A SPECIAL SHOW FROM APA
ARTIST REPORT CARDS
10
WHAT’S HOT FOR 2015
14
ANDREW McMAHON
20
READER’S CHOICE NOMINATIONS
27
What better way to judge an act than by what other campuses think of them. Here is the latest edition. Of the hundreds of acts submitted, we chose 12 of the best for your consideration for Spring 2015.
After success in two amazing groups: Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate, Andrew is taking his solo career to the college market.
Andrew McMahon ON THE COLLEGE ROAD
This is your chance to make the career of artists in 12 categories. Check out the bios and videos at campusactivitiesmagazine.com
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After his success with two amazing groups, McMahon embarks on a solo career that allows him to make his shows more personal.
IT’S ALL INSIDE
From the Publisher Real Life Spanky
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Artist Reports Feedback RCA Nominations
10 16 27
RANDOM THOUGHTS & OTHER MINDLESS DRIBBLE
The Great Cosby Fiasco
It was a distinct honor for us when Bill Cosby accepted our offer last January to be featured on the cover of our magazine. It was an even greater surprise when he did the interview in person. Obviously Mr. Cosby has a history of being the quintessential family man and an American icon representing such products as Coca Cola and Jello. If Bill Cosby endorsed a product, it had to be good.
Mr. Cosby to stop."
Singer called it "illogical" for people to come forward 30, 40 and 50 years after an alleged incident having "said nothing, done nothing, and made no reports" to law enforcement officials.
On Friday, a woman told Philadelphia Magazine that while working as a secretary for former Hollywood talent agency, Artists Agency Corp. in 1965, Cosby drugged and attempted to sexually assault her at a party.
Our interview with Cosby was about a year ago and was done during a national stand-up tour that was extremely well attended. He has always had the reputation of a “clean” comic that a multitude of rising comedians over the years have looked up to as he has been endeared by audiences worldwide.
"It makes no sense that not one of these new women who just came forward for the first time now ever asserted a legal claim back at the time," Singer said in response to the claim.
After the news broke in the national press about alleged forced sexual contact with several women coming forward, The Washington Post published an editorial by Barbara Bowman, who indicted Cosby of drugging and raping her on mixed occasions during the mid-1980s when he was mentoring her as a striving actress. During those years, Cosby was starring in “The Cosby Show” as Cliff Huxtable, a loveable family patriarch. Tour dates in Nevada, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina and Washington state have been canceled as more women come forward accusing the entertainer of sexually assaulting them years ago.
Cosby has remained silent with his attorney, Martin Singer, refuting the charges.
"This situation is an unprecedented example of the media's breakneck rush to run stories without any corroboration or adherence to traditional journalistic standards,"
Cosby performed a sold-out show in Melbourne, Florida after two casinos in Las Vegas and Arizona canceled his stand-up shows earlier in the day. Photo: The Boston Herald
the attorney said.
"Over and over again, we have refuted these new unsubstantiated stories with documentary evidence, only to have a new uncorroborated story crop up out of the woodwork," he added. "When will it end? It is long past time for the media vilification of
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"I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn't have to answer to innuendos," Cosby told Florida TODAY before the show. "People should fact check. People shouldn't have to go through that and shouldn't answer to innuendos." Netflix, NBC and TV Land recently pulled upcoming Cosby projects amid the legal turmoil facing the 77 year-old humorist.
Read the statement below in full:
"The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40, or even 50 years ago
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say occurred 30, 40, or even 50 years ago have escalated far past the point of absurdity.
These brand new claims about alleged decades-old events are becoming increasingly ridiculous, and it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing, and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years.
Lawsuits are filed against people in the public eye every day. There has never been a shortage of lawyers willing to represent people with claims against rich, powerful men, so it makes no sense that not one of these new women who just came forward for the first time now ever asserted a legal claim back at the time they allege they had been sexually assaulted.” (Martin Singer) Probably one of the most concerning things for past supporters of Bill Cosby is that he has not personally made a statement or taken a stand that these were unsubstantiated claims. Obviously in the middle of several decades of Bill Cosby’s unprecedented success in the public eye, cases of this sort would have brought huge national attention as well as large financial verdicts had they been easily proven, especially in civil court judgements. While the
support of women who were alleging such sexual violations would not have been so prevalent as it might be today, there would have been lawyers crawling all over themselves to represent these women just for the national spotlight (Think O.J. Simpson).
While everyone in the United States has the right to due process and no one is presumed guilty, the national press often can taint the jury pool and public opinion in their effort to “create” news. I don’t know whether Bill Cosby is innocent or guilty of these alleged crimes and thankfully that is not my decision to make. Why has it taken so long for these women to come forward? Is this more fluff than anything else? Your guess is as good as mine. But that is why we have a judicial system and someone else will decide if there is enough evidence to move forward. Regardless, Cosby has had his public reputation permanently tarnished unless his attorney can find some way to permanently resolve these issues. It kind of makes you wonder why no suits have been filed for libel. FEEDBACK: Tell Me What You Think! kirby@cameopublishing.com
CAMPUS EVENTS CALENDAR 2015 THE SPECIAL EVENT January 6-8, 2015 Anaheim Marriott (CA) Anaheim Convention Center APAP January 9-13, 2015 New York Hilton New York City, NY
NACA NATIONAL CONVENTION February 14-18, 2015 Minneapolis MN NACA NORTHERN PLAINS April 16-19, 2015 Madison, WI
AEP WORLDWIDE NATIONAL June 7-9, 2015 South Point Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
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CAMPuS ACTIvITIES MAGAzINE®, January 2015, 5
BY ELAINE PASQuA
You Are Getting Sleepy!
Do you need gallons of coffee to get going in the morning? Are you fuzzy during the day or feel irritable? Getting to bed too late or not getting enough sleep can lead to lower grades and an increase in dropped classes. College students are averaging 6 to 6.9 hours of sleep per night. This is less than what is recommended for sleep’s restorative benefits. Those who get ample sleep are more productive, think quickly and more clearly, and are more creative. Sleep not only rests the brain but it allows it to perform important maintenance and restoration. Sleep is essential to restore the body’s energy. It strengthens the immune system, helps us to think more clearly and creatively, and strengthens memory. Sleep improves our mood, and helps us perform better throughout the day.
Lack of sleep is associated with an increase in illnesses, as our ability to fight off infection become more difficult. Obesity is also connected to less sleep. The hormone that reduces appetite is decreased and we see an increase in the hormone that increases craving for high-calorie foods.
College students are at risk for experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. When they are sleep deprived, they feel more stress. Many researchers believe that lack of sleep is a contributing factor. Sleep deprivation can also negatively affect your personal relationships. You might find that you have difficulty focusing on something someone has to say. You can become more irritable or quick to anger because quality of communication is reduced.
Sleep is crucial for memory retention. When you sleep your brain organizes, sorts, and stores all of the information that you learned in class during the day into long-term memory. It also helps you weed out irrelevant information. Students are known for pulling all-nighters but studies show that they do not perform as well. Study a little each day and the natural process of sleep will help you to gain a better understanding of the material. You will also retain information better. If you find you have an academic challenge, study that material right before you go to bed. Sleeping on it will help with greater retention and understanding.
Drowsy driving leads to an increase in car accidents. In fact, 18 to 24 year old drivers have a considerably higher rate of late night crashes. Fatigue and sleepiness are often to blame. If you feel tired before you drive, take a nap. Drive with a friend who will help to keep you awake, keep the car cooler, and play good tunes. If you feel like you are really tired, pull off the road and find a safe place to sleep.
So what can you do to improve your sleep hygiene for quality sleep and overall wellbeing? Strive to get between 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Most importantly, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time
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every day of the week. This can be challenging for a college student, especially on weekends, but it will put your body on a consistent rhythm or clock. If you nap during the day, sleep for only 15 minutes so it will not interfere with your sleep at night.
Avoid exercising within 4 hours of your bedtime. Don’t drink stimulants like caffeine, nicotine or alcohol close to bedtime. Chocolate has caffeine as well. Eating late can be disruptive to a good nights’ sleep, so try to eat larger meals earlier in the evening. Try to avoid upsetting conversations close to bedtime and don’t dwell on your problems as you go to bed. Exercise is important to promote a good nights’ sleep. It is best to engage in vigorous exercise in the late afternoon or at least four hours before you go to bed. Yoga, which is more relaxing, can be done later and can help you sleep.
Try to get adequate exposure to natural light each day. Exposure to light promotes a healthy sleep-wake cycle. Artificial light from your electrical devices can interfere with your ability to fall and stay asleep. Shut off all electrical devices including your computer and cell phone at least a half hour before you go to bed. Your room should be comfortable temperature and it should be dark and quiet.
It could take some adjustments to find just the right sleep-wake cycle for you. If you experience sleep disturbances or find that you are sleepy during the day, change your cycle. Once you settle into a routine you will feel the difference and it will be worth the effort.
Sweet dreams!
Questions on college life? Email me at elaine@elainepasqua.com
www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
Treasure Pleasure No, the main reason I buy dead men’s stuff is to save some dead presidents. I first learned of the substantial savings after I had a fire in my apartment. I was able to restock my place at a fraction of the cost. Cha-ching! Not only can you save money, you can make money by buying cheap and reselling on eBay. There is a market for anything people collect, and people collect almost anything, from vintage clothing (especially sports jerseys) to old toys and video games. There is also the possibility of finding an actual treasure, like Beth Feeback. She paid $9.99 for an abstract painting at Goodwill that turned out to be by Ilya Bolotowsky, and Beth auctioned it off for $27,000!
By Steven Kent McFarlin (AKA Spanky)
I have a confession to make. I am wearing a dead man’s shirt. I also own dead man’s furniture and more dead man’s books than I can count. Because...I’ve become a thrift-storaholic. You should too.
The benefits of shopping at thrift store are numerous: it helps the community in a variety of ways, there is a chance you may find a one-ofa-kind treasure, it can be very entertaining, and foremost, you will save a ton of money.
USA Today reported that only 20% of Americans shops at thrift stores, meaning 80% are clueless to how great it is. Despite Macklemore & Ryan Lewis singing the praises in their hit “Thrift Store,” second-hand shopping remains a secret, and the people that partake want to keep it that way, myself included. The more treasure hunters there are the less treasures there are for me to find. (The only reason I’m telling you now is I know you live in a different town.)
If I said I shop at thrift stores for purely altruistic reasons I’d be lying. I’m glad the money I spend there ends up helping my community, and that these stores are eco-friendly by repurposing many items that would otherwise be filling up landfills. Not to mention these stores hire many people that appear to otherwise be unemployable (just like the porn industry).
