= EXCELLENT 4= VERY GOOD 3= AVERAGE 2= FAIR 1= POOR

HERE ARE THE CATEGORIES FOR THE RATINGS FOUND AFTER THE BUYER’S NAME AND PLAY DATE: (1) ORIGINALITY; (2) ARTIST’S ABILITY; (3) RELATIONSHIP TO THE AUDIENCE; (4) COOPERATION / ATTITUDE; (5) ROAD CREW / MANAGEMENT; (6) AGENCY COOPERATION; (7) PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED. ATTENDANCE, IF AVAILABLE, FOLLOWS THE DATE Campus Reports listed in RED indicate the buyer reported a perfect score in all categories that applied to their campus performance for that artist or event.

SPEAKERS

DAVE KELLY Coleman Productions

Kutztown University, Kutztown PA 2/18/12 80 McFarland Student Union 5 5 5 5 5 5 4

STEVE OSTIPOW Coleman Productions

Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Indianapolis IN 1/28/12 250 Hotel 4 5 5 5 - 5 4

We have used him in the past and will continue to use Steve Ostipow to reinforce messages and create energy in our group.

Denis Beaudoin, Director of Educational Programming

COMEDY

Dave was awesome and very motivational. He got the students engaged in conversation and the service projects. He was excellent.

Brandy Stremba, Grad Assistant ELAINE PASQUA Pasqua Productions Inc

Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls TX 2/16/12 250 Classroom 5 5 5 5 - 5 4 Matthew Park, DSA Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer NC 2/21/12 136 Merner Gymnasium 4 5 5 5 5 - 5

Elaine was awesome! Our students were entertained, informed and empowered to make better decisions. We are already planning on bringing her back for welcome week next year.

Rebecca McQueen, Director of Residence Life Eckerd College, St Petersburg FL 3/7/12 25 EC Conference Room 3 4 5 5 - 3 -

Elaine did a good job - all we asked from her! Very accommodating. Very personable.

Dr Ben Fortosis, Athletic Director JESSICA PETTITT Kirkland Productions

Westminster College, Fulton MO 2/7/12 5 5 5 5 - 5 4

AARON KOMINOS SMITH Aaron Kominos Smith

Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston MA 2/08/12 50+ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Great show. Lots of Laughs.

Can’t wait to bring him back.

Rick Holland, CAB

ADAM GRABOWSKI Auburn Moon Agency

Albion College, Albion MI 2/3/12 210 Kellogg Center 5 5 5 5 - 5 5

He was amazing. He showed up 3 hours before the show and asked about anything special going on around campus to add to his performance. Really connected with the crowd and stayed after his show to talk with the students.

James Maier, CAB

Saint Xavier University, Chicago IL 2/6/12 50 Theater 4 4 5 5 - 4 4 Emilie Boyce, Assist Dir of Campus Life

Tara Fuller, Assist Dir of Res and Greek Life

Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica NY 2/14/12 50 Cafeteria 4 5 4 5 - 5 5 Scott Cerdozo, Program Board Director

Wonderful event with Jessica allowing our students to gain knowledge and explore their privileges.

He uses great props, engaged with the audience and has up-to-date jokes.

SUNY Cobleskill would love to have him back and recommend him to any organization booking a comedian.

Jessica did a phenomenal job with each of the groups she met with. She did two workshops for fraternity and sorority students and one for the whole campus.

Delaware Valley College, Doylestown PA 3/5/12 200 Multicultural Forum 4 4 5 5 - 4 4

Andrew Moyer, Programming Coordinator JIM MATTHEWS Coleman Productions

University of Portland, Portland OR 1/30/12 350 Chiles Center Arena 4 5 4 5 5 5 5

Jim was great to work with on the night of the event and his presentation was very engaging. Brooke at Coleman Productions was great to work with before the show.

Jillian Smith, Assist DSA

MARC ELLIOT Coleman Productions

Vincennes University/ Jasper, Jasper IN 2/15/12 84 Lecture Hall 5 5 5 5 - 5 5

Marc exceeded all of our expectations. He related to our students and staff in a way that no other speaker has. He is extremely personable and such an inspiration to others. I would recommend that every school bring him in to speak. Our students and staff are already asking to bring him back again!

Alie Baer, Student Activities Coordinator

www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com

SUNY Cobleskill, Cobleskill NY 2/16/12 200 Theater 5 5 5 5 - - Matthew Gregory, VP CSA

University Center Chicago, Chicago IL 2/20/12 45 Dining Room 5 5 5 5 - 5 5

Adam was great to work with! He engaged our audience and the crowd loved him. Even with tech problems on our end, Adam delivered an amazing performance.

Jen Milam, Student Programming Coordinator Catawba College, Salisbury NC 2/24/12 100 Student Center Stage 5 5 5 5 - 5 5

Adam was great. He was easy to work with and grabbed the audiences attention immediately.

