How to Join SEE

Nate Adler
Membership Director
seemembership@umd.edu

In case you missed the General Interest Meeting on Tuesday, September 20, there are various ways to get involved with Student Entertainment Events (SEE) depending on how much time you are willing to commit to the organization.  Since SEE is responsible for coordinating so many events, there are 22 Director positions that make up the SEE Executive Board, as well as three teams that assist with the technical, security, and marketing aspects of our events.  Any UMD undergraduate student can join the teams to help out at events; however, applications for SEE Director positions become available in the fall, usually in mid to late October.

The Tech and Security Team members are paid, and allow members to work the events they choose, attend those events for free and get fed well (when working over meal times).  For more information about how to join the Tech Team, email Adam Reeves, SEE Technical Director, at seetechnical@umd.edu.  For more information about the Security Team, email Ayelet Kravitz, SEE Security Director, at seesecurity@umd.edu. 

The Marketing Team is not paid; however, the positions are incentive based; therefore, the more time one puts in, the more swag, autographs, and free tickets one can receive.  A new position, Marketing Team Liaison, is being implemented this fall in order to collaborate with the Marketing Director and Marketing Team.  The two Marketing Team Liaisons will be responsible for organizing incentives to keep interest in the Marketing Team members, as well as coordinate campus-wide marketing efforts before events.  Applications for this position are due by October 5.  If interested, contact Seth Backer, SEE Marking Director, at seemarketing@umd.edu for the application and with any questions.  You can also ask Seth for more information about how to join the Marketing Team.

Almost all of the SEE Director positions are unpaid, except for the two Office Managers.  Although these Director positions are great leadership experiences to have on one’s résumé, one may ask why someone would be interested in committing so much time and working so intensely on planning events without being paid during the school year.  SEE offers a diverse range of friendships outside of one’s area of study, with students ranging from the business and engineering schools to even the Arabic Flagship Program.  With almost 100 programs a year, the 22 Directors are constantly together, whether it is planning, executing, or just enjoying the event during or post show.

Another benefit for SEE Directors is having the opportunity to work with agents and the entertainment industry.  Although this may not be as glamorous as it looks on Entourage, having the professional and social skills to coordinate events with agents and performers is an important life-skill and can still be enjoyable.  By having Directors coordinate events in various areas (music, comedy, lectures, films, special events, or performing arts), Directors are able to become involved in the entertainment industry by interacting with those professionals.  As a part of the Executive Board for SEE, Directors also have the opportunity to formally introduce proposals for future events, coordinate the promotion or behind-the-scenes execution of events, create recruitment and outreach strategies for the organization, and much more.

Another obvious perk of working for Student Entertainment Events is meeting the performers who SEE brings to campus.  While I was driving Mac Miller and his crew to the venue for the Back to School Concert, one of them asked me if I got paid well for my position.  I laughed and replied, “No, why would I get paid to hang out with you guys and Mac Miller all day?”  For the last week all of my friends have told me how lucky I am to experience that opportunity and actually hang out with such a popular figure.  Although some positions in SEE are paid, I have held my position with Student Entertainment Events for only a few weeks and cannot even describe how unforgettable all of the experiences have been.  Meeting the celebrities that SEE and the University of Maryland are able to bring to campus is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Being involved in such a significant organization to the University of Maryland campus is an amazing feeling: knowing that you helped bring such substantial entertainment figures for the benefit of the students.

More specific information about all of the Director positions can be found on our website at http://www.see.umd.edu/directors.php, and make sure to watch the SEE website and Facebook and Twitter accounts for updates on the applications. Please note if chosen as a SEE Director, you will serve a three-semester term from Spring 2011 through Spring 2012. Directors must attend weekly SEE Executive Board meetings on Thursdays at 5 pm, participate in “all hands on deck” events, hold five office hours a week, and attend a SEE retreat once a semester. Directors must also maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. As you know, SEE is an organization in the entertainment industry, so working nights and weekends should be expected.

Feel free to contact me at seemembership@umd.edu if you are interested in becoming involved with the organization.  I look forward to helping you become a part of SEE!

Rebranding a Brand

Seth Backer
Marketing Director
seemarketing@umd.edu

In any organization or company, the use of a poignant and recognizable brand is an essential part to reaching a platform of success.  For the past several years, Student Entertainment Events (SEE) had utilized the following slogan, “Entertain the Turtle.”  While opinions may vary on the effectiveness of this particular sentence, the slogan itself was never fully utilized on and around campus.

Over this past summer, SEE’s Promotional Team, consisting of the Marketing, Advertising, Communication Systems, and Public Relations Directors, looked to not only rebrand SEE, but also to create and utilize a slogan that could be both durable and flexible.  With inspiration from past advisors and SEE Directors, the board officially passed the new and improved slogan: “This is SEE.”

Just as Nike has branded itself with three very simple words, “Just Do It,” SEE plans to use a saying that is easy to remember, and impossible to forget.  Think about it this way: freshmen first coming to Maryland or students who may not recognize the many events on this campus often ask SEE Directors and advisors “What is SEE?”  Now we can simply answer, “This is SEE.”  SEE is Maryland’s student programming board-- the minds behind lectures, comedy shows, concerts, special events, performing arts events, movies and musical arts.  SEE is a culmination of teams (Security, Marketing, and Tech) and individuals who work nonstop to bring the University diverse programming.  SEE is what you get when you combine heart and passion with the determination to sellout, inspire, and forever impact the collegiate years of Terrapins here in College Park.

So from this point forward, and hopefully for years to come look closely at the t-shirts, posters, and other promotional materials you receive.  “This is SEE” is bound to make a positive impact on campus, and I can only hope it will do the same for you.  We hope to see you at our events!  Go to www.see.umd.edu for more information. 

