Rapper Yung Gravy performed at WCU on April 8 as part of the annual SpringFest Celebration, but what really goes into such a big production?
The concert was coordinated by Last Minute Productions and Campus Activities, led by Coleman Leopard, the Associate Director for Student Programs and Activities.
Leopard works with an entertainment consulting agency called How to Concerts to create a starting list of artists within WCU’s budget. Next, he works with a committee consisting of representatives from Residential Living, LMP, the Student Government Association and the Department of Intercultural Affairs to narrow down the list to 10 potential artists.
After getting the list narrowed down, Leopard opens a poll for students to vote on the 10 artists. He will work with the artist with the most votes and discuss dates, availability and pricing.
Chancellor Kelli R. Brown sponsored this concert, supplying the committee with $100,000 which covered the artist, security, the stage and sound.
The top pick from the survey this semester was Yung Gravy, shocking some students because bbno$, an artist that Yung Gravy has collaborated with many times, had won the vote last semester and performed at WCU for the Week of Welcome in August.
“We had 3,500 students participate in the voting for this semester and he carried 80% of the vote,” Leopard said.
According to Leopard, Yung Gravy immediately said yes to the offer.
The school brings in a team through XL Media Works and to set up the show, a process that usually takes about eight to 10 hours according to Leopard.
The other possible artists on the survey this semester were Ella Langley, Pierre Bourne, Maisie Peters, Wyatt Flores, Houndmouth, Marc Ambor and Nardo Wick.
Leopard and the committee try to keep the artist selections as diverse as possible, not leaning too much into one genre.
