I am a firm believer in always weighing the good versus the bad when making a decision. For instance, sure, Schubergs is tasty but I could save money by making a sandwich. So applying that logic to Music Takes Action, I am trying to get into the heads of the people who plan it.
First off, Music Takes Action is not an easy thing to pull off. Getting the artist, planning security, set up and all the things that go into a concert is probably pretty daunting. Next, you have to worry about the money. Lupe Fiasco is awesome, but geez-louise getting him had to have been pricey. And paying staff for setup, security and other expenses adds up.
Safety is another huge concern. I do not think it is the responsibility of the school if someone decides to drink during Music Takes Action and walks in front of a car. That being said, obviously people are going to make poor choices over the course of the fest’s weekend. So that’s another negative, giving students the excuse to act stupid. For example, while driving by Oakwood at around 6 p.m., I saw a person who had been pulled over puke out the door. Puking in front of the cops is basically an admission of guilt. Tell them you have the flu, I guess.
Alright, now you’re probably thinking I’m a Negative Nancy. But there are some definite pros to having Music Takes Action.
Right off the bat, music industry management (MIM) students get some great experience. Going into music industry management is a risk—these jobs are tough to get. But Music Takes Action offers students in this program the priceless opportunity to flex their music muscles. What better industry experience than hosting a Lupe concert?
Next, Music Takes Action is a great time. This year, I did not have the opportunity to partake in the festivities to the level I would have liked to because of work, but I did spend a little bit of time at Oakwood during the day. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of fun. Oakwood was poppin’, as it usually is during Music Takes Action and for the most part people were just having a few drinks and hanging out with their friends.
Lastly, Music Takes Action is an investment in our school’s future. When taking high school seniors on a tour of the school, pointing at the quad and saying, “This is where nothing happens,” is not a great sell. We want people to be excited to attend our school. If we cut out fun events like Music Takes Action, we are no better than Hope College, home of the, “I guess we’ll just go to IHOP again,” Friday night routine.
All in all, Music Takes Action’s pros outweigh the cons. Sure, we see an uptick in MIPs and some people use the day as an excuse to get drunk. And sure, we have to pay a king’s ransom to get fantastic artists like Lupe Fiasco. But you have to put something in to get something out and in this case, the returns are worth it.