A new discount program, The Hopkins Entertainment Pass, is premiering this year as part of a new initiative to bring major entertainment events back on campus.
Student Council's idea, a registered student pass, is geared towards generating ticket rebates and promoting early booking for free concerts, screenings, speakers, club nights, and other popular entertainment spots. Working in collaboration with HOP, IFC, Spring Fair, and MSE Symposium, Student Council hopes to start booking new events for the over 500 pass holders already enrolled on the electronic notification system.
"We plan to have a website up and running very soon, but in the meantime pass holders receive regular e-mail updates that say: OThis is the event, here is where you can get your tickets.' It is very simple," said Student Council President Manish Gala.
The Entertainment Pass itself follows a format that has proven successful in many student environments, namely Brandeis University. Jeff Groden-Thomas, Director of Student Involvement, explained the process.
"The price of the card goes directly into programming," said Groden-Thomas. "Programming in turn works towards creating benefits for pass holders. The bottom line is, events that occur anyway will be discounted and funded by the program. The result is hopefully more booking and more discounts for students."
The pass itself only costs $30, and was largely purchased through a mail-out during mid-August. Forms were sent to students' homes over the summer, and since then over $15,000 have been raised in sales.
"We are definitely satisfied with the turnout," Gala said. "Dean Boswell had a lot of faith in us, and was a great help in getting the initiative set up."
To date, pass holders are offered discounts on two upcoming concerts. One, Rusted Root on September 15th, is widely advertised. The second, a rumored appearance by Ben Folds Five, is still in the process of booking for October 20th.
Discounts on these two events alone would pay for the price of one student pass, and would-be holders are encouraged to attend future programmed events as they are announced.
"The effect is pretty solid," Gala explained. "Our event coordinators already know that roughly 500 students are coming, they plan more accurately, and we forward the discounts to students. That way, everybody wins. There is very little ambiguity as to whether an event will flop."
For students just getting settled on campus, the pass is a convenient way to schedule popular entertainment without emptying their pockets.
"Freshmen love it and upperclassmen are definitely taking advantage of it," Gala said. "Basically, people will take advantage of something they've already paid for, and thirty dollars is more than reasonable - especially when you are guaranteed a good show.
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