Now that time is dwindling down until school is out for summer, Winona State University Programming Activities Committee (UPAC) is working to get a big-name comedian to come in place of the spring concert.
Joe Reed, director of the Student Union at Winona State along with members of UPAC, felt they had to do something big, and it had to be done in less than a month.
A big-name comedian is easier to pull off in a short amount of time than a well-known band, because normally, Reed works with his agents for three to four months before an artist is announced.
After Akon pulled out from the spring concert, Reed decided that there was simply not enough time to set up another concert.
“In all fairness, Akon came back with alternate dates, but they did not fit,” Reed said.
There is a small window in late march until early April to book McCown Gymnasium for the annual spring concert, and that window has already closed because of Sesquicentennial week and spring commencement.
Reed has been working with an agency from Green Bay, Wis., for 15 years, called Event Resources Presents Inc. They are helping him with the potential comedian, Tracy Morgan, who appeared on “Saturday Night Live” from 1996 to 2003.
He currently stars as Tracy Jordan on the NBC show, “30 Rock.”
Winona State has put in a bid for Morgan to perform at Somsen Auditorium on Thursday, April 24.
Reed said that Morgan was in the ballpark of what Winona State would pay to bring a comedian, so he wouldn’t be surprised if Morgan accepts the offer.
Morgan would be booked as a “backline,” where Winona State would fly him out for the night, since he is not currently on tour.
If Morgan declines the offer, Reed said that there would most likely not be a show this spring because there is simply not enough time.
The cost of attending the comedian would be no more than $10 per person. Reed says that this won’t even put a dent in the cost to get Morgan to come to Winona, but that he wants as many students as possible to attend.
Concerts are set up the same way. Usually, Winona State doesn’t make a profit but ideally, they break even. Student activity fees will subsidize the remainder of the cost to get Morgan to come to Winona.
Winona State was originally looking at another comedian, Demetri Martin from The Daily Show. Winona State put in a bid for Martin, but the offer was rejected.
“They wanted more money,” Reed said. “We were off by $10,000 from what they wanted.”
Next year, Reed looks forward to bringing a spring concert to campus.
While Winona State makes more money on non-students, the university brings these acts in for the students.
“If we were to sell all the tickets to our students, then we are doing our job,” said Reed.
Reed stressed the importance of knowing how hard UPAC works to provide quality entertainment.
“The industry is very fickle, and it is impossible to please everyone’s taste,” said Reed.

Contact Claudia at CDCappie9866@winona.edu