A quick look at upcoming concerts at Agannis Arena reveals a number of big names, such as The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab for Cutie and Black Eyed Peas (not to mention Sesame Street Live). There’s a reason that Agannis is able to host such well-known acts: The facility can seat over 7,000 people.
By contrast, BU Central is a small room in the basement of the George Sherman Union — certainly not the appropriate venue for a performer likely to draw a large crowd. Event organizers should have known as much when they booked Adam Pascal for a performance at BU Central Friday night. Pascal, a star of the Broadway musical and motion-picture version of Rent, may not be on the same level as The Strokes, but he is nonetheless a famous singer and songwriter. More than 400 students lined up ahead of time — several hours in advance, in some cases — to see him. Even so, more than 100 students had to be turned away.
In cases like this, BU Central should recognize that there are limits to what a venue can offer, and that when a big name comes to BU, perhaps Metcalf Hall or the Tsai Center would be more appropriate. BU is filled with venues for musical acts, comedians and other sorts of performers, and each has its own particular feel. One need look no farther than BU Central’s website to know that the layout of the room creates “a feeling of intimacy and closeness to a band or comedian,” which may not be right for someone like Pascal.
Getting turned away is discouraging, and BU students who waited to see Pascal but could not do so may not be willing to try again in the future. If it has to turn people away, BU Central should aim to do so in an organized manner. For example, when popular acts are scheduled to perform, students could be required to pick up free tickets ahead of time. That way, students will know in advance whether they’ll be able to attend, and organizers will know just how many people to expect.
BU Central has been a great addition to the BU campus — a place where students not interested in partying on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights can enjoy high-quality acts in a convenient location. But organizers thinking of BU Central as a venue have to understand that it is not the right venue for every act, and that they run the risk of disappointing students by advertising names that are sure to draw a crowd.
