“All guests are subject to bag checks, metal detectors and searches. Thank you, and enjoy the show.”
The voice of Hall of Fame announcer Dave Snell welcomed the masses via loudspeaker into Renaissance Coliseum Nov. 14 where Pittsburgh rapper and five-time Grammy nominee Wiz Khalifa performed for the Coliseum’s first sold-out crowd.
Junior public relations major Caleb Philogene (DJ Caleeb) provided musical entertainment leading up to Khalifa’s two openers. Rappers Dustin Webb (D Webb) and Casper Alexander (CHISongwriter), hailing from Peoria and Chicago respectively, warmed up the record-setting crowd for Khalifa.
This concert was the largest event to be held at Renaissance Coliseum since it opened in 2010. D Webb said the event’s attendance was exciting and a new experience.
“This was by far the biggest crowd [I have] ever performed in front of,” D Webb said.
With 1,423 student tickets, 271 faculty and staff tickets, 1,912 public tickets and 154 complimentary tickets, the Activities Council of Bradley University (ACBU) organized the event that totaled 3,760 people.
Last semester’s concert, The Fray (featuring Plain White Ts), saw 2,481 people in attendance, more than 1,000 tickets less than Khalifa’s concert. The Band Perry, which had considerably higher attendance than The Fray, still fell short of Khalifa by more than 600.
Attendance wasn’t the only thing that was high, though.
A security presence larger than past concerts’ graced the Coliseum. Thirteen police officers and more than 30 non-police security personnel were assigned to the event.
“The additional security personnel was used partly because of the anticipated attendance as well as to ensure consistent security practices were followed,” Bradley University Police Department Chief Brian Joschko said. “I thought that, from a security standpoint, the show went great. There were no major security-related incidents before or after the concert.”
Because of Khalifa’s association with marijuana and marijuana culture, some concerns regarding concert attendees possibly attempting to bring illicit substances into the event or causing trouble were possibilities, according to authorities.
“The officers and contracted security staff did a great job in diffusing situations, and therefore, no arrests were made,” Joschko said. “However, a number of individuals were removed from the venue.”
Even Khalifa, who is known for smoking and promoting marijuana during his sets, remained smoke-free during the show.
DJ Caleeb said the concert was memorable and a success.
“The show went well,” DJ Caleeb said. “The crowd energy was live. I was live. I was in the zone. It was dope.”
Khalifa’s better-known tracks such as “We Dem Boyz,” “Roll Up,” “Young, Wild and Free” and “Black and Yellow” all made their way onto the set list. However, most of the set was filled with material from his newest album “Blacc Hollywood,” released Aug. 18.
“Overall, the feedback I’ve received from the show has been very positive,” Assistant Director of Student Activities Lauren Smetana said. “Students [that I’ve heard from] felt that Wiz put on a great show, it was a safe environment and the energy of the crowd in the Coliseum was unlike any concert we have ever hosted.”
Some of Khalifa’s fans such as junior psychology and management and administration double major Bianca Duna said she was pleased with Khalifa’s performance.
“I was already a big Wiz Khalifa fan and was excited to see him,” she said. “I think he did a good job of mixing his older songs with his new songs. I thought he was good live.”
Other fans said they sought a wider variety in song selection but still left the concert happy with the overall performance.
“Being from Pittsburgh and growing up in the city in the era when Wiz was coming up in the world, I listened to a lot of Wiz in middle school and high school,” senior sports communication major Gus Posner said. “I personally was disappointed that he only played two songs from his old stuff pre-2010, [but] I did like some of the new songs that he performed off ‘Blacc Hollywood.’ Overall, I enjoyed the show, [I] just wish he touched on his old songs.”
University President Joanne Glasser was also in attendance and said in an email that she was pleased with the experience ACBU and Bradley was able to offer attendants.
“I enjoyed myself and could tell how well-organized everything was [from] start to finish,” she stated. “It was a good night for Bradley.”
ACBU members are currently in discussions regarding the possibility of a spring concert, which will depend on funding and artist availability.
Links
Khalifa albums: iTunes or store
D Webb: soundcloud.com/dwebbmusic
DJ Caleeb: soundcloud.com/calebpcarpenter
CHISongwriter: soundcloud.com/chisongwriter
