Aspiring Boston University musicians lined up to vie for a spot on planned reality television series Ragged Road at casting calls held at the George Sherman Union last night.
The series, promoted by the clothing line American Rag, is about young musicians embarking on a road trip across the country. The reality TV stars will get a chance to meet different popular music artists. BU is one of only 12 college campuses participating in the open casting call.
The casting call process included informal interviews with a few basic questions about a student’s passion for music and the music industry.
Five students will be selected in May, and although the music artists have not been officially revealed yet, the road trip will be filmed and broadcasted online as a reality television show following the students’ experiences, American Rag brand representative Meryl Grenadier, a College of Arts and Sciences and College of Communication junior, said.
“We’re looking for anyone who’s interested in music,” Macy’s brand representative Melissa Goldsher, a COM junior, said. “Whether you want to be a singer, songwriter, backup dancer or even simply wish to promote the music industry, it is a great opportunity.”
Goldsher said American Rag selected BU for the contest because it has a “particularly strong [fine arts] program.” She cited overall diversity of BU’s student population as an influential factor.
“There is a good chance one of the students may actually be chosen from Boston University,” Grenadier said. “We have a lot of talent here at BU, and we know a lot of people are entering — people we didn’t expect.”
Music Management Club President Brian Piechocki said he found out about the event from the Student Activities Office, and chose to co-host it and even participated in an interview.
Although he does not think he will be selected as a winner, Piechocki, a School of Management junior, said he thought the experience was interesting and there should be more events at BU promoting music.
“It is a good opportunity for people who want to be involved in the music industry,” he said.