Another reason I love thrift stores is they can be wildly entertaining. I always chuckle as I take an embarrassing stroll down Memory Lane, shocked at the fashion trends I used to follow, inevitably muttering “Oh my God! I can’t believe I used to wear something that hideous!” Plus, you just never know what other amusements you may come across. At a thrift store in Miami I saw a stack of snow shovels the store had taped a note to reading: “We have no idea why people brought these to Florida.” One of the more thrilling things I found was when I tried on a jacket and found an envelope in the pocket. It was a legitimate letter of extortion, demanding money, with threats of body parts being cut off! I later used it as the basis for a screenplay I wrote. Ever go to a party and see someone wearing the same outfit? Well the odds of that happening diminish if you are wearing something purchased at a thrift store, and if you do see someone wearing the same outfit you can take pride knowing you paid much less. Thrift stores are filled with one-of-a-kind items that others can’t run out and buy, be it vintage, handmade, or foreign. And there is no better place to shop if you are attending a costume or ugly Christmas sweater party.
There are a number of second-hand shopping options that I will list from worst to first:
5) Consignment Shops – Although they charge less than retail, there are few true bargains to be found. 4) National Chain Stores in urban markets – Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in major metropolises are armed with the price-checking power of Google, reducing the chances of finding a true treasure. Goodwill now pulls the really unique valuable items to sell at auction – Boo! 3) Suburban Thrift Stores – These are less picked over by the urban hipsters that know a bargain when they see it. Look for stores like St. Vincent de Paul, whose staff is primarily com-
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posed of elderly volunteers, who are inclined to price items low (because they can remember when a quarter was worth something). 2) Goodwill Outlets – Not for the feint of heart since items are sold in bins and shoppers go into a feeding frenzy when a new one becomes available. The best part is you buy by weight; prices vary by location, but in my town they charge $1.39 per pound. So I can buy a designer tie that cost over a hundred dollars new for about a quarter, which is a great deal. However, a bowling ball would run over twenty bucks, not so great a deal. 1) Garage Sales – There are two kinds of garage sales: the ones where people are trying to make money and the ones where people are trying to get rid of stuff. Avoid the former and attend the latter. If you see someone that has a garage sale every week, skip it, they are pros. The key to garage sale shopping is timing. I figure most sales have one, maybe two items I want, so unless I get there early they will probably be gone. If the sale sign says it starts at 8:00, I arrive at 7:45. It also is a good idea to return at the end of the day when people are likely to give stuff away rather than hassle with packing it back into their house. There are a number of websites that list locations; I prefer gsalr.com.
Here are other thrift store shopping tips I can share. - Check stores for discount days, or senior citizen discounts you can drag your Granny to. - My friend swears the best time to shop Goodwill is between 10:00 and noon on Sunday when they announce the discount ticket color for the week, and remove many items with that ticket. (Can’t verify this is true, since I’m usually in church at that time.) - volunteer to work at a store. You’ll be helping others, and putting yourself in position to find all the best bargains first. I’ll close with the story of a friend of mine that had a totally different reason to shop at thrift stores. He explained it costs him $3.00 to have a shirt cleaned, but his local thrift store charges only $2.00 for a shirt, so he just donates his dirty laundry then buys it back after they clean it. Steven Kent McFarlin (AKA “Spanky”) has been described by the press as a “campus entertainment icon.” He offers two great events 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 Entertainment.
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2014 GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST ARTIST RATINGS THE RATING SYSTEM: 5= EXCELLENT 4= vERY GOOD 3= AvERAGE 2= FAIR 1= pOOR
HERE IS A COMpREHENSIvE GUIDE TO ALL ARTIST REpORTS SUBMITTED BETwEEN OCT 10, 2014 AND OCT 31, 2014. ONGOING REpORTS wILL BE pUBLISHED IN SUBSEqUENT ISSUES . ALL REPORTS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON OUR WEBSITE AT:.campusactivitiesmagazine.com/arc/ WE NO LONGER TAKE PAPER BALLOTS BY FAX OR MAIL. THERE IS A DIRECT LINK TO THE REPORT FORM ON THE HOME PAGE.
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. 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 (when Available) AND THE LOCATION ON CAMpUS wILL FOLLOw THE pERFORMANCE DATE.
COMEDY
ADAM GRABOWSKI Adam Grabowski Entertainment
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, Cobleskill, NY 10/18/14 250 Ballroom 5555-5Adam was M/C for our annual Coby's Got Talent. Great job. Scott Hoke, Event Leader CHLOE HILLIARD Summit Comedy, Inc.
University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 10/17/14 87 The Encore, DUC 4445-55 Keishla Gonzalez, Comedian CHloe Hilliard COLLIN MOULTON Summit Comedy, Inc.
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 10/29/14 50+ Student Center Ballroom 5555553 Collin Moulton is definitely a comedy veteran. He had our audience laughing from the moment he told his first joke to until the end; and for most he had them laughing to tears. He is definitely the comedian you want to perform at your college campus! Kevin Vantepool, Jaguar Productions Comedy Chair FRANCISCO RAMOS Summit Comedy, Inc.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, FL 10/24/14 100+ John-Paul Riddle Student Center 4555555 Very funny guy, high energy & overall great performance that was well loved by the student body. Mark Millimet, Chairperson Touch-N-Go Productions
FRANGELA Sophie K. Entertainment
Saint Joseph's College of Maine, Standish, ME 09/26/14 100 The Chalet 5555555 Matt Gawel, Coordinator of Student Activities JEFFREY JAY Summit Comedy, Inc.
University of Maine at Machias, Machias, ME 10/16/14 25 5555-5Was a great show! Jeffrey is great to work with. The Q & A section was a great learning experience for our students... to be able to ask whatever questions they may have. Nichole Cote, Dir of Student Engagment Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 10/18/14 80 International Center 5455555 Caroline Poole, UAB Multicultural Director JESSI CAMPBELL Summit Comedy, Inc.
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 11/07/14 152 Taylor Down Under 5545-55 She was a great comedian and the audience survey results are the following: out of a 5 point scale, 5 = excellent and 1 = poor - 57% rated 5 and 33% rated 4. Greg Bahou, Spirit & Tradition Director MARCUS Sophie K. Entertainment
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 10/03/14 100+ Student Union Lounge Area 5555-55 Marcus Was hilarious and our campus loved him. He was super enthusiastic and involved with the audience. Mahin Sandoval-Chavez, Lead Student Programmer
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MATTHEW BROUSSARD KP Comedy
5555-55 Raneir was AMAZING! He is such a joy and fills the room with joy! He is an amazing performer and is guaranteed to make everyone laugh. He is a must bring to all campuses. Mahin Sandoval-Chavez, Lead Student Programmer
Roanoke College, Salem, VA 11/22/14 40+ Roanoke College 5555-5Brea Spitznogle, Event Supervisor MISSION IMPROVABLE Bass/Schuler Entertainment
Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, KY 09/12/14 150 Lindsey Wilson College Hode Auditorium 5555-55 I recommend Mission IMPROVable for any college/university! They were great to work with and adapted well to the audience. They were also will to run around the dorms and campus to get the students out and to the show which helped a lot for this small campus. Lafawn Nettles, Director of Student Activities Lincoln College, Lincoln, IL 11/04/14 85 Student Center 5555555 Jeff Nelson, Director of Student Activities NICK GUERRA Kirkland Productions
RANEIR POLLARD Sophie K. Entertainment
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 10/10/14 100+ Ballroom
Wartburg College, Waverly, IA 10/17/14 165 Lyceum 5555-5Josh Harms, Vice President SAMMY OBEID KP Comedy
Drake University, Des Moines, IA 11/07/14 130 Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted 4445-54 Thanks again to Sammy for such a great show! We received a lot of positive feedback and we're very glad he could make it out to Drake! McCormick Deering and Brenna Conley, SAB Entertainment Co-Chairs THE BLACK-JEW DIALOGUES Bass Schuler Entertainment
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS 11/05/14 100+ Cody Commons - Memorial Union 5555555 The performance was awesome! The event went smoothly and the entire audience loved him! Amber Frazier, Vice President of Entertainment Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 11/07/14 60+ Student Center Ballroom 2214-5Show wasn't a great fit for our campus. Madison Northrup, MAC FAC Chair
ROY WOOD, JR. Summit Comedy, Inc.
Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 10/02/14 100+ Harris Center Theater 5555--5 Larry and Ron are absolutely a blast to have on campus! From the original custom video that they created for our students to the master class that Ron taught on their final day, I was overwhelmingly pleased with the job that they did.The Discussion after the show opened up elements of our culture on campus that many students feel inclined to voice, but don't feel they have a space to speak their mind. We will have them on our campus again. Thanks Ron and Larry, you are appreciated! Justin Thaxton, Coordinator, Diversity & Inclusion in Athletics THE MUSLIMS ARE COMING! Kirkland Productions
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 10/28/14 81 Parkway Ballrom in Student Union 5555-55 Jana Vise, Associate Director
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VLADIMIR CAAMANO Sophie K. Entertainment
Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ 10/28/14 70 Friends Hall 5555-54 Vlad's hysterical and witty performance surpassed my expectations. He attracted a large crowd and was very engaging with the audience. The audience were beyond receptive in return. There aren't many comedians out there that can perform 'clean' jokes with such execution that will have people rolling out of their seats. He was an act to remember. Noel Gordon Jr., Music Co-Chair, College Programming Board SUNY College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 11/03/14 30 Waterfront at Hunt Union 4545-34 Yesenia Trujillo, Comedian Chair
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA 11/07/14 40+ Red Zone 5555555 Great show! Love how he took the time to see what the campus offered to make original jokes that the audience could relate to, It really made a difference! Kristina Carey, Entertainment Chairperson
MUSIC
DAKABOOM Degy Entertainment
Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA 10/16/14 300+ Snidow Chapel 5555-55 Dakaboom hosted Lynchburg College's annual Homecoming Week Lip Sync Competition while incorporating their musical and comical styling in between acts. Ben and Paul were not only amazing to work with, but they related well to everyone in the audience young and old. We would bring them back in a heartbeat! Justin Donnelly, Assistant Director of Student Involvement JARED MAHONE Degy Entertainment
University of Akron Main Campus, Akron, OH 10/15/14 200 Starbucks of Student Union Building 5555555 Jared was fantastic. While the students were relaxing or doing homework, he was strumming away on his guitar, telling stories, and allowing students to take that journey with him. Great performance. Definitely recommended for anyone who is looking to have a coffeehouse style performance! A-plus! Robbie Williford, Grad Assistant for RHPB MITCH CLARK Houla Entertainment
Polk State College, Lakeland, FL 11/03/14 50+ Student Center 5555-5Mitch Clark was an unexpected treat for the students, as they did not know what he had to offer until he opened his mouth to sing. Anthony Bates, Student Activities Board Adv THE BERGAMOT Both Records
University of Akron Main Campus, Akron, OH 11/19/14 200+ Starbucks of Student Union Building 5555555 Our students LOVE having The Bergamot duo come to campus! We had 200 students stop by, work on homework, and have some fun. These two are some of the best artists we've had on
campus in a long time. A ! Robbie Williford, Grad Assistant for RHPB
VARIETY
BEN SEIDMAN Summit Comedy, Inc.
