RSO brings performers to UI

By Liz deAvila

Booking an artist to perform at the University involves weeks of research and preparation, marked with the knowledge that at any moment, an artist can suddenly drop out. The challenges of booking shows are rarely known to the audiences that attend, but the process is time consuming, complex and for those that do it, completely worth it.

Shira Zisook, senior manager of Star Course and senior in communications, knows firsthand the struggles involved in booking a show.

“The process of just booking and confirming a show can be long and frustrating,” Zisook said.

When students come to Foellinger Auditorium to see a live show, that performer could very well be there on behalf of Star Course and its staff of over 250 members.

Star Course is the longest running registered student organization on campus, established in 1892. It works to bring the University “a diverse group of performances,” Zisook said.

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Tessa Marusarz, Star Course senior manager, and senior in ACES said most students working with Star Course want to be there.

“Star Course is an all-volunteer staff,” she said. “No one is getting paid and yet it is still a real job.”

Star Course workers must first determine what students at the University are listening to. According to Marusarz, Star Course has “music junkies” on staff that know what’s hot and what’s not.

“Our main concern is the students,” Zisook said.

Ryan Acuff, senior in LAS, said he attended this year’s Indigo Girls concert.

“They are one of my favorite bands ever,” Acuff said.

In order to provide students with performers they want to see, Star Course keeps its finger on the pulse of the music scene. They often catch “artists on their way up,” as Marusarz noted about John Mayer, who performed at Foellinger during their 2001-2002 season. Other artists they’ve “caught on the way up” include Dave Matthews Band and Ben Harper.

After determining what the public wants, Marusarz and Zisook send out offers, four at a time, to the performers they want to book. Even before the offers go out, senior managers already have an ongoing dialogue with agents.

“A majority of the offers don’t happen,” Zisook said.

Although they try to fix whatever problem is preventing a potential show, as soon as an offer is rejected they send out another. Often the rejections are not flat out refusals, but are more along the lines of “try next semester” said Marusarz. However, the work does not end when a show is finally confirmed.

All 250 members must gather together and each Star Course committee is given the go-ahead to begin the appropriate arrangements.

Marusarz and Zisook must also meet with their adviser and Assembly Hall Director, Kevin Ullestad. Assembly Hall provides Star Course with funding. Ullestad said his job is to “offer advice and guidance on how to be promoters of events on campus.” He said he’s there to make sure they are “responsible with the funds they’ve been appropriated.”

Marusarz and Zisook said they know being senior managers is a big responsibility, but their insight into the organization’s future makes it clear they love what they do. Marusarz said she believes expansion is in Star Course’s future.

“I honestly believe that right now we’re in an upsurge,” she said.

Zisook made it clear that Star Course is here “to serve the students mainly.”

These concerts happen because of the hard work of many students.

“It goes from making a phone call or sending an email and having it develop into something huge,” Zisook said.