O.A.R. did not ignore Fairfield University’s bid to engage them as the November 20 fall concert act as previously reported by The Mirror, but they did reject it and somehow FUSA never found out.
O.A.R. management contacted The Mirror in response to the September 16 article which stated that Fairfield University and FUSA specifically, had never received an answer to the bid placed on August 10.
Band manager and president of Everfine, the independent record label that produces O.A.R.’s records, Dave Roberge, stated that the band was aware of the bid.
“Management made O.A.R. aware of the offer,” he said. “Management was presented with the offer from the band’s booking agency, Monterey Peninsula Artists (MPA), was presented with the offer by Andrew Herrick of Clear Channel College Entertainment (CCE) on behalf of the school.”
While the band briefly entertained FUSA’s bid, unfortunately the band decided they needed to pass on the bid due to previously scheduled events.
“It would conflict with two New York City shows already booked for later that week,” said Roberge. “The band draws a large percentage of fans from Fairfield County for the New York City shows, so it was determined that accepting the very generous school offer would negatively impact the ticket sales for the shows later that week.”
“The decision was based solely on the fact that we did not want to negatively impact any of our tour dates that had already been confirmed,” he added.
O.A.R. especially wanted its college fans to know that they appreciate them and their support, neither of which was involved with the decision made to reject Fairfield’s bid.
“The band had nothing but good memories about their last appearance at the school and the students that they met while they were there,” said Roberge. “Unfortunately we are unable to accept every offer that comes our way for a number of reasons and therefore end up needing to decline shows that we want to do but physically cannot.”
The band made their decision before the offer expired on August 20 and passed their decision on to MPA, who in turn contacted CCE. However, that is where the communication link suffered a break.
“We didn’t hear back from them, so unfortunately there was a miscommunication,” said Paul Duffy, FUSA president. “They never responded to us.”
“We felt that the article unfairly painted a negative picture of the band,” Roberge said. “It is important to all of us who work for the band, and the band themselves, that the truth is reported and the incorrect information is clarified.”
However, the September 16 article included statements from Ben Horrell, public relations manager of Everfine Records, in regards to O.A.R.’s silence after FUSA’s bid.
“The band recently changed booking agents so that may be where the problem lies,” Horrell said.
The article also reported that Clear Channel College Entertainment agent Andrew Herrick was the programming agent in charge of contacting O.A.R.’s representatives to place the bid. However, Herrick quit his position while the bid was being considered, Roberge told The Mirror.
Roberge gave the same explanation for the communication breakdown.
“As I mentioned previously, the CCE representative (Andrew Herrick) quit his job shortly after his response given to him by MPA,” he said.
Paul Duffy acknowledged the band’s plight but was ready to move on from the ordeal.
“I hope O.A.R. can keep up its image and it could have been a mix-up because of the agent changing,” said Duffy. “But we are focusing on the future, not the past.”
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