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH 10/17/14 220 Gallagher Student Center 5555555 Ben was very entertaining and delightful. Would love to have him again for different events! Nneka Bonner, SAC (Student Activites Council) member Alvernia University, Reading, PA 10/18/14 150+ Franics Hall Auditorium 4544454 Joe Benyish, Assistant Director, Student Activities
University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 11/07/14 100+ Student Center Terrace 5555555 His originality is his act is enough alone to amaze everyone in your audience! The stage presence and ability to work a crowd are definitely my qualities in his show. You definitely should book him to Reform at your college! Kevin Vanterpool, Jaguar Productions Comedy Chair CHRISJONES Bass/Schuler Entertainment
University of South CarolinaBeaufort, Bluffton, SC 08/20/14 150+ Welcome Week Tent (outdoor) 5555555 Chrisjones is TOP NOTCH and is the most fun to work with. Super low maintenance and really, really awesome. His performances are always entertaining and original. He will be our kick-off performer for our 2015 Welcome Week, we love him that much. Kate Vermilyea, Director of Student Life CHRISTOPHER CARTER Bass/Schuler Entertainment
Marymount University, Arlington, VA 11/20/13 50+ Auditorium 5555-5Chris was a joy to work with. He came on time and did teasers. Chris's lecture got the students to get up and try what he was talking about. Everyone loved it! Rosemarie O'Connor, Cultural Arts and Lecture Chair
North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City, IA 10/15/14 75 NIACC 5555555 Chris was GREAT. I have had people come up to me when Chris had left wanting him to come back for another show. He was get with the audience and always kept people on their toes. I would recommend his show to everyone!! Jeremy Winters, Co-Student Activites
Ashford University, Clinton, IA 10/16/14 50+ Mullany Theatre 5555555 I was a huge skeptic walking into his show and thought maybe it was going to be boring. This show was one of the best ones I have gone too on campus this year! Rebecca Wolfe, Student Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada 10/18/14 250 Carleton University 5555555 William Johnson, Student Engagement Coordinator
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Allen County Community College, Iola, KS 10/21/14 100+ College 5555555 Ryan Bilderback, Director of Student Life
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 10/27/14 35 UC Theatre 5555-54 Chris Carter was great. Many of the students asked when he would return. We are looking planning to have him return to the campus in the near future. Doris Blaine, Adult Student Association Program Chair
Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL 11/04/14 125+ Center Bridge 4555-55 Chris never disappoints! With the teasers before the show, the chairs get filled. Students look around in amazement as he performs. They walk away scratching their heads wondering how he did what he did. One of our favorite shows...we bring him back every year! Pam Dilday, Director of Student Activities Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, IA 11/06/14 100 Chapel 5555555 Our students loved him!! He was very engaging and definitely one of the more well attended shows we have had this year! Kat Niemann, Director of Student Engagement
Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette, Lafayette, IN 11/12/14 60 Multipurpose Room 5555555 Awesome show! Great for any audience. We are 100% commuter, so we can sometimes struggle with attendance. Chris came early and did a teaser. He thought he could still get a larger audience, and went out and did a second teaser. It was awesome! Our students loved him! I totally appreciate everything he did to help us have a great show. Kat Stremiecki, Director for Student Life Marian University, Indianapolis, IN 11/14/14 200 Alumni Hall 5555555 Ben Braksick, Director, Student Activities & Orientation CRAIG KARGES Karges Productions
Saint John Fisher College, Rochester, NY 10/23/14 185 Basil 135 5545433 Desire' Campbell, Programmer
University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL 11/11/14 200+ Palmer Auditorium 5555-55 Craig Karges was wonderful! All of our students enjoyed the show. The community has already asked when he will be coming again! Kristen Bowen, Coordinator of Student Life DANIEL MARTIN Bass/Schuler Entertainment
Quincy University, Quincy, IL 10/03/14 100+ Cafe 5555-55 Super helpful with setup, great to work with, audience loved him. Appropriate for family weekend which is what we brought him to campus for! Very original. Lizzie Richards, Campus Activities Graduate Assistant Ohio State UniversityNewark Campus, Newark, OH 10/15/14 107 Warner Center
5555555 Fantastic! Well received by students, very easy to work with and great entertainer. Dan will become a must have on our campus! Book him, you can't go wrong! Holly Mason, Director of Student Life
Dominican University, River Forest, IL 11/21/14 125 Social Hall 5555-55 Daniel was fantastic. He engaged the audience, crafted his show to our campus/students and made the entire experience a blast! Ian Van Anden, Student Involvement Cord. ERIC MINA GP Entertainment
Widener UniversityMain Campus, Chester, PA 10/17/14 296 Alumni Auditorium 5555555 Our show with Eric Mina was awesome. Eric was on time, professional, and very engaging with our students. He took very good care of the students on stage and was very easy to work with. We will definitely have him back in the future. Austin Duckett, Director of Student Engagement Neumann University, Aston PA 10/28/14 122 mpr 5555-55 This has been our biggest show outside of homecoming. Eric was able to connect with students very well. Everyone was entertained for the entire show. The show was really great! He kept the audience laughing and kept everyone stunned with his show. Kristina Christopher Lyons, Chair of Exploration Penn State Abington, Abington PA 10/27/14 200+ lares 5555555 Very interactive with the audience. The show was amazing. Absolutely hysterical. Will be coming back soon melanie, common break chair Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 11/22/14 400+ Union 5555555 He was awesome and his dining hall promo really created buzz on campus! Chase, Member of Entertainment Board
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington PA 12/06/14 125+ g and t 5555555 Eric had an amazing energy that lasted through the entire show! Best attendance that I have seen at an event and will definitely be bringing him back Sarah Fiore, Assistant Director of Student Activities FREDERICK WINTERS Bass/Schuler Entertainment
Mercer University, Macon, GA 11/06/14 75 Willingham Auditorium 4555-55 Mr. Winters was very pleasant to work with and really brought energy to the event. Khristopher Rodriguez, Quadsquad Member JOEL MEYERS GP Entertainment
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA 11/13/14 143 Red Zone 5555555 Such a great turn out! Joel was such an easy and nice person to work with, he put on a great show! Kristina Carey, Entertainment Chairperson
CAMPuS ACTIvITIES MAGAzINE速, January 2015, 11
Saint John Fisher College, Rochester, NY 11/14/14 80 Basil 135 4555445 Desire' Campbell, Programmer JOHN CASSIDY Sophie K. Entertainment
Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, NY 10/21/14 90 Student Center 555555Excellent in all regards. Easy to work with and great with the students. Jason Boring, Assistant Director for Student Activities JONATHAN BURNS Fresh Variety
Texas A & M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 10/16/14 60 Jones Auditorium 4455-5Jonathan Burns was great. Those who attended enjoyed the performance. We also liked that he personalized his shorts to say "Texas." Next time they should read "TAMUK" to really personalize it. Overall it was great! Loreal Robertson, Coordinator, Campus Activities
University of North Georgia-Gainesville, Gainesville, GA 10/22/14 400+ Student Center Stage 5555555 He was amazing! The crowd loved him. He is a very engaging entertainer who draws student participation effortlessly. Can't wait to have him back again! Brenda Adams, Coord. of Student Life Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA 10/26/14 40+ Scots Theater 5555-44 The show went over great, and the students seemed to really like the event! Marissa Connor, UPB Board Member
California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA 10/29/14 51 Vulcan Theatre 5435-54 The show was fun and Jonathan was very easy to work with. Those that attended seemed to have a good time. Robert O'Neill, MAD CHAD TAYLOR Bass/Schuler Entertainment
Gillette College, Gillette, WY 10/15/14 50+ TEC 5555-55 Chad was one of the easiest-to-work-with performers we've had. He communicated well with us about his needs for the show, and rolled with some minor setbacks that came up. Everyone that attended enjoyed the show, and he stuck around after to talk with audience members, answer their questions, and take pictures with them. Nicole Clark, Coordinator of Campus Life Sheridan College, Sheridan, WY 10/16/14 125+ Thorne-Rider Campus Center 5555555 The audience really enjoyed his humor, and the way that he engaged with the crowd was good. Deneese Stone, Programming Board Intern
Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD 10/17/14 140 Jacket Legacy Room 55555-5 Chad was great! He had a really cool attitude and awesome with the crowd. Shandell Clutter, Vice President
Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH 11/14/14 81 Founders Hall 4545544 Chad Taylor showed up right when he said he would and was ready to roll from the word 'go.' After the show, he was more than happy to chat with our programming board while tearing down and offer his experiences and words of wisdom from his years of being in the college circuit. I would highly recommend him to any college looking for a variety act. Brent Schroeder, Assistant Director of the University Event Complex MATT THE KNIFE Kramer Entertainment, Inc.
