University of Virginia Library

Concert Caution

The University Union deserves commendation
for scheduling Peter, Paul & Mary in
concert on the night of February 8. The
Union's directors are obviously making a
serious effort to bring first-class entertainment
to the community, especially on occasions
other than Big Weekends. Such events can be
among the little things that make life on the
Grounds a bit more pleasant.

There is nothing remotely pleasant, however,
about sitting and waiting for performers
to appear on the stage, about being crushed in
a crowd outside University Hall before the
doors are opened, or about being unable to
hear anything because of defects in the sound
system. Anyone who has attended the entertainment
offerings thus far this year has been
subjected to all of these unpleasantries, starting
with the Temptations at Homecoming and
continuing on through the semester. We have
heard a multitude of explanations concerning
the particular people to blame for each of
these incidents. They do not interest us.

It would seem to be the responsibility of
the promoters of a concert to insure that
everyone connected with the show discharges
his duties properly. There is always the
possibility of an unavoidable mishap; but such
mishaps have repeated themselves beyond the
credibility of coincidence. Such mistakes in
alienating the performers and the audiences,
detract from whatever esthetic value the
concert may possess, and the reservoir of
ill-will they create undoubtedly detracts from
future promoters potential to attract good
entertainment and good crowds.

With this in mind, we urge the Union to do
everything in its power to assure that the
February 8 concert comes off without a flaw.
We think that their choice of Peter, Paul &
Mary is a wise one, not only because the
group will be a welcome change from the
familiar soul and rock ensembles, Peter, Paul
& Mary are not the type that require an
elaborate sound system, and such systems
have never functioned very well in University
Hall. That factor is one that might be well
considered by every agency which books
talent for the Grounds.

The Union has shown a commendable
willingness to sacrifice financial considerations
for what it considers the student interest. It
lost money on the Christmas concert, and by
scheduling an expensive group for an off-weekend,
it is running the risk of doing so
again. We hope that the concert will be well
attended. If it is not, it will probably be due
not to the scheduling or the calibre of
entertainment, but to the tradition of mismanagement
which it inherits from past
efforts.

R.B.C.