O.A.R. did not answer FUSA’s bid to engage them for the November 20 fall concert date and now FUSA has been left frantically searching for another act.
Last spring, FUSA began polling the student body to find out which band the student body would most like to have perform on campus. When the results were in, the students have chosen Maryland based rock group, Of A Revolution (O.A.R.).
“O.A.R. is a very popular band on campus,” said Jillian Grant, vice president of programming for FUSA, “The band played here in 2001 and the response was great. The opportunity to have them again was very well received.”
After the Senate approved a $40,000 bid to engage O.A.R. for the concert, FUSA contacted Andrew Herrick of Clear Channel College Entertainment, their programming agent, to place the bid on August 10.
The university uses Clear Channel to secure their performers. FUSA contacted Clear Channel, who in turn, contacted O.A.R. FUSA has not had any direct contact with the band.
The bid served as a formal offer to an artist. The agent drafted up the offer and contacted the artist’s management. Most offers , including the one extended to O.A.R., generally have an expiration date, meaning the artists had a certain amount of time to consider the offer.
“The terms the bid expired on August 20,” said Grant, “That date came and went without an official response from the band.”
A possible explanation for the band’s complete silence was offered by Ben Hordell, Public Relations Manager of Everfine Records, the record producer for O.A.R.
“The band recently changed booking agents so that may be where the problem lies,” Hordell said.
In an effort to cover all avenues in a timely fashion, FUSA is seeking alternative programming for the November 20. Possible acts include comedians Dane Cook, Lewis Black, Jim Bruer and a three-person act from the popular television show “Last Comic Standing”.
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