College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD 10/24/14 45 campus theatre 5555544 Matt the Knife was not what I expected. He was better! This professional performer stayed in constant communication with me, he was easy to get along with, he was engaging, and I enjoyed working with him. I have never experienced a performer have such a great rapport and "conversation" with the crowd and my students completely enjoyed it. I was hounded for three days straight by everyone who attended his performance BEGGING me to bring him back as soon as possible. Of course, I have rebooked him - without hesitation. I cannot wait to see what he does next time - his first gig will be hard to top! Thanks for being worth every penny and more, Matt the Knife! We can't wait to have you back! Anya Patterson, Student Life Coordinator
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV 10/30/14 200 Performing Arts Center 5555555 This is Matt's third appearance at WVWC. My students have requested him back each year. He puts on an amazing show! If you are looking for something different, funny, terrifying and entertaining, do yourself a favor a BOOK THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!! Roxanne Bright, Coordinator of Student Activities MICHAEL KENT Fresh Variety
University of North Texas System, Dallas, TX 11/10/14 50 Multi-Purpose Space 5555555 Michael's show was amazing (as always)! He's great at making the show the best it can be for the audience. The students LOVED the show! Jennifer Skinner, Assistant Director of Activities and Organizations SEAN BOTT Bass/Schuler Entertainment
Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL 10/25/14 156 Gymansium 5555555 Sean was amazing and I heard a lot of people say that we should bring him back! He was great and very easy to work with. I definitely recommend him. Brianna Klein, Special Events Chair TEAM M&M Everything But The Mime
Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 10/20/14 400+ Outside 4555554 Love Them!!!! Robin Vickery, Director Of Student Life
THE CRESCENT CIRCUS Wally's World Of Entertainment
University of Arkansas Community CollegeBatesville, Batesville, AR 10/20/14 364 Independence Hall 5555555
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Outstanding performance engaging the audience with comedy and suspense. Great show for ages 3 to 93! Provided a teaser on campus in the afternoon before the show to students which resulted in a 38% increase of students attending. Nathan is a born entertainer. Both were extremely easy to accommodate. Would highly recommend to other campuses. Beverly Moss, Assist to Vice Chancellor
NOVELTIES
AGATA'S FUN ZONECUSTOM BUMPER STICKERS Everything But The Mime
DANIEL HERNANDEZ JR Kirkland Productions
Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, MA 11/15/14 50 Harrington Learning Center 5555-54 Both Mr. Hernandez and Kirkland Productions were great to work with! I would encourage everyone to consider bringing Daniel to campus. He was informative and engaging! Jonathan Miller, Director of Student Life DEL SUGGS Del Suggs
Valencia College, Orlando, FL 10/16/14 200 College -555-55 Sunni Prevatt, Coordinator BALLOONS BY LESTER & BODY ART BY SUSAN Everything But The Mime
Bainbridge College, Bainbridge, GA 10/28/14 250 Outside Sidewalk 5555555 Justin Gravlee, Asst. Director of Student Life
Texas Woman's University (Houston, TX), Houston, TX 11/03/14 250 Fall Festival (indoors) 5555-55 The creations by both Lester and Susan were exceptional! Students were in utter awe with the creativity and exquisite talent displayed again and again - and yet again! Even in the midst of tests throughout the day, students did what they could to stop by and just breathe it all in. People are still talking about it, and asking when they will return. THANK YOU for this MOST GRACIOUS GIFT!!! The students were just delighted!!! Deborah Unruh, Assistant Director, Student Life IVAN PECEL Fresh Variety
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls, WI 10/11/14 300+ River Falls 5555555 Drew Moldenhauer, Student Life Intern
Saint Ambrose University, Davenport, IA 10/24/14 150+ Rogalski Center Ballroom 555555Ivan's performance was just the thing to kickoff our Family Weekend! His interaction with the crowd was appropriate and amazing. I would not hesitate in bringing him back to perform for a family friendly event. Jason Richter, Director of Student Engagement PHOTO BOOTH Kirkland Productions
SPEAKERS
Lamar State College-Port Arthur, Port Arthur, TX 11/03/14 75 Mascot birthday celebration -555555 Thanks for another great novelty event on campus! Claire Thomason, Dir of Student Activities
Wayne State College, Wayne, NE 10/17/14 15 Gardner Hall 5555--Del is a wonderful presenter, and has done a great job with WSC faculty and staff the last 2 times he's been on campus! We hope to be able to bring him here once a year!!! Kara Woehler, Retention Specialist TRiO
Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VA 10/30/14 35+ Classroom 5555-54 Del is great at connecting with the students. His knowledge of the material is wonderful and can convey this information very well. Linda Adams, Student Activities Coordinator ELAINE PASQUA Pasqua Productions, Inc.
Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 10/14/14 350 Maurice Stokes Athletics Center 5555--5 John Krimmel, Associate AD for Student-Athlete Academic Services
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 10/16/14 350 Gettysburg College Ball room 5555--Fantastic speaker - relates well to her audience. Great role plays to bring home the point. Very powerful and helpful!! Highly recommend!! Carol Cantele, Assistant Athletic Director JESSICA PETTITT Kirkland Productions
University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 10/21/14 100 Elliott Union 5555-5Emily Bergsieker, Assistant Director of Student Activities THE HOOK-UP Catharsis Productions
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 08/23/14 1200 Gusman Performance Hall 5555554 The speakers were engaging and knowledgeable. "The Hook-up" was said to be one of the best sessions during New Student Orientation. This session brought real conversation to a challenging topic. Matthew Barnes, Assistant Director, Orientation
PERFORMING ARTS
ANNA DAVID Kirkland Productions
Sheridan College, Sheridan, WY 11/05/14 13 Thorne-Rider Campus Center 5554--Deneese Stone, Programming Board Intern
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773.481.2600 (PH) 773.481.2601 (FX)
2014 BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE 2013 ENTERTAINERS OF THE YEAR Campus Activities Magazine
INFO@BASS-SCHULER.COM www.MissionIMPROVable.com
Of the hundreds of acts that agencies videos for each of these acts sele you make a decision abou
EMILY HEARN:
LONI LOvE:
DEGY: www.degy.com • site: www.emilyhearn.com
uTA: united Talent Agency (310) 273-6700
Operation Glow was the first mobile paint party EDM concert for hire in the united States. using gallons of uv paint shot through the air, foam pouring from the stage, confetti falling from the sky, and uv bubbles rushing through the extra space, Operation Glow gives you an addictive adrenalin rush the partygoers like to call “OG.” Forming in Chicago, IL and invading the Midwest is just the start of the rage. Operation Glow comes with many special effects to make sure the party never stops. The organic uv paint is certified safe, water based, edible and washable!
ROSS SzABO:
JOE PERA:
CAMPuSPEAK: info@campuspeak.com
KP COMEDY: booking@kpcomedy.com • 866.769.9037
“Songbird” might be the best word to describe Emily Hearn. With a charmingly melodic voice, the 24 year-old singer/songwriter from Griffin, Georgia delivers relevant lyrics over irresistible melodies that captivate wandering ears. In April of 2010, Emily independently released her debut EP, Paper Heart. Emily Hearn’s first full-length album, Red Balloon was released to iTunes and stores in January of 2012. Emily’s newest full-length release, Hourglass, will be released in Spring 2015.
JORDAN KEPPLER:
Jordan Klepper is currently a correspondent on THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART. On the show, he’s tackled topics such as College Football unions, Obamacare, Crimean invasions, and being naked with personal information written across his chest…all for the sake of comedy/news. Jordan has also appeared on IFC’s BuNK, MTv’s “I Just Want My Pants Back” and BTN’s “FRIDAY NIGHT TAILGATE. In addition to acting, he has also written for many shows including MTv2’s CHARLAMAGNE & FRIENDS and OFF THE BAT. uTA: united Talent Agency (310) 273-6700
Named Campus Activities Magazine’s “Hot Comics” in 2009 and one of variety’s “Top Ten Comics to Watch,” Loni has starred her own Comedy Central special, is a co-host on the CaféMocha Radio Show, and the Author of “Love Him or Leave Him-- But Don’t get Stuck with the Tab.” Loni has also be seen on shows such as CHELSEA LATELY, PREMIuM BLEND, THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, vH1’s I LOvE THE 70’s/80’s/90’s, and COMICS uNLEASHED.
Following his diagnosis with bipolar disorder at age 16, Ross turned his experience into an opportunity to educate others. Ross has spoken to over one million students about the importance of mental health, and through his personal story and expertise, provides a positive example to empower them to seek help. His natural ability to make difficult topics comfortable for large groups of people has helped him reach students nationwide, and has earned him credibility as an expert author and blogger for The Huffington Post.
OPERATION GLOW:
BASS/SCHuLER: bass-schuler.com 773-482-2600
Joe Pera is from Buffalo, NY, now living and performing in NYC at clubs such as Caroline's, The Stand , uCB Theater and MoMA PS 1. TheComicsComic.com described his measured and engaging delivery by saying, "...you hear something delightfully subversive and twisted coming from Pera's voice onstage -- despite it's tone and timbre, which suggests a down-home folksiness.” Joe created and hosted 'The Pancake Breakfast Critic' web series for MTv Other and appeared on Comedy Central's 'Adam Devine's House Party' this fall. As soon as he finds a wife, he will probably move back to Buffalo.
s asked us to look at for the coming year, here are our TOP 12 CHOICES. cted are available on our online edition for you to review that will help ut buying. Contact the agencies listed for routed date pricing.
JIMMY TATRO:
Jimmy Tatro is a comedian, filmmaker and YouTube personality. On his channel "Life According to Jimmy", Tatro mixes sketch comedy with his own spin on observations of everyday life. Tatro is particularly skilled at poking fun at college stereotypes, awkward situations, and a whole range of everyday comedic circumstances. Jimmy made his feature debut in Grown ups 2 with Adam Sandler and had a supporting role in 2014’s summer box-office hit, 22 Jump Street. uTA: united Talent Agency (310) 273-6700
GLOW RAGE / PAINT u:
GlowRage is bringing the ultimate Paint Party Experience to college campuses around the world with our "Paintu The ultimate Campus Party" tour! Paintu combines our washable water based neon paint, the hottest DJ’s, massive production elements, BlackliteFX and hundreds of partygoers to create a full-blown party experience. After doing over 300 shows in the collegiate & club markets the company has mastered every facet of throwing a professional, safe, and well attended event. Though Paintu has never showcased in the college market, on a conferenceby-conference basis Paintu is one of the top booked acts. The paint washes out, but the memories last forever. DEGY: Ari@Degy.com • 732-818-9600
MICHAEL C. ANTHONY:
vH1 calls him “The best Stage Hypnotist on the planet” Michael C. Anthony's show is an avant garde blend of the human psyche and eye popping theater. Michael has recently been cast as “The Hypnotist” in Illusionists 2.0 which is the largest touring illusion show in the world. Michael’s award winning act has been one of the most popular acts in college entertainment history. NEON: info@neon-entertainmnent.com
FRANGELA:
Frances Callier and Angela v. Shelton are real life best friends. Frangela was recently seen fighting of bugs and Speidi on NBC’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, they were on Oprah’s “Funniest Stand up’s in the Country” and known for their commentary on vH1’s Best Week Ever as ell as the hit film: He’s Just Not That Into You. Frances and Angela are regular “Pop Cultural Pundits” on NBC’s The Today Show and Dateline. Frances is in Disney’s Hannah Montana. Angela is in the Happy Madison films Strange Wilderness, Mardi Gras and House Bunny. She can also be heard in the animated film: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. SOPHIE K: www.sophiek.com • (877) 664-8559
JuSTIN JONES:
If you are looking for a young, dynamic speaker who will motivate and inspire your audience, then consider bringing Justin to campus. Students emerge from his programs excited, energized and ready for the challenges that face them in their college community. He is passionate about helping students do the right things and formulate action plans for their lives and campus communities. Students will be impacted by his energy, enthusiasm, and encouragement long after his keynote ends. CAMPuSPEAK: info@campuspeak.com
CHLOE HILLARD:
Chloe Hilliard is a larger than life comedian. Well, that's because she's 6'1 and rocks a killer afro. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in a large Hasidic Jewish neighborhood, Chloe has spun her unique experiences into side splitting laughs. In 2013 she made her stand up Tv debut on AXSTv's "Gotham Comedy Live", in 2014 was a top 30 finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, and will be showcasing at NACA Nationals in February ‘15 SuMMIT COMEDY: summitcomedy.com 800.947-0651
Feel free to comment on any subject in any edition of Campus Activities Magazine®. We will always protect your identity should we choose to print your comments. Names of Schools or Businesses are not given at the end of the commentary, just your first name and your generic location. We reserve to right not to print comments we feel are not in good taste or might be offensive to our readers. MAKING MORE MUSIC
I was just directed to your website for the first time in a CAB board meeting as we were looking for an act to fill a late cancellation in our spring schedule. We have always gotten your magazine but did not realize how much more information was on your website. The act we originally decided on was the result of a showcase at last year’s national conference and we were anxious to replace the act without any other resources available to us.
