Students voice opinions regarding Murray’s music choices

    Lovett Live hosted its first focus group to determine what sort of entertainment students and community members are interested in.
    Matt Parker, assistant facilities manager of the Regional Special Events Center and director of Lovett Live, said a group of about 50 students and community members came together to answer questions and discuss events pertaining to Lovett Live.
    “We asked them questions like, ‘Who do you want to see?’ ‘What is a reasonable ticket price, what is the best day of week to hold a show?” Parker said. “We felt like these kinds of questions would gauge interest in what we are doing here and how we would be better served.”
     Because Murray State is referred to as a “suitcase school,” meaning students leave for home on weekends, Parker said he thought it was relevant to ask if Monday and Tuesday nights were better times for events opposed to the usual weekend evenings.
    He said the responses to the questions were typed into a spreadsheet and the responses receiving the highest votes will be taken into consideration for future shows.
    “We found out that students were interested in comedy and seeing comedy shows, which surprised me,” Parker said. “We also got answers from students with such names as Bryan Adams, Reel Big Fish, Dave Matthews and Ben Folds.”
    Parker said he plans to get in touch with the bands receiving the most attention and start trying to book shows for future concerts. The focus group was so successful, Parker said he plans to continue it every semester.
    “We want to continue hosting open groups like this because it allows us to get a lot of information from our audience members,” Parker said.
    Many students voiced their opinions on the concert series.
    “This focus group is a great idea to find out what we want to see and find out what we are willing to spend money on,” Kellyn Robison, senior from Bowling Green, Ky., said.
    Robinson said she would like to see The Fray or Gavin Degraw, but some of these artists are expensive.
    “In years past, they haven’t tried to focus on what the students really want and now it feels like they are taking on that approach,” Paul Corder, senior from Hardinsburg,  Ky., said.
    Corder said he would like to see entertainers such as Kings of Leon, Damien Rice, Ben Folds, Keane and Mute Math. Overall, the group thought $10-$20 was a median ticket price for students.
    “I think that if the student body cares about what kind of entertainment music-wise, then it is vital they attend these events,” Corder said. “Otherwise, there is no way for their voice to be heard.”
    Chris Palmer, lecturer of music business, also participated in the focus group and encouraged his students to attend.
    “They also wanted to know how we learned about shows at Lovett Live,” he said.
    Palmer said he would like Lovett Live to focus on the student body and the things students want to hear and watch.
    “I would like to see someone like Zach Brown,” Palmer said. “He isn’t a country artist but has had some success in that industry. I know a lot of students like him and know who he is.”
    Overall, Palmer said the people attending the focus group are supportive of Lovett Live and want it to succeed.
    “There is a lot of enthusiasm for Lovett Live and what it could be,” Palmer said. “Everyone wants this to be a huge success.”
    Students can visit the Lovett Live MySpace page at myspace.com/ lovettlive to post on the site’s wall and make suggestions.
    Jess Nall can be reached at
jessica.nall@murraystate.edu.

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