How much does Fred Fest cost? Check out some numbers from last year

By Brian Giermek

Fred Fest has been a cornerstone event for Fredonia State students and alumni for just under 30 years. In this span, Fred Fest has provided free entertainment the last weekend before “dead week.” However, for as much entertainment we receive, it is easy to overlook the expenses that go into such an event.

Spectrum Entertainment is the student group that organizes Fred Fest. Its spring expense report for the 28th annual Fred Fest in 2007 showed the event cost Spectrum $49,491.20. The event featured Talib Kweli, a rapper. The expenses ranged anywhere from the entertainment to the promotional advertising to security.

Going into the 2007 Spring semester, Spectrum Entertainment received a $52,675 budget from the Student Association. A few reallocations per the Student Association and Comptroller added $4,224.84 to the budget, giving Spectrum a total of just under $57,000 to play with.

The biggest hit to the budget came from Talibra Inc., which received $25,000 from Spectrum. Talibra is an entertainment booking company out of New York City which handles Talib Kweli.

APG was a distant second with a $7,048.29 bill for staging services, and Dinosaur BBQ cost $7,000. The catering for the concert was ran by Dinosaur BBQ, a Syracuse-based company.

The University Police, the prime source of security during the concert, received $4,500 for their services, both on the concert grounds and around campus during the fest.

Concert Ideas, a company that provides entertainment for campuses across the United States, received $2,500 from Spectrum for its services. Based out of Woodstock, Concert Ideas books concerts and appearances by bands, and comedians ranging from Chingy to Carlos Mencia.

Dan Molad was paid $2,000 by Spectrum. Based out of Brooklyn, Molad produces independent music and actually plays in Elizabeth and the Catapult, a band which performed during Fred Fest.
With the exception of Xpress Promotional Solutions, which was paid $1,983.17 for their services; the rest of the expenses were held under $1,000 per vendor. Bounce About, Sound Services and Westfield Disposal were paid roughly $200 each, while G&E Tents, Tables and Chairs and The Limousine Service were allocated around $500 each.