Then I saw the Hot Music Acts in your recent music issue and the website had videos for every act featured, I watched every single one of those videos and some were amazingly impressive. I was so excited that I called my committee together and we watched them all and we very impressed. The problem was that we had so many choices that we all liked, it was hard to come to a decision.
Understandably, showcases usually let you see the act with their best selections featured as do videos. Obviously the ones we liked had great production value and showed the artists in their very best light. But we selected three and then researched other videos for these acts and finally made an offer which we hope will be confirmed in a few days.
Thank you so much for making these artists available with such comprehensive information. We needed to make a decision right away and your site did the trick for us. We simply did not have the time to wait for another conference and even more disconcerting was that funds have not yet been approved for us to attend the 2015 National, so we could not rely on that plus we needed to make a decision for an early spring date. Could we have found another artist at the National...possibly. But this option was incredibly easy and while only four of us could attend the National, every member of the committee was
riers and his comedy was universal. Now with all the media coverage and all the allegations, we are glad we passed. The hosting school managed to escape any negative publicity because the date was well before any of the allegations hit the media causing national attention.
However, because our school and at least two others who might have been considering this block, are supported by religious funds, it would have been difficult to know what impact that might have had on future funding even though we had no knowledge of the allegations at the time. I have to consider this a streak of luck because we are careful in programming so that there is no negative feedback on our activities program. Even though this decision would have been made without any prior knowledge of what might be yet to come, there could have been a serious impact on funding for the school and our activities program.
involved in making this decision. The quality of the choices you offered in this issue were exceptional as were the videos featured. Megan, Dallas Area
NO COMPARISON HERE, REALLY?
Our school along with three others had considered Bill Cosby as a featured performer around our graduation ceremonies last spring. Unfortunately the routing just wasn’t working and we were extremely disappointed. But I believe one of the other campuses in our area ended up booking the show and from what I have heard the show sold-out and was considered a huge success. The ultimate advantage we considered was that Cosby crossed generational bar-
While I think Campus Activities Magazine strives to offer campuses across the nation the very best in available talent, including celebrity performers, I am sure you never saw this coming. My family all grew up watching Mr. Cosby and we never considered him anything but a clean and extremely funny comedian with true family values. Personally, I think it is tough to be tried by the media and this may be a situation very similar to Joe Paterno’s. Robert Green, Central PA
SEND COMMENTS TO: wckirbyjr@campusactivitiesmagazine.com 16, CAMpUS ACTIvITIES MAGAzINE®, January 2015
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he term full circle is thrown around a lot, but this seems to be a case in which the cliche´ fits. 10 years ago, the young up-and-coming band Something Corporate graced the cover of this very magazine, a band full of 20 year-olds and vigor. The writer of that particular story was no different.
T
Ten years and two projects later, while youth is not as close at hand, the vigor is still there in Andrew McMahon. And so is the writer. The interview starts off with a little bit of both Andrew and I a little shell shocked by the fact that a decade has elapsed seemingly in the span of a few minutes in both our careers and lives. There’s no doubt that at least
one of us has done very well with the time. “Dare I say that was as many as eleven years ago,” he jokes.
For folks not familiar with Something Corporate, many more will be with Andrew’s follow up gig, Jack’s Mannequin, which started as a solo project and developed into much more. It was very successful from its inception in 2004 to its wrap in 2012. Now, after a couple of years wandering, he is Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness. This is an exciting project for him because it combines the catalogs of the first two acts with the new, unexplored territory of the third. “In The Wilderness” is not his first rodeo. “For me, I like starting the rodeo over again, as you can probably tell from
my musical history. Something Corporate was my high school band and I was on the road with those guys as early on as 17 years old. When we last spoke we were probably about 20 (laughs). It was really an adventure for me, but we were in a band with our high school buddies. I think we were all ready to move on at the time we did. We were all ready to try new things and that is where Jack’s Mannequin was born. Jack’s had a run of a good 8 years on the road with 3 records, but there is something about the energy of starting fresh that has always been something I have been moved by. I find I am in the most inspired headspace when I am in a position to start over and reclaim new direction, sound,
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themes and topics to discuss. That is where Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness came from.”
While fresh starts can be a great thing, It hasn’t been an easy road for Andrew, and some of the reasons he’s had to move on in certain ways are a bit more complex. It’s not that he feels the need to jump from one to another or that they’ve gotten old; sometimes events and circumstances simply conspire to shape one’s path. “Both the endings and the beginnings have gone hand in hand. Something Corporate transitioning into Jack’s Mannequin was a little less deliberate than the more recent transition to the new project, but we did know at the time as a band that we were pretty burnt out. We had been on the road for four years straight at as many as
11 months a year. Not to complain, it’s a great job, but it can also be a grind and we had gotten to the point where we were all exhausted and I think that’s more than anything else why I started recording music on my own. Jack’s Mannequin just sort of sprang out of that.” This project was brought about with similar impetus and urgency, but darker underlying reasons. “There was an exhaustion factor when Jack’s wrapped up, not so much with my bandmates or the road in general as much as the state of the modern music business itself had taken its toll on me. I started to feel like I was growing cynical and I am by nature not a person that celebrates cynicism in my music. I try to inject a lot of hope and positivity and I realized that I could not keep
going making records in the scenario I was in. Having my deal shifted from label to label to label, having three sets of A&R guys and label presidents, etc. There was that moment of clarity when I stopped to ask myself ‘Do you really want to make a record when you’re in a bad headspace?’ I realized the answer was ‘no’ and I decided it was time to close up shop and transition out of the Jack’s Mannequin name and into something new.” The transition wasn’t easy nor was it immediate. “Truthfully, It took me a couple of years to figure out where I stood and what I wanted to do.” He wasn’t sitting on his hands, he just wasn’t dedicated solely to one project or anything of great importance…just an Emmy nomination…and a baby.
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Andrew did some writing for the NBC show “Smash” and of the three songs he wrote that were used on the show, one of them ‘I Heard Your Voice In A Dream’ received an Emmy Award nomination. Not long after, in February of 2014, he and his wife had their first child. “I wrote on television and on a couple of other people’s records, bouncing around for about a year before I even started considering the idea of making new music. It was at that moment that I started feeling really positive again and focused on making a record.”
Andrew refers to this period of his life as a “hard reset” and judging from the new record, it worked. But, he should know. This isn’t the first time he’s had to deal with personal struggles between he and his career. “I was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2005, just a couple of months before the first Jack’s Mannequin record was released. You find that these major changes upset the intended trajectory not just for your career, but your whole life and I am very blessed that I have had a great network around me. An awesome team, friends and family who helped me stay on track and 24
get well. We were able to continue to put out successful records in the wake of my recovery.”
or influence.”
Something that takes place with far more prior knowledge (usually) and influence (always) and constitutes Such a major life change swayed the most significant life change is major inspiration in Andrew’s music parenthood, and new life has been as well. “I’m always a person who a far more enjoyable factor on Anhas believed in writing about your drew’s musical headspace than life and the moment that you are in, that of the specter of sickness and so disruption can also breed great death. “Parenthood is a fascinating thing and there are a lot of elements that have lead up to the shift of making this record. The birth of my daughter is certainly a big one. I feel like things were so chaotic in my life leading up to the couple of years before she was born and my goal in that period of time was to reclaim a little bit of grounding and centered approach to living. When she got here, as chaotic as it is to have a kid in itself, there was a certain amount of peace that came with it, which I wasn’t anticipating. I was prepared for it to be all sleepless nights and screaming and messes to Photo: clean up. Even Brendan Walter though those things exist, I feel like it has all had a art. I don’t think there is any con- positive influence on my creative trolling the circumstances of your space, my headspace and my well life and I try my best to do what I being. I feel like there is more can to keep the train on the tracks, focus in my life than I’ve had in a fully acknowledging that there are long time.” things that will derail it from time to time without your prior knowledge We don’t always just get old and
, CAMpUS ACTIvITIES MAGAzINE®, January 2015
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slow and angry at anything loud and fast as we age, there are 90 year olds out there who live like kids and there is also something to be said for wisdom and his maturity. For Andrew and his musical style, it’s a mix, nothing so cut and dried as assuming all his work from Something Corporate was fast, loud and angry any more than all of his work from In The Wilderness is soft, slow and contemplative. “It’s interesting to think about it that way, because I think the answer to the question of ‘maturing’ as a musician and a writer is a yes and no (laughs), for me at least. In this moment, I have more energy than I have had in years and I think that is part of the reason I pursued the ‘hard reset’ when I did. I feel like what really matters in music and art is inspiration. Over the years I feel like my pursuit has been the same, in that I always want to find a way to contribute to the modern conversation and be a member of a contemporary culture of artists. I think there is something that happens to a lot of people in the world of art in general; it is the idea that after a certain age or level of accomplishment one can sit back and rest on their laurels. They believe they already have the answers. I was raised to believe you never have all the answers and to always pursue them, because they change, as do the questions we ask as we grow and the world moves.”
