Things looked bleak for Spring Fair's nighttime entertainment this year. Disappointing ticket sales to last year's Blackalicious concert led the organizers to make the event free of charge.
As a result, the budget was already tight for this year's fair. Then, fair organizers received another financial blow when a usual contribution of $8,000-10,000 from the Office of the Dean of Student Life was cut.
Spring Fair organizers were left with $16,000. Most of that money would be tied up in production costs, with little left over to book a band, let alone a big name. The organizers were getting nervous.
Nighttime Co-Chair Karina Schumacher-Villasante told the News-Letter in February, "we were going to put on a show, whatever risks we had to take ... but we weren't sure how good it was going to be." The Hopkins Organization for Programming (HOP) put those nerves to rest.
The Spring Fair committee approached the HOP at the end of fall semester and requested some financial backing. To HOP Co-Chair Jared Covit, the decision seemed fairly simple.
"The money, if it didn't go to Spring Fair, we wouldn't have a concert," he said. "At least not a concert up to par of past concerts."
Each year the HOP is given an annual budget and told to spend it all. In the past, the HOP has brought entertainers like Eric Idle, Henry Rollins, Ben Folds Five and Dismemberment Plan to campus.
The decision to help fund $15,000 of Guster's asking price of $24,000 this year did not come at the expense of other activities, according to Covit.
"The budget for second semester traditionally goes to Spring Fair," he said.
The HOP's relationship to Spring Fair is a long-established one.
"Spring fair for the most part approached us," said Covit, "but in past times we've always worked together."
The HOP has specifically helped fund nighttime entertainment in the past, "last year a little bit less [than $15,000], not much, the year before that a little bit more," said Covit.
Despite the HOP's contribution, Covit credits Spring Fair organizers for their fundraising efforts.
"They came into this concert with what seemed like a 4-digit budget," he said. "Spring fair did an excellent job of getting money on their own for this concert. They were able to pull off some great feats."
Expectations are high for this Saturday's concert, with tickets expected to sell out by the date of the show. Early organization and planning, as well as the appeal of Guster has allowed the Spring Fair committee to escape the pitfalls that plagued last year's concert.
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