Garrett McAuliffe, Chair: Wigwam Productions ADAM MAMAWALA Sophie K Entertainment

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott AZ 2/10/12 4 4 5 5 - 5 Good attitude. Easy to work with.

CAB

College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale NY 2/21/12 75 Cahil Lounge

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012, 37

5 5 5 5 5 5 -

Adam had an amazing connection to the audience.

He was easy to work with and put on a great show

5 5 5 5 5 5 5

It was the first weekend of school this semester so attendance was not as good as we anticipated, but Jarrod was great. Hilarious!

Carolyn Hegel, Director of the Board of Programs

James Davies, Sub Live Director

Adam was a fun, energetic comedian who related extremely well to the audience.

His material was perfect for college students

Iona College, New Rochelle NY 2/25/12 19 Endzone 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Linfield College, McMinnville OR 2/25/12 110 Ice Auditorium 5 4 5 5 5 5 5

Tessa D’Alessandro, Special Events Chair Centralia College, Centralia WA 3/1/12 60 Corbet Stage 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 4

Adam was very easy to work with and was able to relate to the audience.

The students who were there really enjoyed themselves.

Shandy Stomienski, Student Activities Advisor ANNELAH JOHNSON KP Comedy

Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 2/18/12 772 McCain Auditorium 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Amazing! CLEAN show!

Ben Hopper, Program Advisor ANTON SHUFORD KP Comedy

University of Maine/ Orono, Orono ME 2/16/12 50+ Main Dining Room 4 5 5 5 5 5 5

We felt bad that Anton didn’t have a meal provided so we bought him one anyway ( and for Sydney) because they were so great. We’d love to have them back anytime.

Erin White, Graduate Assistant

JASON WEEMS KP Comedy

Excellent- Would like to have him return sometime!

Christina Sutphen, CAB

MICHAEL PALASCAK Bass/Schuler Entertainment

Joliet Junior College, Joliet IL 3/8/12 80+ The Bridge 5 5 5 5 - 5 5

Great Show! Michael stayed after and answered student questions for about 45 minutes, signed posters and took photos.

Marc Kaufman, Assist Professor- Comedy Club Advisor MIKE E. WINFIELD KP Comedy

Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston ID 1/31/12 140 Silverthorne Theater 4 4 5 5 - 5 -

Went over time. Used improv with mixed audience reception

CAB

MISSION IMPROVABLE Bass/Schuler Entertainment

BARRY ROTHHART KP Comedy

Bethany College, Lindsborg KS 3/7/12 221 The Pit 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

BLACK JEW DIALOGUES Bass/Schuler Entertainment

Johnson County Community College, Kansas City KS 3/7/12 36 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Amy Titmas, Student Activities Ambassador

Towson University, Towson MD 2/25/12 20 4 4 3 4 3 5 3 Bedig Galladian, Graduate Advisor Dubois (Penn State) / Dubois PA 2/8/12 18 Hiller Auditorium 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 Latashia Gilkes, Student Life Assistant

University of Charleston, Charleston WV 2/13/12 150 UC Ballroom 4 4 3 4 - 3 4 Meghan Sparrow, Coordinator of Programs BRIAN O’SULLIVAN The College Agency

Wright State University, Dayton OH 1/21/12 120 Medical Sciences Bldg 4 4 4 5 5 5 4

Brian got sick and lost his voice on the way to our show but still went on! He was a real trooper and our students enjoyed his unique style of comedy.

Daniel Schraeder, Asst. Dir of Residence Life

CARMEN LYNCH KP Comedy

Southwestern University, Georgetown TX 2/24/12 87 The Core 3 3 4 5 - 5 3 Lisa Dela Cruz, Asst Director of Student Activities DEAN EDWARDS KP Comedy

Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville MO 2/15/12 50 Charles Johnson Theatre 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 Dean was hilarious and great to have here!

Laura Hartz, Director of Entertainment JARROD HARRIS KP Comedy

Elon University, Elon NC 2/3/12 20 Coffee Shop

38, CAMPUS ACTIVITIES MAGAzINE®, APRIL 2012

I can’t say enough about Mission IMPROVable! They were amazing and kept the crowd engaged and in stitches. You need to have them on your campus!

Ronald Atkinson, Student Activities Board Advisor

RAN’D SHINE Everything But The Mime

North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City IA 2/15/12 100 Cafe 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Dan Juhl, Student Activities Director TRACEY ASHLEY The College Agency

University of New Orleans, New Orleans LA 1/25/12 100 The Cove 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Hilarious! Great closer for our comedy night!

Dan Puccio, Program Coordinator

The Entire Year Of Artist Report Cards Is Coming In July In Our Annual Advisor s Edition ....

You Can Still Submit Reports Thru May 31 to have them appear and qualify for the 2013 Rock

n Road Show!

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PO Box 509 Prosperity SC 29127

CA APR. 2012

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