Khalifa Concert a Success Due to Student Surveys

Student Senate President Kyle Triplett believed this year’s increase in student input played a roll in the concert’s success. Students filled out an online survey asking them to rate their interest in a variety of different artists. Wiz Khalifa was one of the top choices, prompting the decision to request his performance.

“As students say who they want to have come, that’s when we translate into ticket sales, instead of blindly guessing, well, students might want this person,” Triplett said.

The method of student input was only just implemented this year, and UPC President Jenny Jones said doing so set this concert apart from last year’s. Plans for the 2013 show won’t be discussed until this summer, but Jones believes the same sort of surveying system will be used to ensure optimal student satisfaction.

“That seems to be the best way to go,” she said. “We had a better sellout this year by doing exactly what students wanted.”

The concert, whose ticket sales made record success, went off without a hitch. All the acts ran on time, and there were no issues from a technical standpoint.

“Everything went really smoothly,” Jones said. “The artists came right in, got ready and were good to go.”

Sean Kingston opened the show, and while most students attended to see Khalifa, the Jamaican-born singer known for hits like “Beautiful Girls” didn’t fail to deliver an enjoyable performance.

“He was good,” said Triplett, who attended himself. “He did his job by getting the crowd ready.”

Khalifa, who won Best New Artist at the 2011 BET Awards, lived up to his reputation with a fun and exciting concert.

The presence of the star resulted from a collaboration between Student Senate, The Black Student Cultural Programming Board, University Program Council, General Fee, Division of Student Affairs, Campus Involvement Center and the Performing Arts Series.

“I would say it was successful; it got a lot of really good comments,” Jones said. “Students seemed to be really happy with the concert.”

Triplett has high hopes for years to come, with increased student input and confidence after this year’s popularity.

“It’s definitely going to continue,” Triplett said, “and hopefully next year will be bigger and better.”