The Undergraduate Students Association Council allocated $80,000 to the president’s office’s “Concerts for Cash” series program from the 2006-2007 surplus budget on Jan. 22.
During last year’s USAC elections, President Gabe Rose promised to institute Concerts for Cash in order to get big-name artists to perform on campus and generate enough ticket revenue profit for student programming funds.
The codirectors of “Concerts for Cash,” Amanda York and Lauren Klein, presented first drafts of publicity packets and a tentative event budget at the council meeting.
York said that the USAC president’s office wants to provide a larger funding source for students with the net profits made from the concert.
“There are not enough financial resources for students to put on programs,” York said. “First, we wanted the $80,000 loan to get initial footing and legitimacy for our program.”
Cultural Affairs Commissioner Bernice Shaw and Community Service Commissioner Stephanie Chang opposed and voted against the concert series proposal. Both said they had concerns regarding issues including the project’s feasibility, transparency and funding.
Shaw said not enough planning was done before Klein and York’s presentation. For example, she said, not enough necessary information about costs was included in the written budget.
“They only provided a five-line budget breakdown for a concert that will cost approximately $353,500. They should have prepared a budget with more comprehensive breakdowns,” Shaw said.
York said that she and Klein made their presentation and proposal transparent and that the proposed budget is tentative but as accurate as possible.
“I think the apprehension from council was coming from the fact that we have never done this before, and $80,000 is a lot of money,” York said.
York also said she plans on the net profit exceeding $100,000. This profit will be returned to USAC to pay back the $80,000 and to fund student programming, though the logistics of the latter have yet to be determined.
“Eighty thousand dollars is a loan that will be paid back in full with very specific guidelines that will be made in collaboration with the committee and USAC,” York said.
Chang said that starting a new and immense concert series is a challenge.
“Concerts for Cash hasn’t established a local name,” Chang said. “Selling 10,000 tickets is not really easy.”
York said the concert committee made progress by already reserving two blocks of time with Pauley Pavilion for a concert in May. However, the president’s office has not yet signed with a promoter or booked big-name talents.
One of Shaw’s major concerns is the effects the large allocation will have on other student groups’ programming in spring quarter, which is the busiest quarter for student programming.
“Eighty thousand dollars is taken away from the potential funding for other student organizations on campus,” Shaw said.
Rose said that the allocated money is coming from the largest surplus USAC has ever had but will not negatively affect other student group’s programming. Student Government Accounting has calculated that there was roughly $213,000 available for allocation before money was given to Concerts for Cash.
Rose said that the funding for the concert series will not come directly out of the Undergraduate Students Association Board of Directors programming fund, the capital contingency fund or the regular contingency fund.
“We are only taking just a margin from the top of the surplus,” Rose said. “Since we have this extra money, we can give the concert a chance.”
Shaw said she disagrees with Rose’s reasoning because the three funding sources are determined by surplus distribution, and the program can delay the return of allocated money when student groups may need the extra money.
“If you’re taking money away from surplus, you’re taking away from student programming, period,” Shaw said.
Nick de Ocampo, president of Samahang Pilipino, said his group applies for allocations every year for its annual Pilipino Culture Night and will take the loss of money into consideration.
“The allocation is coming out of the same pool that helps fund many of the student group’s spring quarter events,” de Ocampo said. “This is a gamble the president’s office should not be taking. … They are investing so much money in a event that does not have a precedent.”
Klein said the committee is hopeful about the concert’s success, despite the numerous obstacles.
“We’re determined to prove the notion wrong that UCLA can’t have big concerts that make money,” Klein said.
Rose said the concert is feasible because he saw similar successes on other college campuses.
“This happens at colleges across the country all the time,” Rose said. “Concerts for Cash is a very small risk with a very high upside.”