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On the Fly Productions will disband after this semester, Big Sean and Mike Posner coming in February

By on January 25, 2010 5:30 am in Student Life / 17 comments

 
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On the Fly Productions will no longer exist following the spring 2010 semester.

The program’s termination is a byproduct of budget cuts, Public Relations Chairwoman Amanda Rippin said at a meeting Sunday.

“It’s going to be hard, but we had a great run,” the Macomb senior said.

On The Fly was created in spring 1996 with the goal of providing free, non-alcohol related entertainment on campus.

Rippin has been a member of OTF for four years, and said she will miss the students’ reactions to OTF’s programs.

“The energy from the shows is amazing,” she said. “Everyone’s always so pumped from the entertainment.”

Detroit sophomore Darryl Maxwell has been a member of OTF for three years and said he is not sure what he is going to do when it ends.

“I’m saddened by the news,” he said. “I had high expectations for the program coming into my senior year.”

Rippin said some members have indicated they will join Program Board after OTF ends.

Big Sean and Mike Posner

One of the organization’s last acts before it dissolves will bring hip hop artist Big Sean and singer Mike Posner to Central Michigan University’s Plachta Auditorium on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets went on sale Jan. 13 and, already, the show is sold out.

Music Chairman Eric Steiner said there are no bigger venues the event can be moved to.

Steiner, a Niles sophomore, said the decision to bring Posner and Big Sean to CMU came following students’ suggestions. A Facebook group “Bring Mike Posner to CMU” was started and, to date, has more than 1,100 members.

Maxwell said he once met Big Sean and was impressed by his humility and the fact he was successful despite his upbringing in Detroit.

“Detroit is a pretty rough city,” Maxwell said. “To see a dude who made it from nothing become something (is inspirational).”

Despite the excitement about Big Sean and Mike Posner, Rippin said she will miss the work On the Fly does.

“I love programming and bringing entertainment to students,” she said. “I feel like students really appreciate what we do.”

Rippin said a formal press release announcing OTF’s cut will be released in the coming week. However, there are still events planned for the spring semester.

 

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  • Dan Gaken

    It’s sad to see OTF go, but I am thankful for all the group has contributed to campus over the years. Thank you Dani, Buzz, and all the OTF members who put their hearts into making CMU a better place, know that your efforts are appreciated!

  • Ryan

    Thank god… Maybe finally the school can bring good artists. Yes I know it is alot of money, and such. But does OTF every ask suggestions to students for bands. No. I mean the Wesley brings better artists. I happy for what they did when I was there, but, in my 4 years, Fabolous came 2 times. Ludacris twice. To many rap artists come. And at 35 dollars a ticket no CMU student will pay that, its almost 2 dirty thirty racks. If CMU wants to bring in more students for concerts bring artists people would die to see, aka (Dave Matthews, Incubus,) thats just aside from other genres. So again another rap artist to end the accumulation of OTF, so good luck CMU and there students maybe someday we can bring someone worth entertaining us. Pce Love.

  • TFo

    OTF did a great job with the budget they were given, but this is probably a smart move for the university, I mean, it makes sense, it’s just too bad to lose the organization. However, I bet the passions of the OTFers can help motivate Program Board to become even more successful as a team.
    Ryan clearly doesn’t understand university budgeting, the challenges of hosting shows on this campus, or anything about programming… Get a clue pops.

  • To Ryan

    Ryan…seriously you are a moron. Ludacris came once, in 2006. Fabulous was the opener for One Republic, we had Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds, 311, Alien Ant Farm, Nickelback, Dave Chappelle, Steven Lynch, Trapt, Howie Day, Matthew West, Dane Cook, Robert Kelly, Carbondale, Daniel Tosch, Mike Birbiglia, Kyle Cease, Emerson Drive, Dr. Drew, Collin Quinn, Coach Carter, Mat Kearney, Eric Hutchinson and so many more events that you need to seriously think before you speak (or type for that matter). Many concerts were JOINT efforts with PROGRAM BOARD, who has just as much to do with choosing the talent on this campus as OTF does. Who was $35 dollars for a ticket? There has never been a ticket over $25 here…with the exception of Dave Matthews, who was $42.50 for each student. MOST of all of shows OTF does are FREE. Hello. Prepare for fewer programs that don’t have a price attached to them. And who says that Mike Posner and Big Sean is our last concert this year? Who says there isn’t something else that isn’t coming down the pipes. But what does it matter? You’re too stupid to come to events here at CMU anyways, no matter what the event.

  • Phil

    I like the suggestion that simply being raised in Detroit is an automatic hindrance to success. I lived in the city until I came to CMU, good to know that I exceeded expectations simply by not being a crack dealer.