Bringing it back to the question of his musical evolution, the fact that Andrew has more energy now than ever means listeners hear that energy transferred into the music. Combine that with maturity and experience as a songwriter AND the fact that he brought in other artists of all ages and stripes to collaborate on this album, and you have a sound that www.campusactivitiesmagazine.com
is timeless and broadly interesting. “I purposefully set out to collaborate with a lot of different artists on this record, some of them younger than me, some of them older. People who are deep into their careers and some who are just starting. I feel there is a lot we can learn from people on either sides of our own career experience or trajectory. I feel as though my sound, as it relates to that, is a lot fresher than my last record, not that I don’t still love it. But this time I was really working on taking contemporary and classic sounds and molding them together to make them my own. I wanted to make a record that felt not just like me, but myself in the modern world. I tend to find that those are my best records, the ones where I am listening as much as I am talking.” The campus market is one that has been home to Andrew for quite some time, finding great success with both of his former projects among students. “I think the fact of the matter is that high school and college age people are in a place where music plays the biggest role in their life. I laugh because I have friends who at some point in their 20’s just stopped listening to modern music (laughs). They say ‘Oh, I’m good with what I’ve got now.’ I just didn't think that was a relevant concept or even an option for me. The idea of getting older and then not pursuing fans in their teens and 20’s because I am not in my teens or 20’s is, to me, a ridiculous notion. I think that is a sign someone may not be connected to the larger scheme of music, which is to reach people.”
It’s true that many acts grow out of the campus market with their fans, continuing to play for the demographic around their age until their
wick burns out. Andrew employs a little more forward thinking, and because of his unique sound, style and ability to relate, he has remained relevant to the youth demographic into his 30’s. “I love the idea of making music for my peers and people who are my age, but I have been in love with that idea since I was 9 years old (laughs). I have also always wanted to reach people in their 30’s and 40’s. I have always wanted to reach people on the opposite spectrums of their lives, as young and old as will have me. The idea of me getting older and that somehow my audience would age out of the college market with me…to not pursue every person I could possibly reach is crazy to me.” This young(ish) writer of articles could never compare to the succinct summation that young(ish) writer of songs delivers to wrap: “I think when it comes down to it, writing music is a popular art form and you try to find the themes and ideas in your life that you can communicate in a way that connects them to the largest group of people possible. The college market is consistently one which has had a very high percentage of these people for me. “From where I am standing, these concepts of love and change and growth and fear and all of the things that go along with them are universal and belong to the world. Not just one age or demographic of listener.” For more information on bringing Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness to your campus, contact Josh Humiston at APA at (310) 888-4267 or jhum@apa-agency.com
CAMPuS ACTIvITIES MAGAzINE®, January 2015, 25
KAYTE GRACE Small Venue Artist
VON SHAKES Music Artists
VLADIMIR CAMNAANO Diversity Artist
JOHN CASSIDY Variety Artist
AKNU Fastest Rising Stars
DAVE & ETHAN Comedy Artists
FRANGELA Female Artists
SOPHIE K ENTERTAINMENT Nominated 2015 Agency Of The Year SOPHIE K ENTERTAINMENT • WWW.SOPHIE K.COM TOLL FREE: (877) 664-8559
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This year ALL voting must be done online. Simply go to our website at campusactivitiesmagazine.com and click on the “VOTE HERE” section on our homepage to be taken to the official ballot. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE IN EVERY CATEGORY. If there are artists that you are unfamiliar with, skip that section and go to the next category. ONLY ARTISTS AND AGENCIES may vote for Campus Of The Year. ONLY CAMPUS BUYERS may vote for Agency Of The Year. DEADLINE FOR VOTING IS 11:59 PM MARCH 1, 2015
BEN SEIDMAN: Ben Seidman is the Resident Magician at Mandalay Bay, Resort and Casino in Las vegas. For three-seasons he was creative consultant for Mindfreak on A&E, during which he designed the illusions performed by Criss Angel. He uses sleight-of-hand and manipulations to pick-pockets, read minds and suspend disbelief. His performances weave these moments around comedy and stories about living in vegas. DAN HENIG: Taking his influences from artists as varied as Coldplay, Leonard Cohen, and Led zeppelin, Dan creates distinctive and unforgettable original music. His songs are catchy and inspired, with a lyrical depth that you might not expect at first listen. Dan has a unique ability to remain accessible without “selling out”. He encourages audience participation and spontaneitty.
DAKABOOM: Music driven Comedy duo DAKABOOM combines musical genres to modernize and reinvent the vaudeville art form. These two great friends have credits like Ben being on General Hospital and The Sing Off and paul was the original piano player on the first season of GLEE. They blew up NACA Nationals last year as the top booked act. FRANK DEVILLE: At the age of 17, Frank Deville discovered a natural knack for magic. He was soon performing on the street, bringing in enough money to pay for his BFA in Theatre from George Mason University. Frank captivates individuals with his upclose sleight of hand and impossible tricks. This magic show is a unique blend of side-splitting comedy and jaw dropping magic.
KAYTE GRACE: "praised by the washington post as "impressive" and "a talented musician" and featured for a week by YouTube, Kayte Grace (the cousin of 5 time Grammy winner victor wooten) is three albums deep just a few years after teaching herself to play guitar. The heart of Kayte's music is her live show, performing over 200 shows in 19 states, including a performance during SXSw at Red Gorilla Music Fest (Austin, TX). COMETRY: COMETRY has developed a unique new art form that blends comedy and performance poetry. we use this technique to amuse and educate students. COMETRY's message teaches valuable leadership, social, and diversity skills, while also keeping listeners entertained and engaged. COMETRY has different two programs they offer for campues: the G.R.A.v. program and the L.I.p. program.
DYNAMIC DUO: They are poetry’s favorite crime fighting pair. Heralded for their high energy live performances involving complex dual voice work, comedy, and emotionally raw poetry panama Soweto and Ken Arkind have brought their show to both coasts. They weave together pop culture with social issues and life experience to deliver a performance that leaves the audience impressed and wanting more. LACEY ROOP: Lacey placed 6th at the Women of the World Poetry Slam and has been ranked the number one female poet in Austin for the past three years. Lacey has also represented Austin twice at the Individual World Poetry Slam as well has been a two-time member of the Austin Poetry Slam. She has shared stages with artists ranging from Pushcart Prize nominee Andrea Gibson to the Grammy Award-winning band The Wailers.
VLADIMIR CAAMANO: with the name “vladimir” no one expects a Dominican from The Bronx to take the stage. vladimir is an NBC Standup for Diversity Finalist and was a popular member of the 2013 tour. Most recently, he’s been seen on AXS.Tv’s “Gotham Comedy Live”, Standup 360, ComedyTime, and NUvO Tv’s “Standup and Deliver”. JEFFREY JAY: Jeffrey Jay is a transgender comedian, comedy writer for the Feast of Fun podcast, and public speaker. Jeffrey entered the college market in 2013 and within a year was selected to showcase at EvERY NACA conference within that calendar year! He is a three time winner of qLive’s LGBT It Only Makes Me Laugh open mic competition, and a Finalist in The Funniest Comic in Texas 2012.
KAZUAL: Kazual is one of the hottest and freshest Acapella Troupes to hit the market!, Kazual’s sound is SMOOTH, RICH and REFINED. Blending beats with ballads, these guys bring an audience to their feet. With crowd-pleasing covers and original arrangements, Kazual is SERIOuS entertainment for everyone! Kazual blends harmonious styles and eclectic mixes with choreographed dance and dub-step.
VON SHAKES: von Shakes, “One of Ireland’s greatest live acts in years,” (Today FM) are the latest Irish Import to embody the sound of youth, angst, and chaos as they take over American soil. paddy Brazel (vocals/guitar), Hugh O’Reilly (guitar/backing vocals), Cillian McSweeney (bass/backing vocals), and Ryan Normandin (drums) bring their vivacious rock swagger to every gig they do.
BRAZILIAN 2WINS: Recently featured on the cover of Campus Activities Magazine, the Brazilian 2wins continue to excite and captivate with their charismatic on-stage persona and incredibly high energy musical performances. Featuring a lead violin and ukulele, they are known internationally for their signature look and one-of-a-kind sound. Their ability to incorporate different genres is an unforgettable entertainment experience.
WILL CHAMPLIN: will is a multi Grammy Award-winning songwriter and “The voice” Top 3 Finalist. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, this accomplished singer-songwriter and versatile multi-instrumentalist has performed, recorded and toured extensively with legendary artists such as Michael Jackson, Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Santana and Billy Ray Cyrus.
FIVE TIMES AUGUST: Five Times August is the solo project of singer/songwriter Bradley James Skistimas. Often noted as the poster child of "Do It Yourself" indie artists, Skistimas' music with FTA has been licensed over 80 times to popular Tv shows, commercials, and indie films. Five Times August was the first completely unsigned artist in history to get an album nationally distributed across the United States in walmart stores. DEL SUGGS: It would be tough to find anyone in the College Market who has changed more lives than Del Suggs. His leadership and higher ed programs emphasize personal leadership skills, organizational techniques, and interpersonal skills in ways that truly empower student leaders. Del teaches students to maximize their leadership skills while using the technology they love. His book “Truly Leading: Lessons in Leadership” is in it's sixth printing since 2009
AMAN ALI: Aman Ali is an award winning storyteller and one of the most popular social media personalities in the Muslim community today. with a background in newspaper reporting, Aman is a provocative, engaging and relevant speaker. He's made appearances on dozens of media outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, HBO, ABC News, and NpR to talk about his upbringing as a 20-something Muslim born and raised in America. SEX SIGNALS: “Sex Signals” provides a provocative in-your-face look at the issues of dating, sexual assault/harassment, date rape, the core issue of consent, and bystander intervention strategies. Students are thus engaged in a candid discussion on dating and the realities of consent as they are challenged to provide solutions that will better improve communications in interpersonal relationships. It has become one of the most talked about lecture programs
GIRLS FIGHT BACK: The GFB presentation is conducted by professionally trained speakers and self-defense instructors who explain how to live the unstoppable life you desire without fear, how to trust your intuition, how to address violence in social situations, and how to create a safer campus environment, . . . but, most importantly how to LIvE and LOvE your life in the process and know that YOU ARE wORTH FIGHTING FOR. SHOT OF REALITY:: From Mission IMpROvable comes a show that combines improv comedy, audience participation, and education. It provides an honest, engaging, humorous and sober look at alcohol awareness on campus. It educates students about encountering alcohol in a college environment. A Shot of Reality will make audiences laugh, think, and inform their behavior towards alcohol.
