Organizers of the We the Kings concert are selling tickets off cam- pus to ensure a large turnout.
The publicity, hospitality and security committees are taking sales to neighboring schools as well as the general public. The committees dedicated February and part of March to on-campus sales.
Campus sales are going well, said Caitlin Vitale, junior speech- language pathology student and Student Government Association coordinator.
“We have had a steady increase in sales,” said Vitale. “So we’re optimistic about that and we think it will continue.”
Updated technology has also helped spark interest. The concert committee has obtained a square, which can be plugged into an iPad and used in conjunction with an app so buyers can us credit cards to purchase tickets at the sales tables.
The increase has led committees to focus more attention to outside sales.
“One of the reasons we need to sell off campus is because on campus, we are so small,” said Vitale.
Although We the Kings were the number one pick of the school community, campus turnout may be small for the venue.
“We are not a big university and not everyone is going to want to come to the concert,” said Vitale. “Not everyone is going to like the band.”
Committee members are also doing promotions work.
“What we’ve done is we’ve put together packets for the local colleges with posters, and a letter from us,” Vitale said.
Members sent packets through Student Activities at the end of February. Packets included contact information as well as other helpful information. Vitale said the colleges have different options, such as buying a block of tickets to sell or having members of the concert committees visit and sell tickets themselves.
The publicity committee plans to contact neighboring colleges to speak to officials about their sales preferences.
Organizers also have bigger promotional plans in the works with local radio station 98.5 KRZ, Vitale said.
Radio spots promoting the concert, as well as ticket giveaways are on tap. WKRZ may also offer meet-and-greet passes to give away to listeners.
Vitale said ticket sales are crucial for the future of concerts on campus.
“If we don’t have a good turn out this year, I think it would be difficult for us to do this again.”
Vitale said there have been attempts in the past to have concerts but he does not know of any recent attempts.
“This is the first one I’ve been involved in,” Vitale said.
A lot of planning and cooperation from the entire campus has gone into the concert, Vitale said. “It’s too much work for it not to go well.”
Lauren Malick, sophomore healthcare management and pre-physical therapy major, has already purchased her concert ticket and said she’s looking forward to attending a concert on campus.
She has also purchased two extra tickets so her friends from home can attend along with her.
“My friends from home thought it was great that a band like We the Kings would be performing,” said Malick. “They told me to get them tickets as soon as they went on sale.”
Malick said other friends have purchased tickets, and she believes more of her fellow classmates should decide to attend.
“I definitely think everyone should take advantage of it,” said Malick. “It isn’t a bad price for the first big concert [on campus], and We the Kings put on a good show.”
Malick hopes the concern is a smash hit.
“I feel like if a lot of people go to this concert we would be more likely to have more concerts in the future,” Malick said.
She added that students from local colleges, as well as high schools, will want to attend the event in their backyard.
“I think that if people outside of Misericordia saw an artist that they like for cheaper tickets as well as close enough to go with their friends, more people would make an effort to go,” said Malick. “I think it would be great to have something like a big concert to look forward to,” said Malick. “I’ve always envied other schools that had a big concert every year.”
The concert is set for April 25 in the Anderson Sports and Health Center.
Tickets for Misericordia students are $20 and $25 for the general public, prior to the event. Day of the show tickets will be priced at $30 at the door.
Interested students or community members can contact Student Activities or visit misericordia. edu/wethekings. Tickets can be purchased in person or online.