I've spent several years going to college, but the best times I've had at any university were when I was attending some show or performing in one...
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| Performing arts center George Mason University |
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| Robert Howell Brooks Center for the Performing Arts Clemson University |
My previous post looked at the old vaudeville theaters that are still scattered throughout the country. They are wonderful venues much of the time but there are even more performance locales at colleges and universities throughout the United States. In the past I have played some of these--most I cannot recall--but a few stand out.
It's hard to forget the big auditorium at the University of Lafayette in Louisiana that sits next to a large swamp with alligators and other native flora and fauna. We played that one nearly every year for ten years. Then there was the odd lecture room/theater at the School of Mines and Engineering at Montana Tech in Butte. The place was so absurdly small that we had to play three shows for near non-existent audiences despite the fact that enough tickets had been sold to fill up the place at least ten times. Thankfully turn-out was low at that one so we didn't have to face an overflow attendance.
The lecture halls were the worst for a touring show such as the one I managed. They often had odd shaped stages with no real backstage area which presented a real challenge to us. On the other hand, one of the best concerts I've seen was Murray McLauchlan in a lecture hall at some university in Toronto. Despite feeling like we were attending a college class, the concert was excellent and due to the small house it felt very intimate.
Most universities have many facilities suitable for live presentations so there is a wide range of choices depending on staging needs and how many are expected for the performance. A touring group, artist, or lecturer can make a career at just playing colleges. This is something for authors to keep in mind if they are interested in going on a lecture circuit. The opportunities are limited only by ones imagination.
A university tour might be something for me or even you to consider. Seems like something with a lot of possibilities.
Have you ever seen a performance at a college venue? Do you have a venue of this nature in your town? Have you ever considered establishing yourself as an "expert" in some field so that you could go to colleges and other places to give lectures (and maybe sell your books)?
