Nelly concert not worth the money

The week before the Little 500 races is traditionally one of the best music weeks on campus. Who can forget such great campus performers as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Mellencamp, and the off-campus performances by well-known artists such as L.L. Cool J? \nLast week seemed to be part of this tradition with St. Louis rapper Nelly coming to play at the Auditorium. Too bad it turned out to be a disappointment and a waste of the Little 500 concert.\nAfter sitting through multiple opening acts that lasted about an hour and a half, Nelly took the stage -- for 25 minutes. Although the rapper played his five biggest hits, he ended his biggest hit "Ride Wit Me," halfway through the song. \nAfter the song ended abruptly, audience members did not know whether the show had ended or if Nelly was just taking a break. After the grand drape came down and the house lights came up, many students were left holding their $24 tickets and wondering, "Did we pay $1 per minute of performance?" Many said they felt the price of the ticket was not worth what they anticipated the show would promise. \nUnion Board President Vaughn Allen, a junior, said he thinks students accept a risk when they attend concerts. \n"I understand the frustration, but I think that happens often with concerts," he said. "They're superstars, you know, they can do whatever they want."\nUnion Board wants to bring in shows and acts that students will line up to see. Some acts, such as Tom Petty last year, fell through, in part because of lack of interest and the high ticket cost. But if Union Board wants students to come to shows despite complaints of soaring ticket prices, they need to promise acts that will deliver. \nUnion Board Concert Director Andy Proctor, a senior, said Union Board's contract with Nelly said he had to play for 40 to 45 minutes. But Proctor said the concert had to end by 12:30 a.m., according to Union Board's agreement with the Auditorium, so Union Board told Nelly to cut his set early. \nUnion Board should have planned ahead and asked Nelly to go on earlier. After all, if we are going to spend our hard-earned money on something, we should make sure it is worth the price of a ticket. Students surely were not flocking to the concert to see Sticky Fingaz and Alley Life, two of the acts who opened the show -- they were there to see the man himself. That is who they paid to see. \nNelly disappointed many of his fans Wednesday night. Next year organizers should plan better to ensure students get the most for their money and enjoy their Little 500 concert experience. For many concert-goers that didn't happen this year.\nStaff vote: 14 - 0 - 0\nyes - no - abstain