  • To Ryan

    Ryan, first of all, the school does not bring artists to this campus. A budget is given to a group who has to try their hardest to program events that they feel would be enjoyed by the students on this campus. If you are not putting your opinion in (coming to meetings, e-mailing the On The Fly account) you are just as much at fault for the supposed bad programming on this campus. There are MANY different artists that have been thrown around over the years. Some are far too expensive to come. Some completely ignore the requests. Some schedules are just incompatible with the schedules for the venues on campus. There is a lot more that goes into planning events than just calling an agent and booking them. You would know that if you attempted to go to any meetings and get involved. Nearly all of Program Board’s large scale concerts have been collaborative efforts with OTF, so please tell me how this helps your chances of seeing “better” artists in the future? OTF’s budget is gone, and it’s money that you will not see in any programming after this semester.

  • C-Money

    Good Riddance!!!

  • About Time

    Great to see OTF is finally leaving campus, thoese ppl always acted as if they were better then everyone else and were so wrapped up in them self’s
    I hope none go to program board and try and turn that into the rude snotty group otf was.

  • Adam

    Cool, my comment was deleted. Great to see the censorship is still running rampant on this blog. As I said,

    I came to CMU after the 311 show, unfortunately, and every music act while I was there (aside from Eve 6) was absolute garbage. These people could not pick music acts what-so-ever.

    On the other hand, they had a great selection of comedians that came in, many of whom were free. I saw some great acts and I have OTF to thank for it.

  • Mary

    Obviously no one is going to be thrilled by every artist that comes to campus. As stated above, there are many other issues that come along with booking someone (especially someone famous) – scheduling conflicts, cost, etc. Some artists don’t even DO college or university shows.

    However, have you actually gone to every concert brought here? I bet not. How can you judge that “every music act was garbage” when you haven’t been to most (or any) of the shows?

    Program Board brought quite a few small artists or bands in the last few years. I’m sure OTF has as well. Of the ones I went to, none of them disappointed me. I even bought a CD from one. Sure, they don’t have the “big name” attached to them, but sometimes the big name artists end up being the biggest letdown.

    And, as others have said, OTF and Program Board are student-run groups that YOU CAN JOIN OR VOICE YOUR OPINION TO. Instead of sitting behind a computer complaining about everything, get involved, interact and meet these people that are dedicating all their time to bringing events for unappreciative students.

  • Dustin

    This was a good choice to cut the budget. I would much rather see things like this get cut rather than the athletic departments budget get cut and students having to pay for tickets. I don’t blame the board I understand it is a hard job, especially trying to find an event for 20,000+ students. They had some good acts in the 2 years i have been here, especially with comedians, music has been garbage though with many overpaid wash upped rappers, where members went to Fire Up Fest, begging people to take free tickets. Honestly one of the best events was Trey Parker coming to Central, this was done by the journalism department I believe, it was a packed house and everyone seemed to have a great time.

  • OKAYDOKEY

    OTF isn’t necessary. You can find much better, local acts at coffee shops for free. Big acts are great, but its equally important to check out independent acts. Which are usually free, and the atmosphere is much better.

  • Adam

    So according to Mary I cannot judge musical acts unless I attend a show by them. Yeah, that makes total sense, because seeing T-Pain live is going to TOTALLY change my perception about him. Oh, same thing with Rick Ross. And Fabolous. Notice a trend here? Your music selection was garbage, including that Mat Kearny guy – that one I could only sit through 4 songs until I left. Get real.

  • About Time

    yes you can go to OTF meetings but as when I went a few times they wont listen if you are not “one of them”. its just like cliques in high school

  • Mary

    Adam- you’re only talking about the “big name” artists that you didn’t like. What about any of the coffee house shows Program Board brought? Javier, Jared Campbell, etc.

    And despite what About Time is saying, most groups will listen to a legit idea if you approach them with respect. If you just go in spouting off unattainable acts.. that’s another thing.

  • Dustin

    Well it really doesn’t matter since OTF is gone , now does it?

  • To CMU Students

    OTF’s demise was not the selection of concerts. OTF’s mission was not even to solely bring major concerts. OTF had a place at CMU when programming was not being done to meet the need of students. But CMU Program Board should be able to do that. CMU has been fortunate to have had two amazing boards which have doubled your opportunity to have great entertainment, large and small. OTF has brought Ludacris, Dave Matthews and Tim Renyolds, T-Pain, Trapt, 311, Nickelback, Dave Chappelle, and so many countless artists over it’s 13 year run that they, and the students who worked countless hours for the organization, deserve a lot of cheers. Do you know how many times we’ve offered Theory of a Deadman to come to play at CMU? It’s not like we’re ignoring the students. But, we we have to wrestle with atheletics for facilities and work within a budget, you can’t always get what you want. So, I’d encourage you to support OTF in their last semester here at CMU and then get off of your beer pong table and help Program Board continue to bring great shows to CMU.