The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) board of directors is attempting to resurrect SFU events in the shadow of the K’naan debacle with a massive Welcome Back Concert, to take place in Convocation Mall on SFU’s Burnaby campus on Sept. 13.
In fall of 2010, students were frustrated when headliner K’naan failed to take the stage at a concert organized by several student groups, due to a last-minute breakdown in negotiations between the organizers and K’naan’s manager. After ticket sales for the event fell well below expected totals, organizers were unable to pay K’naan’s total performance fee.
Current SFSS president Humza Khan hopes to have considerably more luck at this year’s event, a Fall Kickoff Concert featuring UK-based DJ Mat Zo, Canada’s Dzeko and Torres, and Norwegian duo Carl Louis & Martin Danielle. These artists will be joined by the winner of an SFU DJ Contest who will get the chance to play the concert.
“The first and foremost reason why we wanted to do the event was to provide SFU with something that it’s lacking for the size that it is,” explained Khan.
“You think of any other university in North America and they have some big welcome-back event . . . but SFU, to some extent, was lacking that.”
The SFSS expects 2,000 people to attend the main event at Convocation Mall, and a small number to join in for an after-party at the Highland Pub.
This a student society project, embraced by the board, supported by the board, and completely funded by the board.”
– Humza Khan, SFSS president
The event, which is completely bankrolled by the SFSS, has a budget of approximately $56,000, and Khan hopes that money will not be a potential showstopping factor on the day of the concert.
“The first and foremost difference between K’naan and what we’re doing is that this a student society project, embraced by the board, supported by the board, and completely funded by the board,” said Khan.
According to Khan, the SFSS has a guaranteed budget allocated to the event for expenses. All payments have been made to the artists set to perform, and most of the payments for production have been made.
The SFSS also worked with entertainment companies Twisted Productions and Galactic Entertainment in the planning and production of the event.
When asked about relatability of SFU students to the performers, SFSS business representative Brandon Chapman, who has lead the marketing efforts for the event, said that Matt Zo is prominent in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, and is an energetic performer.
Said Chapman: “Even people who don’t like his music, I’ve seen them come to his show and really enjoy themselves, just because he’s such an amazing performer. I think anyone who comes is going to have an amazing time.”
Tickets are being sold on a tiered system, starting at $16 and going up to $25. Tickets have been largely reserved for SFU students, with the cheaper $16 and $18 tickets mostly reserved for various SFU groups, clubs, student unions, and departments to sell to their members. Khan stated that ticket sales so far have met expectations, and are expected to pick up once students are back on campus.
“The aim for this is not to make back all the costs, or even make a profit off this. That’s not what the event is geared towards,” said Khan. “What we really want to achieve through this event is providing SFU students with a great experience.”
