Some student organizations are willing to sacrifice profits to provide students with low-cost entertainment.
The Residence Halls Association's first general assembly meeting Wednesday passed a bill to provide $3,700 for the Gavin DeGraw concert held today in the Union Ballroom.
Funds for the singer/songwriter's already sold-out show were passed before the year's budget was approved because the money was needed for today.
However, some general assembly members questioned if RHA will profit from the concert.
"This is a rare situation where we don't make a profit," RHA President Ernest Drake said. "But we are in (it) for providing special events to students."
Special Events Director Eric Bolf said the DeGraw concert is something RHA offers to students as a discounted event. He said they could sell-out even if student ticket prices were raised from $12 to $20, but RHA is more interested in providing students a less expensive show.
"One of RHA's efforts is to take a hit out of the budget to offer events that won't break students' wallets," he said. "We wouldn't have to take a hit if we were able to put this into a bigger venue."
Bolf also said RHA was looking to host the concert in Fee Hall, but the home football game and Dave Chappelle event this weekend took away staff resources.
ASMSU also sponsored a concert two weeks ago that didn't yield a profit.
MSU's undergraduate student government brought Jason Mraz to the Wharton Center on Aug. 28.
"We weren't expecting to make a profit," said Kristen Daddow, Student Assembly Vice Chairperson of Student Programming. "We were doing it as entertainment for students."
Daddow said the fiscal figures that determine how much MSU's undergraduate student government may lose from the concert are not yet available.
ASMSU has not received ticket sales information from Wharton Center, Daddow said.
But she said ASMSU was more interested in getting its name out.
"Even if it was to get five letters on a piece of paper, it was worth it," she said.
Daddow added that ASMSU received publicity from radio plugs on WHZZ-Z (101.7-FM) and WDBM (88.9-FM), The Impact.
Computer engineering freshman Donavan Stevens said he likes the idea of going to campus concerts for a reduced rate.
"Most concerts are expensive, so a cheap student rate is awesome," he said. "I definitely hope they keep it up."
Mike VanWynsberg, a chemistry and political science senior, said the concerts don't always appeal to him, but he likes the discounted rate.
"It's cool (that they bring them in,) but most of the bands don't appeal to me," he said. "As long as it isn't costing me too much extra tuition, I'm fine with it."
Staff writer Lauren Phillips contributed to this report.
