Annual Burksy’s reinvented for March

by WHITNEY DIXON student writer

Last year the Campus Activities Board put a fresh spin on an old favorite by creating the Burksy’s, a Harding awards show that featured both talent performances and who’s-who-style honors. This year, the Burksy’s is getting another revamp.

“This year is going to be 10 times more fun; anything you expect out of it, expect more,” CAB Director Corey McEntyre said.

Attendees will dress up for the event this year, making it a more “classy evening,” McEntyre said. However, the biggest change will be the use of music videos to showcase talent rather than live performances.

Student performers submitted video or audio recordings of themselves on the Link, and the student body voted on its favorite via texting the text code found on the Link for each performance. Voting closed Feb. 3, and the top four performers will now have the opportunity to create a music video for their song with the help of a student director.

“The people will come to [the student directors] with their ideas and will work with one of the student directors to produce an entirely new music video,” senior Tiffany Jones, public relations director of the Link, said.

These videos will make up the talent portion of the Burksy’s. The videos will be shown at the Burksy’s, and the audience will vote via text for its favorite video. The winner will then get the chance to perform his or her song live.

The concept of music videos as opposed to live performances began out of necessity to create a “cleaner, better-flowing” show, but it “grew to be a more creative way to show the bands,” McEntyre said.

The student directors for the music videos are seniors Chris DellaPace, Alan Pearson, Trent Posey and Collin Yearry.

The equipment, including studios, lighting and cameras, will be provided by the College of Communication.

Talent candidates should be ready for a busy schedule in making their music videos, senior Project Manager Grant Dillion said.

“We have four weeks to get it done. Everything is planned out, and it’s a ridiculously tight schedule,” Dillion said.

In the long run, though, the process will give the performers something they could not get through just a live performance,

Dillion added.

“[This format] will let the audience see them more close-up. This will be something that lasts. It’s something other than just a performance,” Dillion said. “You get creative angles, creative storylines.”

The production of the music videos will be documented on a Facebook group created for the event, “The Burksy’s Filmmakers.”

Aside from the talent portion, nominations for awards will be listed and voting will take place on the Link through Feb. 18.

The Burksy’s will take place March 5 at 8 p.m. in the Administration Auditorium and will be hosted by junior Nate White. Tickets go on sale Feb. 15 in the CAB office for $5 or free with the Pass.