2011 Fall Concert Survey

Chelsea Soobitsky
President
seepresident@umd.edu

Who do you want to see at SEE's fall concert this year? Fill out the survey and let us know! 


2011 Fall Concert Survey

SEE’s Back to School Concert Featuring Mac Miller

Kiera Zitelman
Musical Arts Director
seemusicalarts@umd.edu

The 2011 fall musical arts concert will follow a long tradition of giving UMD students the opportunity to see an up-and-coming artist for little cost in a small, intimate venue, and this year is no exception. On September 21^st, SEE is proud to bring Mac Miller, Casey Veggies and The Come Up to the Grand Ballroom, which has a capacity of 800 and is the largest venue in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union—Center of Campus Life. I am excited to follow in the tradition of excellent back to school shows – a list that includes a sold-out Chiddy Bang and the White Panda concert last fall and Matt & Kim in 2009.

Some students may be unaware of the distinction between SEE’s Musical Arts Director and Concerts Director. These are unique positions with different missions. The Concerts Director programs large-scale musical events, including Art Attack and a fall concert. These events are aimed at a big audience – this past May’s Art Attack XXVIII featuring Nelly, for example, sold out 8,000 available seats in Byrd Stadium. The cost of talent and production for these events is very high and consumes a huge part of SEE’s annual budget, funded in part by your student activities fee. As SEE’s Musical Arts Director, I work with a smaller budget to coordinate smaller, more intimate musical events and “provide diverse musical experiences primarily in the Stamp Student Union” (http://see.umd.edu/directors.php#musicalarts). I produce a spring and fall concert featuring professional artists, in addition to multiple opportunities for student bands throughout the year, including Battle of the Bands each April.

I am aware that many University of Maryland students are disappointed that the Back to School concert featuring Mac Miller, Casey Veggies, and The Come Up sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale at midnight on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, we cannot offer more tickets or move the concert to a larger venue at this time.  Getting an artist to play to thousands of people in a venue like Cole Field House or Byrd Stadium is in the realm of SEE’s Concerts Director, not the Musical Arts Director, and I can assure you that SEE’s Concerts Director is actively working on a concert of this larger scale for later in the semester.

Many students are requesting a new venue, primarily Cole Field House, for the concert. Though I wish I could provide more students the opportunity to see Mac Miller, it is unfortunately impossible at this point to switch venues from the Grand Ballroom. The university and the artists agreed to and signed legally binding contracts weeks ago specifying the venue and the number of tickets to be sold. Part of the reason we chose to put Mac Miller in Stamp initially is that he plays venues not much larger than the Grand Ballroom. Without agreeing to pay a substantially higher performance fee, which SEE’s musical arts budget could not have offered, he likely would not have agreed to play a venue as big as Cole. Additionally, the cost of production and venue rental fees would be too high for the musical arts budget in Cole or even the next smallest venue, Ritchie Coliseum.

SEE did anticipate the student demand for this event. The research we conducted this past spring demonstrated a high interest in Mac Miller on campus. We had a discussion about the venue size but ultimately concluded that the Grand Ballroom was the best choice for this fall musical arts concert based on the size of venues Mac Miller will be performing at during his fall tour. I personally apologize that the event sold out so quickly and that so many students were unable to get tickets. At the same time, I hope that the students who were able to get tickets enjoy the unique experience that will be Mac Miller on September 21^st. I encourage UMD students to attend SEE’s upcoming fall programs, including our annual Homecoming Comedy Show next month.

I would like to thank all the students who have been respectful with their feedback so far. I am available to answer further questions at seemusicalarts@umd.edu or (301) 314-8498. Thank you. 

This is SEE

Chelsea Soobitsky
President
seepresident@umd.edu

Welcome to the new Student Entertainment Events (SEE) blog! Over the course of the semester we hope this blog will open communication between SEE and the University of Maryland campus community, keeping students updated on upcoming events, involvement opportunities, as well as increase the transparency of our organization.

My name is Chelsea Soobitsky and I am the President of SEE for the 2011-2012 academic year. I hope you find this blog, our latest initiative, a useful tool to learn about the University’s programming board, its’ directors and what goes into the planning and execution of our events. I also hope at this point that you are getting settled into your classes and are as excited as I am for an exciting new year at the University.

If you do not already know, SEE is the campus programming board, comprised of 22 undergraduate student directors. Our overall mission is to program diversely for the university campus community and bring events in varying interest areas to satisfy the very different program desires of the student body. We program in the areas of concerts, cinema, lectures, special events, performing arts and comedy. SEE is proud to have general members, as well as, a marketing, security and tech team, who all play an important role in the creation and development of our events. In addition, we provide ample co-sponsorship opportunities for other student organizations on campus, supporting other student groups with the funding necessary to host events of their own.

I wanted to share with all of you a few of my goals as President this year:

1.     Open the doors of communication between SEE and the student body.

2.     Provide every student at the University with an event that interests them.

3.     Brand SEE so each student on campus is aware of who we are, what we do, and that we are open to new ideas and feedback.

4.     Find corporate sponsors for our events so students have the opportunity to see desired artists that are not limited due to budget restraints.

5.     Bring artists that YOU, the students, want to see by conducting even more research throughout the semester.

Students, we want to bring who you want to SEE. All of the entertainment brought to campus in the past has been selected based on student research, as this is the most reliable source on which we have to base our programming choices. We are not mind readers, so please; let us know what you think! The only way for us to know who you want to see is for you to tell us. Don’t know how? Go ahead and  “like” us on Facebook, send us emails, stop by the SEE office (located in 0221 Stamp Student Union) and help us bring you events you want to see this year.

For more information about SEE, please visit our website at
www.see.umd.edu.