ASH BECKHAM: with an arresting blend of urgency and humor, Ash takes on topics like being trapped in a closet, the difference between tolerance and acceptance, and the need to remove the word “gay” as a pejorative from our lexicon. with wildly funny and poignant stories, and a tough yet deeply compassionate stance, Ash tells us how to take off the armor. Ash declares to her audiences “Hard is Hard. There is no Harder. There is only Hard.”
JESSI CAMPBELL: performing at over 300 college campuses, Jessi Campbell is an energetic and passionate comedian performing her unique blend of high-energy story-telling and dead-pan sarcasm. She has performed at the Boston Comedy Festival, Great American Comedy festival & was written for “Life and Style” Magazine. Jessi was the people’s Choice winner for the 2009 Aspen RooftopComedy Festival.
DARRELLE LONDON: with the Toronto Star writing that Darrelle London “Reminds one of Kate Nash channeling Jill Sobule with a dash of Ben Folds,” it’s no wonder that London’s playful sound has earned her many fans, including some global tastemakers. Darrelle’s burgeoning career include touring North America, being chosen by Sarah McLachlan to perform at Lilith Fair, and placing her music on hit shows like 90210.
ALYSIA WOOD: Alysia Wood’s CD, “Princess”, released by Grammy award-winning producer, Dan Schlissel of Stand up! Records and was featured in the “New & Noteworthy” section of iTunes, selected by the Serious Comedy Site as a “2012 Top 10 Stand-up Comedy MP3 albums and CD“ and is available on virgin Airlines flights. She was recently featured in the documentary, “I Am Road Comic”, Hulu's West Coast Comedy and Niecy Nash’s Yahoo series, “Let’s Talk About Love.”
ERIC DITTELMAN: Eric Dittelman is probably best known as a semi-finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”. Having amazed all of America on national Tv, he continues to perform at colleges, comedy clubs and corporate events all across the country. He combines amazing mind reading with stand-up and improv comedy and has honed his comedy skills with Second City, Upright Citizen's Brigade and Improv Boston.
RUDY FRANCISCO: As an artist, Rudy Francisco combines activism and poetry to enlighten the minds of those who witness his performance. Rudy eloquently absorbs the experiences of those around him, synthesizes them and converts their stories into poetry. He has made conscious efforts to cultivate young poets and expose the youth to the genre of Spoken word poetry through workshops.
G. YAMAZAWA: At 24 years old, George "G" Yamazawa, Jr. is widely considered one of the top young spoken word artists in the U.S.,Born and raised with a Buddhist background, G is a National poetry Slam Champion, two-time Individual world poetry Slam Finalist, and 3x Southern Fried Champion. He has toured in over 40 American cities and 5 European countries, and has been a featured performer at the Sundance.
JOEL MEYERS: Joel Meyers, a young interactive comedy illusionist who has already taken the world by storm. Performing a progressive brand of magic for celebrities and audiences of all types and ages worldwide. Newsweek magazine says Joel quite simply "will capture your imagination. Joels varied and impressive résumé includes everything from star performances off Broadway, to countless shows for IFortune 500 Companies,
FRANGELA: Frances Callier and Angela v. Shelton are real life best friends. Frangela was seen on NBC’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, they were featured on Oprah’s “Funniest Stand Up’s in the Country” episode, they’re well known for razor sharp commentary on vH1’s Best week Ever and brought hilarity to the big screen in the hit film He’s Just Not That Into You. Frances and Angela are regular “pop Cultural pundits” on NBC’s The Today Show and Dateline.
GARY JOHNSON: Gary is a Highly-Interactive Entertainer who has shared the stage with dozens of multi-platinum groups, playing sold out venues. He has recorded and toured with former members of The Fray, Seether, Breaking Benjamin, Boston, and others. Gary has received rave reviews on his fully-interactive show which promotes overwhelming crowd participation,
EH 440: Eh440, an award winning acappella group from Toronto Canada They have been honoured with the Galaxie Rising Star Award and recently appeared on the hit show Dragons’ Den … and got a deal (Canada’s version of Shark Tank). They cover contemporary pop songs that everybody knows and loves but the real focus is on writing and arranging their own original material. AKNU: Receiving a standing ovation on Fox’s The X Factor, AKNU were featured on MTv and in Italian vogue, Ebony, and vanity Fair magazines. Despite a turbulent upbringing, the brothers found an escape in their love of music and dance. Their passion for creating and performing music has honed their incredible natural talent and turned them into dynamic and inspiring performers
KAYCIE GUNN: Kaycie is a versatile and dynamic artist. A bit of a walking paradox, with long raven tresses, sweet dimples and southern charm, this Texas girl has a passion for rap, rhyme and rhythm that permeates everything she does. Beat boxing, live loop technology and original lyrics make Kaycie's performances innovative and without limits! with vulnerability, passion, attitude and raw talent, Kaycie crafts a lyric and a beat that are contagious and unforgettable. MITCH CLARK: Mitch Clark was not a musician growing up; he was a golfer. In college, the golf program recruiter gave him an old guitar, and since that day Mitch’s life has taken a huge turn to music. His college debut in January 2014 marked the beginning of Mitch becoming one of the most booked artists on the college scene, having been booked at 87 colleges to date.
NICK GUERRA: Nick Guerra has blasted onto the comic scene and has quickly become one of the most memorable comedians you will ever see. Originally from Texas, Nick can be seen all over the country touring with Jo Koy, Michael Yo, and pablo Francisco. Nick has recently appeared on fellow comic Gabriel Igelsias's hit Comedy Central series – Stand Up Revolution and blew the crowd away with his comedic approach on relationships.
MAT FRANCO: Mat has developed a unique performance style that blends college humor with shocking magic. He is recognized for creating interactive presentations for his audiences that allow for spontaneity and improvisation. In early 2014, Mat decided to enter NBC's America's Got Talent competition. Competing against a wide variety of the country's top talent, Mat emerged as the first magician to win the show's top spot.
JUSTIN WILLMAN: Justin willman is a magician, comedian and Tv host best known for his regular appearances on The Tonight Show, Ellen and Comedy Central. He also hosts the hit show, Cupcake wars on the Food Network. Back in the day (2007-2010), Justin was named CampusActivities Magazine’s “Entertainer of the Year” for a record FOUR years in a row. Justin is now in production on his own magic variety show pilot for Comedy Central along with executive producer Chris Hardwick. GABRIEL IGLESIAS: Gabriel Iglesias has been described as a witty, electrifying and talented performer, who has the ability to consistently deliver a uniquely hilarious comedy experience. His high-octane show is a sure-fire hit: a mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects that bring all his personal experiences to life. Gabriel’s unique and animated comedy style has made him popular among fans of all ages.
TOM COTTER: Tom Cotter was the first comedian to reach the finals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”. His runner up finish on the show has catapulted him to the comedic stratosphere. He has also won the Seattle International Comedy Competition, the grand prize at The Boston Comedy Festival and was voted "Best Stand-Up" at The Las vegas Comedy Festival. Credits include The Tonight Show, “Last Comic Standing”, The Today Show and his own series, TwO-FUNNY. CAPITAL CITIES: Capital Cities first came together as a duo of composers/songwriters Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian. The two initially met on craigslist in 2008 and worked as jingle writers until they formed the band in 2010. They released an Ep independently in 2011 that included the song "Safe and Sound," an upbeat mesh of programming and melody that went viral and gained the act a lot of Internet exposure.
NEW YORK PARTY WORKS: NY party works is fully insured for $6,000,000 of general liability, and a direct source for all interactive entertainment needs. we will gladly help you coordinate any party that you are planning.provgding everything from tents, tables and chairs to food and all the games, amusements and photo systems.Our pricing is very competitive, but if you get a documented quote that is lower, we will match or beat it.
RECORD-A-HIT: we celebrated our 28th anniversary in 2014. we take great pride in our fun, interactive attractions including the Iceless Skating Rink, Spot My photos, Ultimate Laser Tag GLOw, photo Cell phone Cases, Street Signs, Game Hero and Open photo Booth. Over 200 awesome attractions allow us to help with almost any event in any location nationwide. we are very grateful for the nomination!.
FUN ENTERPRISES: They have hundreds of different programs from photo and artistic to entertainment and education, each leaving your guests with an experience related to the goals of your event. They begin the process by listening and evaluating your client needs andr expectations then look at the programs available to see how to tie them into the experience you are trying to create. EVERYTHING BUT THE MIME: Our goal is to represent genuinely nice people who offer high quality entertainment at affordable prices." with that mission statement, Everything but the Mime was founded in 1988. Carol prides herself on personal interaction and promises not to do business like your "typical agent." we're not like any other agency you've ever dealt with.
CEP, INC.: CEpis a National Award winning full service Novelty variety Company specializing in, unique interactive entertainment and prides itself on being the Industry leader, like ‘Bongo Ball Mania’ and‘Intensity Game Show.’ The pEERS division knows how to make learning fun, educational and informative when your event counts, you can count on CEp to do it right! MAD CHAD TAYLOR: There’s only one thing more entertaining than a madman juggling chainsaws, and that’s when he drops one. This Guinness world Record holder has juggled everything from working video cameras to bowling balls that he can catch with his head. From learning to juggle a chainsaw in a week’s time for a television commercial to his first attempt at street theater in venice Beach at 13, Mad Chad keeps the audience enthralled!
MARK TOLAND: Mark Toland's spectacles have captivated audiences nationwide. As a mind reader he combines expertise in mentalism, psychology, and hypnotism to blow your mind. It's easy to see why colleges call Mark's show "a must have on your campus!".
JOHN CASSIDY: A comedian, magician and Guinness world Record Holding Balloon Sculptor, Conan O’Brien, The Today Show, and Live with Regis & Kelly. John’s “Balloon Freak Show”, with its own unique mixture of comedy, magic and “really weird things with balloons” has received rave reviews at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood, Monday Night Magic in New York, on Disney Cruise Lines and hundreds of colleges.
JONATHAN BURNS: Jonathan Burns always thought he was special. He was the kind of kid who would put his leg over his head at the family reunion or perform musical armpit farts to impress the girls. In 2004, contorting his body and impressing people with his unusual talents became his full-time job. Since then he has performed at over 300 colleges & universities andvoted "Best variety Artist" by Campus Activities Magazine. CHRIS RUGGIERO: Chris Ruggiero delivers a memorable performance that is created specifically for your event in the One Man variety Show. From juggling knives to riding a unicycle and executing impossible balance tricks, nothing is off-limits in the show! Chris seamlessly combines amazing abilities with audience involvement to leave the audience in a state of laughter and amazement.
