Sound Off! with Chris Bradbury co-director of CUA

Chris Bradbury
2/10/12

College Union Activities is a crucial organization on campus. CUA creates, books, organizes and holds events for the entertainment of the student body. Matt Drabenstott, Sara Bailey and I brainstorm every aspect of an event. For concerts, comedians and novelty entertainers we are given a list of what is needed: food, drinks, lighting, sound and hotel accommodations. This year our events have been very successful compared to past events. We have done a lot to advertise the events on campus using new types of marketing ideas.
When dealing with entertainers, we never know what to expect. We try to provide everything they ask for within their writer. A writer is a list of demands the entertainer asks for when dealing with lighting, sound, hotel, food, drinks, etc. Most of the entertainment needs have to be done the day of, or even hours before, the show. We have to prepare a green room where they can hang out before the show. My job is to make sure that the entertainers are comfortable, so that they give a wonderful show.
I always take feedback from the students who attend our events, and try to see what we can improve upon for the next year. CUA wants to make sure that the events delivered are events that the student body wants to see. Many other campus organizations approach us for help with funding and planning other campus events. We always want organizations to ask us if

they need help with any school-related event. Most of the time, CUA is willing to help other organizations.
We take a lot of time collaborating and constructing what we will need for every aspect of an event. We have to reserve rooms or specific areas in buildings in order to secure space for the event. Some types of marketing we use include banners, buttons, fliers, posters, word of mouth, Facebook and email. CUA has been trying to make a name for itself and use that name to promote events. We do not want CUA to linger in the shadows any longer, but rather to become an organization everybody recognizes.  We want the identity and purpose of CUA to be clear.
CUA kicked this year off with a novelty act by Michael DeBois, and over 300 people attended. This was a start of a change in CUA. Some of the entertainment featured this year includes: Dan Ahdoot, Second City, Graham Colton, Ben Rector, Tucker Tower, Slip-n-Slide on the Quad and Pool Party in the Mabee Center.
Next week CUA will host a triple threat of events, starting with Thursday’s basketball game in which students can win prizes for displaying team spirit.  There will be activities in the Union today, and tomorrow we will hold an intramural knock-out tournament.