When coming to Syracuse University, Sam Axelrod thought his music industry classes would be straightforward — learning about the industry, taking notes and studying for tests. He wasn’t expecting a class specifically devoted to promoting concerts.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts’ music industry program offers a live music promoter class. Twenty students taking a class through the music industry or Bandier programs work throughout the semester to plan, promote and put on a concert. The class has also been taught in recent years, resulting in CUSEapalooza in 2016 and ZestFest in 2015.

“Juice Box,” this year’s concert, takes place at the Westcott Theater on April 12. Doors open at 7 p.m., followed by nine acts of different styles: hip-hop, acoustic, pop punk and funk rock.

“Everybody is involved in their own way,” Axelrod, a junior music industry major, said. “Some people do artwork, some people find bands, some people reach out to (publications), some people are more logistical on the day of, but it’s a whole big class project.”

Professor Daniel Mastronardi teaches the course and works as the promoter for the Westcott Theater and the F-Shed at the Market, both local music venues.

“He’s brought us through a whole bunch of stuff,” Axelrod said. “He has us go to two concerts a semester — one at the Westcott, and one at the F-Shed — so that we can look and feel it out, kind of understand what different venues are like.”

Axelrod says it’s nice to get hands on and figure out the logistics of the concert — calculating costs and profits, learning about venues and analyzing the time table of promotion.

Students in the class sell tickets for the show for $5, and the artists performing sell tickets for between $5 or $7. Axelrod explained that the artists can sell the tickets for whatever amount they want because the artist can pocket the amount made after $5, which can support the “up-and-coming bands and small hip-hop acts” to develop their music.

“Juice Box” will feature a variety of acts. Pop-punk band Poproxx will kick off the show around 7:15 p.m., followed by hip-hop artist Saint Iago. Acoustic acts Todd Anastos, Charlie/BEG and Riley Mahan will bring a softer sound to the show, and then rapper Mélan will perform. The final three acts consist the band Sky Club, hip-hop artist Phil the Artist and, to close out the show, funk-rock band FLOTUS, Axelrod said.

“What I am most excited about is seeing the first act step up,” Axelrod said. “To look around, see who came, who we got, how many tickets we actually sell. All that kind of stuff. Seeing it all come together at once will be the culmination of everything.”

Published on April 12, 2017 at 12:48 am

Contact Connor: cbfogel@syr.edu