RONNIE JORDAN: Ronnie has been featured on BET's Comic view, Martin Lawrence presents The 1st Amendment Stand-up, and p. Diddy presents Bad Boys of Comedy. Ronnie is quickly making a name for himself as a comic’s comic who has shared performance dates with stand-up heavyweights: Kevin Hart, Mike Epps, Sinbad, and Dave Chappelle. Known as a road warrior, Ronnie did102 college shows in 112 days all over the country.
JEN KOBER: Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Kober has taken her southern style and has quickly become a nationally recognized headliner - bringing crowds to their feet with her original blend of stand-up, story telling, and improvised rock-n-roll comedy. Credits include Anger Management, the Mindy project, HBO, Showtime and Standup in Stilettos on Tv Guide Network.
DAVE & ETHAN: Dave Ahdoot and Ethan Fixell have garnered over 8.5 million YouTube views with their videos about dating. These romance experts interview students and researchthe culture to custom tailor their shows with hilarious dating advice-themed demonstrations, improvisations, original songs. They've performed at over 250 colleges and were nominated as 2013's Entertainers of the Year in Campus Activities Magazine.
ADAM GRABOWSKI: Adam Grabowski is the highest rated comedian in the nation according this very magazine and thousands of colleges across the country. Activities boards have rated Adam as the best comedian for a remarkable 4 straight years! After winning the Best Comedy performer award in 2013, Adam went on to place second in the race for 2014 Entertainer of the Year.
UNIV CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Campus Activities Board (CAB) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is comprised of eight different committees, each responsible for various types of events including large-scale concerts and comedy shows, speakers, the Mr. and Miss UCF Scholarship pageants, movie screenings, and so much more. CAB is completely funded and ran by dedicated UCF students who provide entertainment for 60,000 students each year!
CO SCHOOL OF MINES: The Mines Activities Council is a premiere organization that continually breaks the mold of campus programming. They are responsible for planning Homecoming, off-campus events, Friday Afternoon Club, outreach events, publicity, movie nights, special events, and E-Days, a 3day 81 year old campus tradition celebrating Engineers and miners and their history on campus.
LOUIS RAMEY: with 3 Comedy Central specials, plus The Tonight Show, The view, vH1, MTv and becoming a finalist in Last Comic Standing, His standup routine could be seen in over 170 movie theaters across the United Kingdom in "The Comedy Store, Raw and Uncut." A favorite at comedy festivals worldwide, Louis has recently won the 2014 Gilda's LaughFest Audience Favorite Clean Comedy Award.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY: "Stanford University's Cardinal Nights program puts on alcohol free programming every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through the academic year. The program is ran by one professional staff member and 9 student staff. programs range from craft nights to large scale comedians and concerts. Over the past year, Cardinal Nights had over 26,000 attendees and 170 events." UNIVERSITY OF AKRON: The zips programming Network (zpN) is the all-campus programming board that sponsors activities like Homecoming, Family weekend, Adult & Family programs, Movie Series and more. Residence Hall program Board (RHpB) activities include welcome weekend, the Emerging Leaders program, Hall Fest, Sibs Saturday, Residence Life Cinema, road trips, novelty events, the Coffeehouse Series, and Entertainment Series. .
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY: C.A.p.E. ,Campus Activities programming Eventsis the organizatioon that ahndles most of the vents on the Southern New hampshire Universitry Campus. Recently programmed were The Theory of a Deadman Concert and Gavin DeGraw. The university has approximately 1,900 traditional, full-time undergraduate day students and a total enrollment in all divisions of about 9,425
DEGY ENTERTAINMENT In 2001, Degy Booking International, Inc. launched as the booking arm of Degy Entertainment, and quickly grew to a client base of nearly 100 music acts. Over time, the company developed specialties in the college and military fields, and became one of the most prominent agencies in the world for such niche bookings. The company now books over 2000 events each year.
H0ULA ENTERTAINMENT: is an entertainment promotions and booking company. They coordinates artists for the college/university markets, fairs, festivals, concerts, and private events. Talented artists entertain audiences from the very small and intimate to the very large festival-type.Our musical artists are from various genres of music. Our variety performers that are based in various cities throughout the United States.
METROPOLIS MGMT: With 20+ years in the entertainment industry, Metropolis is a boutique agency that focuses on representing diverse,talented, professional and friendly entertainers and artists. Metropolis strives to provide the highest level of services to our clients and customers. As a trusted and respected agency, they lend considerable expertise and knowledge towards making every event a success for customers.
SOPHIE K ENTERTAINMENT. Sophie K is a full-service entertainment agency meeting the needs of colleges/universities, corporate events, festivals and clubs. we consider ourselves more of a boutique agency for stand up comedians, bands and variety artists allowing us to pay closer attention to the artists and the customers. we’re thrilled to be nominated. we sincerely appreciate it and we appreciate your business even more.
PETER BOIE: peter Boie Magician for Non-Believers captivates audiences across the country with his award winning magic that will defy your reality. His show leaves his audience gasping, laughing, and thoroughly entertained. The rave reviews are piling up making him one of the most in demand college performers in the country. peter lives in Maine and his favorite color is orange.
THE ASIA PROJECT: As one of the highest booked acts in the college market, The Asia project is the premier spoken word artists in the country.
SAILESH: with more than 15 years under his belt, SAILESH, has performed at a staggering 400+ Colleges and Universities, many with repeat bookings. He is the most sought after hypnotist and variety performer for Orientations, Family weekends, Spring Festivals and Late Night Events. Dubbed “The world’s Best Hypnotist”, his live show is a cross between a concert and the best party ever!
CHLOE HILLIARD: "Chloe Hilliard is a larger than life comedian. well, that's because she's 6'1 and rocks a killer afro. Raised in a large Hasidic Jewish neighborhood, Chloe has spun her unique experiences into side splitting laughs. In 2013 she made her stand up Tv debut on AXSTv's "Gotham Comedy Live", in 2014 was a top 30 finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, and will be showcasing at NACA Nationals in February ‘15.
KIRKLAND PRODUCTIONS KP COMEDY:: Kirkland productions is an entertainment agency specializing in entertainment, cultural, and educational programs for colleges and universities across the country. we pride ourselves on offering professional entertainers, quality programs, and the highest level of service to our customers. Our sister company, Kp Comedy, specializes in providing the best comedians for college campuses nationwide.
DANIEL MARTIN: This year Daniel Martin was recognized by Campus Activities Magazine as the highest rated/best reviewed performer in the college market. His high-energy blend of insane magic and sarcastic improv consistently lead to standing ovations and record-breaking attendance nationwide. He has been nominated Entertainer of the Year three times.
with over 350 schools in the past three years, a HBO Def poetry appearance and a TEDx speaker it’s no wonder why they continue to set the bar for spoken word.
2015 OFFICIAL LIST OF NOMINEES vOTE ON-LINE NOw DEADLINE IS 11:59 pM, MARCH 1. VOTE ONLINE AT campusactivitiesmagazine.com CLICK THE “VOTE HERE” SECTION ON OUR HOME PAGE TO BE TAKEN TO THE OFFICIAL BALLOT
ONLY ONE BALLOT PER READER. YOu DO NOT HAvE TO vOTE IN EvERY CATEGORY. DO NOT SEND IN PAPER BALLOTS BY MAIL OR FAX. ALL vOTING MuST BE DONE ONLINE. #1 BEST SMALL VENUE ARTIST ❑ Ben Seidman (Summit) ❑ Dan Henig (Metropolis) ❑ Kayte Grace (Sophie K) ❑ Dakaboom (Degy) ❑ Frank Deville (Kirkland)
#6 BEST MALE ARTIST ❑ Eric Dittelman (Franco) ❑ G. Yamazwa (Neon) ❑ Gary Johnson (GP) ❑ Rudy Francisco (NMP) ❑ Joel Meyers (GP)
#11 BEST COMEDY ARTIST ❑ Ronnie Jordan (Degy) ❑ Dave & Ethan (Sophie K) ❑ Louis Ramey (Cutting Edge Ent) ❑ Jen Kober (Admire) ❑ Adam Grabowski (self)
#3 BEST MUSIC ARTIST ❑ Kazual (Metropolis) ❑ Brazillian 2Wins (Houla) ❑ Five Times August (Degy) ❑ Von Shakes (Sophie K) ❑ Will Champlin (Houla)
#8 MAJOR ARTIST ❑ Mat Franco (Franco) ❑ Justin Willman (CAA) ❑ Gabriel Iglesias (CAA) ❑ Tom Cotter (Neon) ❑ Capital Cities (APA)
#13 AGENCY OF THE YEAR ❑ Degy Entertainment ❑ Metropolis Management ❑ Kirkland Productions ❑ Houla Entertainment ❑ Sophie K Entertainment
#2 BEST DIVERSITY ARTIST ❑ Cometry (W2 Ent) ❑ Dynamic Duo (Metroplolis) ❑ Lacey Roop (Neon) ❑ Vladimir Camaano (Sophie K) ❑ Jeffrey Jay (Summit)
#4 BEST SPEAKER ❑ Del Suggs (Self) ❑ Aman Ali (Metropolis) ❑ Sex Signals (Catharsis) ❑ Girls Fight Back! (Kirkland) ❑ A Shot of Reality (BSE) #5 BEST FEMALE ARTIST ❑ Ash Beckham (Kirkland) ❑ Darrelle London (Houla) ❑ Frangela (Sophie K) ❑ Jessi Campbell (Summit) ❑ Alysia Wood (Neon)
#7 FASTEST RISING STAR ❑ Eh 440 (Houla) ❑ AKNU (Sophie K) ❑ Nick Guerra (KP Comedy) ❑ Kaycie Gunn (Metropolis) ❑ Mitch Clark (Houla)
#9 BEST NATIONAL NOVELTY AGENCY ❑ New York Party Works ❑ Record-A-Hit ❑ CEP, Inc. ❑ FUN Enterprises ❑ Everything But The Mime #10 BEST VARIETY ARTIST / LIVE ❑ Mad Chad Taylor (BSE) ❑ Mark Toland (MT Productions) ❑ John Cassidy (Sophie K) ❑ Jonathan Burns (Fresh Variety) ❑ Chris Ruggiero (NMP)
#12 BEST CAMPUS PROGRAM ❑ Univ of Central FL (FL) ❑ Stanford University (CA) ❑ CO School of Mines (CO) ❑ Akron University (OH) ❑ Eastern New Hamp Univ (NH)
#14 ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR ❑ Peter Boie (Bwah Prod) ❑ Sailesh (Metropolis) ❑ Daniel Martin (BSE) ❑ The Asia Project (Jus Wiggin’) ❑ Chloe Hilliard (Summit)
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